Each new year feels like an opportunity for a fresh start. Many of us enter the year with new hopes and goals, and yet, we've all seen and experienced how difficult it can be to sustain new patterns and to see the real changes that we long for in our lives and relationships. The difference between successful shifts and disappointment isn't just about what we know, but instead, how much support we have in maintaining our new behaviors over time. The good news is that parenting doesn't have to be a lonely journey.

I've been honored to support many of you in your parenting journey through the Parent Coaching Class, workshops, and individual, couples, or family therapy. As we all know, parenting is super tough work. Parents need more than just good ideas, they need specific support right in the middle of the messy, difficult interactions. Parents need a way to debrief and process what’s really going on.

If you're a long-term client, or a Parent Coaching Class graduate, looking for ongoing, practical parenting support, I'm excited to announce openings in the 2023 Strategic Parent Coaching Group.

One dad described parenting this way, “I feel like I’m in a free fall without a parachute.” This kind of powerlessness is a common feeling I hear as I talk to parents, and for good reason. A sense of agency, or empowerment in our own lives, may be the most important factor in human happiness and well-being.

In group we can reclaim and rebuild our sense of power as a parent, while exploring more effective alternatives to the old model of trying to control our children through pleading, yelling, and lecturing. This sense of power can literally reduce stress, allowing our creativity and true capabilities to show up, allowing us to be more of the person, and parent, we want to be.

Parent Coaching is key to making significant shifts in parenting. The Parent Coaching Class (PCC) provides support in a consistent, dependable, integrated way and is a cost-effective way to get support.

Parenting often feels impossible. Parents and caregivers often need to be able to discuss what is really going on and have guidance applying effective solutions, sometimes even step-by-step, in the middle of it all. That is why Intra-Connected, LLC is now offering an Online Strategic Parent Coaching Group (SPCG). This group provides an alternative to the control and permissive parenting models that don't work. The SPCG is built around neuroscience principles as discussed and presented in Irresistible Parenting (IP). WARNING: Positive change is highly likely for active participants.

Real Life situations: This group is all about real life application. As we work with situations parents are facing, we will identify words, tone, body language, attitudes, rhythm, and much more to help you respond strategically. The goal is to be as specific as possible in applying strategies and identifying contingencies. In follow-up group meetings we will debrief efforts to implement and further fine tune parents’ skills and use of strategies.

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Getting to the Root for Long-Term Change: True change requires multi-dimensional work. Unhealthy behavior can’t be eliminated by only focusing on  behavior (a bit of a mind twist!). We must engage in our own trauma work to shift our beliefs and procedural memory to have life-long change. While this is not the primary focus of group, we will incorporate some of this work as well. Remember, the goal of this group is life-long positive shifts in how parents show up as individuals, partners, and ultimately as parents. Therefore, parenting philosophy will also be directly addressed.

Addressing Codependency: Codependency is a key hidden factor that drives family dysfunction and undermines healthy parenting. Therefore, active codependency recovery will be woven throughout the work of this group. We will identify specific patterns of codependency, interventions, and healthy alternative patterns.  As we get healthier, we parent healthier!

The Strategic Parent Coaching Group (SPCG) is 12 group sessions in a three-month period.  Group size is limited to 8 families. Each group is 80 minutes long and revolves around three dynamics: Real life parenting issues going on with your children, Codependency recovery, and application of strategies, tools, and skills, taught in the Irresistible Parenting philosophy.

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When: Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:50p (Pacific Time)

Length: 12 weeks over three months

Cost: Only $600 per family group

(ask about discount for single parents)

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Prerequisites: You must be growth minded and open to addressing how your own past experiences have shaped deep beliefs and patterns that contribute to dysfunction in the family system. Addressing your own responses will help us move to an advanced level of work.

Target Participants: This is set up to work with all caregivers in a family’s system. It is best if all caregivers are involved. If you have questions about this please ask. While discounts are available for single parents in the group, this does not apply simply because one parent opts out.

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Closed Groups: Please note that these are closed groups; which means that once the sequence starts, no new members will be added even if the group is not full.  New members will need to wait for the start of the next sequence. Groups start at the beginning of each calendar quarter (January, April, July, October). Further, current group members will have priority to sign up for the next sequence if they choose.  New members will be added as space becomes available. 

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Assignments and Homework: will be woven throughout as appropriate.  Homework is based on the specific situations you are dealing with, not just studying concepts and ideas.

In case you missed it:

Click here to read my last newsletter with tools for managing family tension and stress, including the "Three Rs" and a free hot pen exercise download. I hope these tools support you in your parenting journey.