SUSAN GUTTRIDGE, BC MC, CCC
  • Home
  • Susan Guttridge
  • Services
  • Courses
  • The Book
  • Contact
  • Calm Unfolding
  • First Responder Network

Calm Unfolding

A Blog by Susan Guttridge, EMDR Certified Therapist

Why a Blog for Parents?

10/20/2010

0 Comments

 
Picture
This article was originally posted October 20, 2010, to Happy Parents = Happy Kids (focusedonparenting.wordpress.com) by Susan Guttridge

In my journey as a counselling professional, right between Employment Counsellor and Trauma Counsellor, I worked as a Family Counsellor.  The work was incredibly challenging, as families bring many complex issues to the table. Each individual member has a unique background and personality, in addition to the issue which, as a family, they enter into counselling hoping to solve or diffuse or grow from.  I was constantly aware of the incredible struggles families endure, and also the incredible love and commitment to each other.

​That same commitment to each other was not always healthy, and that love not always enough to truly get to the root of the problem and move forward from it. The best predictor of success was when families were committed to making change work, and each family member was willing to take some degree of responsibility for the part in the change process. From my role as a Family Counsellor, research into family therapy, mindfulness training, and from everyday life with my own family, I began to realize a very important lesson: There are a great many books written and strategies devised (and even television shows!) teaching parents the “best” ways to deal with behaviour concerns and succeed in parenting. But, without the ability to “stick to it”, no matter what strategy or philosophy one adheres to, it will not work. Armed with this knowledge, my work with families shifted focus. I began to assist parents in learning how to stay grounded and in the moment, which ultimately enabled them to carry out their chosen parenting strategy with success.
​
For example, if anger was the typical pattern of parental behaviour that a family wanted to change, and after the family had successfully acquired the appropriate anger management tools, work would focus on assisting the parents to learn strategies to stay grounded and mindful. This enabled them to remain calm when dealing with difficult behaviours in their children, thus enabling them to successfully parent their children without damaging self-esteem etc. by yelling or uttering words in anger.

I am not discounting the serious nature of some family problems, individual experiences, or childhood/teenage behaviour issues. What I am saying is that with the right tools in your tool belt, difficulties can seem more manageable. And with the right strategies to stay grounded and in the moment with your child, the more likely you will be to remember to apply those tools appropriately and successfully.

And so, these articles grow out of my belief that in order succeed at parenting (raising happy, well-adjusted children), we need to be grounded and in the moment with them. Check out the posted ideas and try them out with your kids. Remember, new skills take time to master, so be patient with yourself as you practice the ideas and do give yourself time to practice them!


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Susan Guttridge is a trauma-informed Master level Counsellor with the clinical designation of Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCPA). She has 20+ years experience providing individual and group therapy. 

    This blog is dedicated to all the incredibly courageous people who work towards self-awareness, growth, and healing in their daily lives.


    “As human beings, we are not problems waiting to be solved, but potential waiting to unfold”

    Archives

    February 2025
    December 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    April 2022
    January 2022
    July 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2017
    September 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    September 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    September 2012
    July 2012
    April 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010

    Categories

    All
    Emotion Regulation
    Mindfulness
    Mindful Parenting
    Process Of Therapy

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Susan Guttridge
  • Services
  • Courses
  • The Book
  • Contact
  • Calm Unfolding
  • First Responder Network