Borrowing from therapy techniques, the Connected Parenting method empowers parents to use mirroring and empathy to attune to their child or teen’s feelings. This helps to set limits, shift negative behaviours and avoid ugly power struggles.

Many parenting methods teach how important it is to listen to your children and to be empathic. But what is often not taught is how to be empathic and how to move beyond empathy to correct difficult or unacceptable behaviors. The whole point of Connected Parenting is to empathize not only so that your child will feel safe and understood, but also so that you, the parent, will be better able to guide his or her behavior.

Many of us think we already know how to be empathic, but, as easy as it sounds, being empathic and listening well are very difficult skills, requiring practice, patience, thoughtfulness, and a non-defensive stance. This is extremely difficult to maintain when you are hurt or angry. In addition, empathy, in and of itself, isn’t enough. We also need to know what to do next. Once we’ve empathized with a child’s anger, frustration, or anxiety, how do we go on to make him understand that the coping behaviors he or she is using are not acceptable and will not serve him well? In short, how do we get him to change?

Connected Parenting will take you that crucial extra step and provide you with a blueprint for creating positive change.

Connected Parenting offers a loving and effective way to parent all children and teenagers. For those children and teens with more extreme emotional or behavioural challenges, these techniques are even more important as they help lower anxiety, promote better impulse control and improve self-esteem. Connected Parenting strengthens children from the inside out so they can better manage whatever comes their way.

For more information about Connected Parenting, check out our podcast, book, or immersive masterclass.