Why Partnering NOT Parenting?
"Shouldn't I parent MORE when things are challenging?"
In short, no. When your child has a mental health issue, it changes everything - how we live, how we love and how we see the past, present and future. From the dynamics of communication and possibility to expectations and beliefs to our own ability to think straight, we can become consumed by trying to help our child to wellness.
In our haste to help and with a focus on fixing - because that's what us parents do, isn't it? - we can find our homes become a battlefield and our heads are quickly filled with all the what ifs, conflicting information and overpowering feelings like guilt, shame and fear. Our behaviours, while done to try and help, can often lead to a greater sense of disconnection and we can wonder if we'll ever recognise our child - or our family -again.
'Partnering Not Parenting' is a compassionate, proven approach for parents of children with poor mental health that helps reframe the challenges and offers pragmatic and practical tools to help us understand how to reconnect, communicate and build trust in a deeply challenging time.
The course helps deal with the grief, shame and distress we experience having a child with depression, anxiety or other mental health condition while helping them to a place where they feel emotionally safe, seen and heard by us.
But this is most certainly not about perfect parenting! That doesn't exist. This is about using the challenge you face as an opportunity to reflect, to set down some old behaviours and beliefs, and to move forward with greater clarity, connection and hope, and to transform your relationship with yourself, your child and your family.
And while parenting harder isn't helpful, Partnering Not Parenting is not about letting your child 'get on with it' or not having boundaries. Partnering Not Parenting is about adding to your existing parenting to meet the unique challenges that your child's poor mental health brings, building connection and change at a time when you feel there is no fix and often, there is no hope.
And Partnering Not Parenting isn't about changing your child; it's not a therapy or quick fix. It's a powerful, compassionate approach to understanding more about what your whole family is going through as well as the challenges and opportunities this adversity brings. It gives you the understanding, the tools, and the support to begin to calm, connect and converse with your child.
The next course begins on March 25th 2024 and runs for 8 weeks. You access the audio and video training week by week online and via the Thinkific app on your phone or tablet, and complete them in your own time. There is also a weekly workbook to help you reflect on your thoughts and document the changes - and challenges - as they happen.
Suzanne also runs bonus regular Live Q&A sessions through the course as well as being present to answer questions and support you in the closed Facebook community, filled with other parents who get what you're going through and are there to help support you and offer hope, understanding and strength.
The course cost is £150 for 12 months' access and there are payment options of 3 x £50 or 6 x £25 payment plans available too.
Having 12 months' access means you can go through the coached course up to 5 times in 2024/25, giving you space if you're concerned about your capacity or just want to continue to reflect, learn and grow. Any time the resources are updated in the 12 months, you'll get free access to them as well.
The charity Parenting Mental Health also funds a number of scholarship places for low income parents - if you would like to apply, there is a link at the bottom of the page.
In our haste to help and with a focus on fixing - because that's what us parents do, isn't it? - we can find our homes become a battlefield and our heads are quickly filled with all the what ifs, conflicting information and overpowering feelings like guilt, shame and fear. Our behaviours, while done to try and help, can often lead to a greater sense of disconnection and we can wonder if we'll ever recognise our child - or our family -again.
'Partnering Not Parenting' is a compassionate, proven approach for parents of children with poor mental health that helps reframe the challenges and offers pragmatic and practical tools to help us understand how to reconnect, communicate and build trust in a deeply challenging time.
The course helps deal with the grief, shame and distress we experience having a child with depression, anxiety or other mental health condition while helping them to a place where they feel emotionally safe, seen and heard by us.
But this is most certainly not about perfect parenting! That doesn't exist. This is about using the challenge you face as an opportunity to reflect, to set down some old behaviours and beliefs, and to move forward with greater clarity, connection and hope, and to transform your relationship with yourself, your child and your family.
And while parenting harder isn't helpful, Partnering Not Parenting is not about letting your child 'get on with it' or not having boundaries. Partnering Not Parenting is about adding to your existing parenting to meet the unique challenges that your child's poor mental health brings, building connection and change at a time when you feel there is no fix and often, there is no hope.
And Partnering Not Parenting isn't about changing your child; it's not a therapy or quick fix. It's a powerful, compassionate approach to understanding more about what your whole family is going through as well as the challenges and opportunities this adversity brings. It gives you the understanding, the tools, and the support to begin to calm, connect and converse with your child.
The next course begins on March 25th 2024 and runs for 8 weeks. You access the audio and video training week by week online and via the Thinkific app on your phone or tablet, and complete them in your own time. There is also a weekly workbook to help you reflect on your thoughts and document the changes - and challenges - as they happen.
Suzanne also runs bonus regular Live Q&A sessions through the course as well as being present to answer questions and support you in the closed Facebook community, filled with other parents who get what you're going through and are there to help support you and offer hope, understanding and strength.
The course cost is £150 for 12 months' access and there are payment options of 3 x £50 or 6 x £25 payment plans available too.
Having 12 months' access means you can go through the coached course up to 5 times in 2024/25, giving you space if you're concerned about your capacity or just want to continue to reflect, learn and grow. Any time the resources are updated in the 12 months, you'll get free access to them as well.
The charity Parenting Mental Health also funds a number of scholarship places for low income parents - if you would like to apply, there is a link at the bottom of the page.
