Parenting with the Brain in Mind: 6 Weeks to Stronger Connections
Event Description:
The Whole-Brain Child series is a 6-week experiential group designed to help parents, caregivers, and adults understand how the brain develops and how to foster emotional, social, and cognitive growth in children. Each week explores practical strategies from Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson’s book, including brain integration, emotional regulation, mindful discipline, and strengthening family connections.
Participants will learn tools to respond calmly during challenging moments, support healthy decision-making, promote empathy, and build stronger, more connected relationships. Through guided exercises, discussion, and reflection, this series empowers caregivers to apply brain-based approaches in daily life for lasting positive impact.
Target Audience:
This series is ideal for parents, caregivers, and adults who want to better understand how children’s brains develop and learn practical, evidence-based strategies to support emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and resilience. It is especially beneficial for those seeking tools to handle challenging behaviors, improve communication, and foster connection within the family.
Dates & Times:
Week 1: Monday, November 10th, 2025
Week 2: Monday, November 17th , 2025
Week 3: Monday, November 24th, 2025
Week 4: Monday, December 1st, 2025
Week 5: Monday December 8th, 2025
Week 6: Monday, December 15th, 2025
Location:
This group will be held via our HIPAA compliant telehealth platform.
Pricing:
$30 per adult for the entire 6 week series, due upon registration
Facilitator Information:
This group will be led by Jenni Roney, student therapist, under supervision of a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and AAMFT Approved Supervisor or AAMFT Supervisor Candidate at Friends University.
Week 1: Parenting with the Brain in Mind
Session Focus:
Learn the foundational principles of “whole-brain” parenting—understanding how the different parts of the brain work together and how integration supports emotional health, relationships, and resilience.
Session Purpose:
When children (or adults) are overwhelmed, they’re often operating from the reactive, emotional part of the brain. By understanding brain integration, parents and caregivers can recognize what’s happening beneath the behavior and respond in ways that help children feel safe, seen, and soothed. This awareness transforms power struggles into moments of connection and builds long-term emotional regulation skills.
Session Objectives:
Participants will:
Identify the basic structure and functions of the brain related to emotional and behavioral regulation.
Understand the concept of integration—how connecting the “upstairs” (thinking) and “downstairs” (feeling) brain leads to healthier responses.
Recognize signs of disintegration (when the child is “flipping their lid”).
Learn practical strategies to respond rather than react during difficult moments.
Begin building a foundation for using brain-based approaches throughout the series.
Resources for this Group:
This group is based on the book The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson Buy the Book Here (optional)
Another great book that complements this group is The Whole-Brain Child Workbook: Practical Exercises, Worksheets and Activities to Nurture Developing Minds by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson Buy the Workbook Here (optional)
*** Transparency matters to us. Fortis may earn a small commission from Amazon purchases made through our links. We only share products and resources we genuinely find helpful in supporting mental health and wellness.