All kids go through difficult times, but some parenting situations are simply more challenging. It’s nobody’s fault, and there’s hope! You can make a difference!
If your child is challenging, and if you’re struggling to parent them, then parent coaching is a great way to understand what’s going on and start making some changes that will make a difference.
Signs you might want some help from a parent coach:
- Your child has a diagnosis such as ADHD, OCD, ODD, ASD, addiction, an eating disorder, etc.
- Has a history of colic, separation anxiety, tantrums, and other challenging childhood behaviors
- Expresses constant anger towards you
- Is estranged from you or threatens going no-contact
- Is financially dependent on you and/or unhappily living with you into adulthood and blame you for their problems
- Is withdrawn from your relationship, refusing or unable to connect with you
- Tells you they are considering suicide or using self-harm behaviors
- Says they were/are being harassed or abused
- Completely isolated from peers, spending all their time alone or on their computer/phone
- Tells you they are traumatized by their childhood
Find out about parent coaching for a difficult child
All parents do the very best they can, but sometimes kids are just a little bit harder than average. It’s not your child’s fault, and it’s not yours, either! Luckily, there is a lot of potential for better times. You can make a difference!
The good news is that nobody is in a better position than you to help a difficult child feel good and start behaving better!
I can teach you proven methods so your child will start to feel a lot better, deepen your connection, and improve your relationship in every way. Life will get easier for everyone!
Lots of parents struggle
It’s very normal for parents to struggle with parenting. It can feel hard to connect, and you may feel afraid of what will happen to your more sensitive, challenging child, both in the short and long term.
Challenging children mean that parenting is hard, but I know you can handle this! The first thing we’ll do in parent coaching for a difficult child is try to find out what their behavior is saying about your child’s inner experience. Most times, difficult children desperately want to connect with their parents, but something is getting in the way.
We’ll try to get to the bottom of their struggle, and find ways for you to communicate more effectively and less painfully.
Coaching can help
Parent coaching for a difficult child is a way for you to learn some new parenting techniques and gain confidence as a parent. Popular media like books, magazines and social media combined with friends and family are often helpful when it comes to parenting a more typical child. But if you have a difficult child you may benefit from more strategic support.
We’ll explore your child’s history as well as what’s going on now. Coaching gives you a safe space in which to vent and describe your child and how much it troubles you. You’ll get a shame-free environment where you can share how hard it feels to parent your child right now.
Next, we’ll work to figure out some new boundaries, expectations and behaviors that can help make parenting easier. The good news is that when we adjust what you do, your child will change their behavior. Often we’ll see a very difficult child begin to open up a bit more as you make changes.
You are never to blame for your child’s difficult behavior, but we can find ways that you can influence their behavior for the better. This will make parenting much more relaxing and enjoyable.
What you get with parent coaching for a difficult child
🌟 Information: Find out more about your child’s inner experience.
❤️ Understanding: Learn how you can help your child by knowing more about what’s going on for them.
🌟 Scripts: Get some help learning how to talk to your child about their challenging behavior.
❤️ Techniques: Learn new techniques for parenting in challenging situations, including setting boundaries and empathic listening.
🌟 Recommendations: Get recommendations for articles, books, and resources. These will help you build up your child’s self-esteem and improve their behavior.
Parent coaching can make an immediate impact on how it feels to parent a difficult child. While there is a lot of advice for parenting more typical children, parents can feel adrift when things go wrong. Parent coaching can make things easier for you, your difficult child, and your whole family.
Most parents feel more confident in just a few sessions. Of course, we can continue working together as long as it’s helpful for you.
But aren’t you an eating disorder coach?
Yes! My primary focus as a parent coach is helping parents deal with eating disorders. And eating disorders almost always coincide with other difficult behaviors, high sensitivity, low emotional regulation, and complex trauma.
I’ve been trained to support parents who have highly sensitive children with poor emotional regulation skills and complex trauma. This knowledge is something I teach all parents who work with me, whether there is an eating disorder or not. If you’re not sure I’m a fit for your unique situation, feel free to reach out and let’s find out!
Find out about parent coaching for a difficult child
Frequently Asked Questions About Parent Coaching
What is parent coaching?
Parent coaching is a way for you to get information and support so you can be the parent you want to be. Parenting is harder than ever, and it can be confusing and overwhelming for all of us. I know you are the parent your child needs right now, but we all need a little help when the going gets tough. We were never meant to parent alone, but rather with the support and expertise of a knowledgeable group of other parents who care about us and our kids. I help parents quickly and efficiently get answers to their burning questions about how to improve their kid’s mental health and reduce the symptoms of disordered eating, negative body image, anxiety, depression, and more.
What are the benefits of parent coaching?
I offer support, knowledge, and skills to help you navigate your situation. I’ve helped more than 150 families find greater peace and understanding. My clients say working with me helps them feel calmer, stronger, and less stressed. They gain confidence and can see a difference in their kids. Science shows that parenting coaching is one of the best ways parents can raise healthy kids.
Do you meet virtually or in person?
I work 100% virtually, which means all of my coaching calls take place on Zoom. My clients have been very satisfied with Zoom-based coaching. There are some real upsides to you being able to call me from work, your kitchen, your car, or anywhere that works with your schedule. If you need help connecting with me on Zoom, I’m happy to walk you through it!
Where are you located, and do you work with people in my country?
Great question! I’m located in Santa Monica, California, which is Pacific Time. I work with people all over the world. For example, I’ve worked with clients in the UK, Australia, France, Peru, Hong Kong, South Africa, and beyond. While it can be a little tricky to find a good time to meet for both of us, I’ve always made it work!
How old are your clients’ children?
I’ve successfully coached more than 150 parents struggling with eating issues, most of whom have kids aged 10-20 but I’ve worked with parents who have kids from 5 to 35 years old.
Can my co-parent be involved, too?
Absolutely! I have many clients who meet with me together with their co-parents. The benefit of virtual meetings is that you can be in different locations but both attend.
Will you work with my child?
I work entirely with you, not your child, because my focus is on the changes you can make to support recovery. I will provide recommendations about the support your child might benefit from, but with a few rare exceptions, I only meet with parents.
How do your clients pay you?
My clients pay me using PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo. These virtual payment options make it easy, but if you’ve never used them, don’t worry! You don’t need to learn anything new, and if you’ve ever made a purchase online before, you can do this! I’m happy to help.
Other questions?
If you have more questions about how I can help you as an eating disorder parent coach, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Not Sure Yet? No Problem!
Let’s keep in touch!
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