We are in the midst of January and clinic reawakened slowly for the wintering period. New senses and subtle changes in clinic to embrace the next period. Clinic welcomes many lovely people through its door and this is inclusive of creating a safe space for individuals to reflect upon their role as a parent. Often this includes reflection of worries and concerns. Clinic offers a safe space for parents to explore their own childhood and to receive techniques and support for parenting. It is holistic in nature bringing care and attention to all relations. This can be supportive with guidance in understanding your responses or a space to reflect on the next steps of your parenting journey. I understand the need of addressing worries of parenting.
Parenting is a journey and includes a psychological journey. There can be shared aspects with others and at the same time unique to you, culture, personality, what you find fun to name a few. Cultural expectations and societal norms can at times complicate parenting, often imposing unrealistic standards on what “good” parenting looks like. For some clients therapy supports the conflicting feelings of love, anxiety, shame and guilt. Most people I work with have the desire to provide the best for their children and this can lead parenting to feel like overwhelming pressure.
Being a parent can mean looking at your self within therapy. Each client is unique, moreover, each child is unique, with distinct personalities and needs. Children greet many transitions requiring parents to adapt their approaches and style continuously. Mindful parenting acknowledges that the parenting journey is of mutual growth, with focus on presence and connection rather than control. This means fostering the child to have independence, being flexible to their needs, boosting self worth and being adaptive. It all sounds really easy and much more difficult in practice and principle. I prefer to highlight to clients that part of parenting is removing perfectionism. At times clients speak about the other parent having a different parental style or feel unsupported in their role. At times the clients childhood is explored in regards to how they have been brought up, this is not blaming nor shaming the parent but taking a closer look at self can support understanding your own parental response.
Our society speaks alot about the village the parents require in bringing up a child. Many who greet clinic may not have found the safe village or those similar, others may have a village that is harming more and others are surrounded by loved ones. Clinic space can provide a village like feel, even if it is to be one person for you explore your feelings and thoughts with.
The 7-7-7 of parenting is an interesting component for you to try if you wish. Even if you are coparenting this can be an important feature in day to day when you are with your children. It is about adapting your parental style to each phase for holistic development. This can be fitted into your life easily and it can be built upon in your own unique way to support your family system. The below example is suitable for parentings working with school aged children.
Morning: Start the day with presence to support your child feeling seen and valued. 7 minutes minimum
Afternoon: If your child is home schooled or attending school, after learning or if you are working. This time is spent reconnecting and listening actively to their day. 7 minutes minimum
Before bed: A ritual for your family, intentional presence in strengthening the bond – a space for calmness and loving. 7 minutes minimum
Clinic offers a safe space for parents to explore their own childhood and to receive techniques and support for parenting. It is holistic in nature bringing care and attention to all relations.
It is with hope in 2026 that a few more blogs and tips can be provided in regards to parenting.