Considering Improving Your Parenting Skills in 2014?

The  holidays are behind us and the kids will soon be back in school. Did you make any parenting resolutions for the new year?

The beginning of a new year is a good time to evaluate your parenting skills. What presented the biggest challenges to you during the past year when it came to being a parent? What frustrates you the most about your parenting? 

Select one of those challenges, I suggest the one that occurs most frequently, and make it a goal to find some new ways to deal with this challenge. That might involve reading a book (I can suggest some - simply post a comment) taking a parenting class or consulting with parenting coach or therapist for help specific to your family situation.

I work with parents all the time teaching them how to respond to their children in ways that will make life easier and life stressful. I help them come up with bedtime routines and other strategies for managing child behavior problems.  

I have a flexible schedule to accommodate the busiest of parents. I would welcome an opportunity to meet with you for a consultation to discuss how you can be the parent you want to be and make 2014 a year where parenting is less stressful and more rewarding. 

Contact me for more information.

Holiday Shopping with the Kids

Pam Dyson Wins National Play Therapy Award

Pam Dyson, MA, LPC, RPT, and founder and director of the St. Louis Center for Play Therapy Training was the recipient of the 2013 Key Award for Professional Education and Training from the Association for Play Therapy.

The award was based upon achievement and service between June 1, 2012 and May 31, 2013.  
 
Pam was honored at the Oct. 11 Recognition and Awards Dinner during the 2013 APT Conference in Palm Springs, CA.

Other award recipients included:
 
■ Lifetime Achievement Award - Linda Homeyer, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, Canyon Lake, TX
 
■ Public Education & Promotion Award - Norma Leban, LCSW-S, RPT-S, Pflugerville, TX

■ APT Service Award - Mary Ruth Cross, LMFT, NCC, RPT-S, San Ramon, CA 

Quality Time

Do you want to improve the relationship you have with your child? Schedule a weekly play time with your child that's focused on being together and enjoying each others company.

Pam Dyson Wins Play Therapy Award

Pam Dyson, MA, LPC, RPT, and founder and director of the St. Louis Center for Play Therapy Training is the recipient of the 2013 Key Award for Professional Education and Training from the Association for Play Therapy.
 
The award is based upon achievement and service between June 1, 2012 and May 31, 2013.  
 
Other award recipients include:
 

■ Lifetime Achievement Award - Linda Homeyer, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, Canyon Lake, TX
 
■ Public Education & Promotion Award - Norma Leban, LCSW-S, RPT-S, Pflugerville, TX

■ APT Service Award - Mary Ruth Cross, LMFT, NCC, RPT-S, San Ramon, CA
 
All award recipients will be honored at the Oct. 11 Recognition and Awards Dinner during the 2013 APT Conference in Palm Springs, CA.

Wholehearted Parenting – Play is the Work of Children…The Ins and Outs of Play Therapy

We often trivialize play and only view it as something kids do. We’re right, not only do kids play, but they’re experts at it. We also know that “play is the work of children”, according to the developmental psychologist Jean Piaget.

Play therapy offers a view into a child’s world. Play therapists are specially trained therapists, who incorporate techniques to help children express their feelings and adjust to life’s difficulties. Children, who benefit from play therapy, might be experiencing a divorce, death, health issues, school, family or friendship issues.

I hope you will take the time to listen to my conversation with Bonnie Compton APRN, BC, CPNP, host of Wholehearted Parenting as we discuss the benefit of play therapy for children. You’ll learn what play therapy is and how it may help your child.

The Ins and Outs of Play Therapy

Sibling Fights