Parenting

The child who comes into my office with the "problem" is typically just a piece of the bigger picture. Let's face it, parenting in 2022 is extremely difficult. Depression and anxiety have skyrocketed in the years since the introduction of social media. If we want our kids to change, usually the parents will have to make some changes as well.

I see parents who are raising children of all ages, as well as parents of adult children since the work, stresses, joys and fears of parenting shift but never end. There can be feelings of grief that can coincide unexpectedly in parenting, loss of identity, struggles to communicate with partners/family members, daily frustrations, deep fatigue and loss of purpose. Anxiety and worries can grow and we work to find a balance of acceptance, meaning and appropriate life balance for holistic health.

Parenting is one of the most challenging and yet most rewarding responsibility we take on in life. Because of this, we can sometimes lose sight of the positives when our children experience different milestones and stages of development. I find it helpful to help you define your values to best guide our work together. Together, we can figure out what you may benefit from the most-whether it's learning strategies, emotion regulation tips, or building insight into yourself or co-parenting.

Support from after birth planning through every stage of family development.

I’m all about helping people become an assertive confident parent to help their child grow into a happy adult.

As a previous special education teacher and school counselor, my understanding of children in the family system is unique. I have helped a variety of challenging children find ways of becoming more effective in a multitude of environments. I have experience being a facilitator for Love and Logic techniques, conducting the parenting program at a substance abuse residential facility, and 5 years of experience with the local DHR, as a vendor providing in-home services to parents.

I have been teaching parenting classes for over 20 years. I regularly speak to school PTAs/PTOs, church MOPs and mothers groups on a wide variety of parenting topics. I hosted a parenting podcast for 2 years (Passport to Parenting). I help parents and divorced co-parents support their children to live exceptional lives.

As a parent myself and having worked with parents for over 14 years, I know first hand how challenging caring for others while trying to take care of yourself can be. Life can throw you curve balls and they often occur when we are already depleted. I am a strong believer that parents need to take care of themselves and their needs to be better for their children, and want to provide a space for that.

Conflict Decision Making Divorce Grief Marriage Enrichment Parenting/Discipline Pre-marital Counseling (Twogether In Texas) Relationship Concerns Stress Teen Issues

Parenting is hard. It’s also fulfilling, transcendent, hilarious and fun. But in spite of those incredible peaks, it is also a crucible that can bring us down to valleys of desperation that can overwhelm our lives. I believe that a parent’s emotional state is the ground from which our children grow. My goal is to help you strengthen your connection to your kids by reconnecting with yourself.

Parenting in a global pandemic is an epic challenge no one could have prepared for. There are so many pressures as a parent to provide emotionally, financially, and logistically for your children. Coming from an Interpersonal Neurobiology lens, I utilize an attachment approach to help you understand, gain insight, and move forward from your particular parenting challenges. I also specialize in supporting parents who have children with mental health and chronic physical health conditions.

In my work with Single Mothers By Choice (SMBC) and new/expecting parents I offer a space where these individuals and couples can explore what it means to take on this new role. Together we will identify what being a parent means to you, finding ways to help you navigate the ups and downs of parenthood. I also provide grief counseling for parents who have experienced perinatal loss. Mourning the loss of a child is a tragic experience. Together we will find ways to help you heal.

Parenting can be overwhelming! Sometimes no matter what you do it doesn't feel like enough. Therapy can help you feel heard and understood. Together we will come up with a plan to provide support, coaching, and strategies to increase feelings of connection and decrease conflict. I am trained in Positive Discipline and Collaborative Problem Solving.

Challenges with parenting often cause couple conflict, so I work to support parent couples in connecting and remembering who they were before becoming parents. We will work with your differing parenting styles so that everyone's perspective is heard and valued, along with learning concrete parenting tools from research to improve both your relationship and your child's behavior.

Are you a parent of young kiddos or teens? Are you reparenting yourself? Both?! There's so much to explore when it comes to parenting and intergenerational trauma. Your parents' parenting styles impacted the course of your life and influenced your triggers and reactions. You may see these patterns repeat when you speak to yourself and your kids. Processing your childhood experiences provides insight into what you learned was normal and expected. You get to choose what you want to keep or change.

I help parents in understanding where their own history and perspective merges with that of their child. In doing so, we can create a more harmonious environment for the family. I also work with parents whom parenting has been challenging, and who need individual work on processing their own needs and space for their own mental health. I also work with couples who need assistance in combining parenting strategies, communication differences, and creating a solid parenting unit.

Parenting and coparenting is a difficult journey, which requires support and encouragement while guiding children and teens through various challenges that they are presented with today. With increasingly complex social systems and pressures unique to today, parent are faced with depressed and anxious children and teens more than ever. I am honored to be able to partner with you and support you on your parenthood journey.

Dr. Edwards specializes in attachment and positive parent-child relationships. She is certified in parent child interaction therapy, a highly effective evidence-based treatment for families of children with challenging behavior problems. She also works with parents to help them understand their child’s temperaments and unique personality, educate on child development, and empower them to become the best parent they choose to be.

Attachment Parenting Positive Psychology Consistency, care & communication