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 2: Two Brains are Better Than One: Integrating the Left and Right
Session Focus:
Explore how the left and right sides of the brain work together to create balanced thinking and feeling—and learn practical tools to help children integrate logic and emotion during everyday challenges.
Session Purpose:
Children (and adults) often get “stuck” in either their emotional right brain (overwhelmed by feelings) or their logical left brain (shut off from emotion). Helping them integrate both sides supports empathy, communication, and problem-solving. By understanding how to engage both hemispheres, caregivers can guide children toward emotional balance and connection.
Session Objectives:
Participants will:
Understand the distinct functions of the left (logical) and right (emotional) hemispheres of the brain.
Recognize signs that a child is “stuck” in one side of the brain.
Learn and practice “connect and redirect”—a strategy that begins with right-brain empathy before moving to left-brain logic.
Identify ways to use storytelling and naming emotions (“name it to tame it”) to help children make sense of their experiences.
Continue building foundational skills for supporting whole-brain integration and emotional resilience.
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)
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