Brain-Body Parenting
How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids
From a leading child psychologist comes this groundbreaking new understanding of children’s behavior, offering insight and strategies to support both parents and children.
In Brain-Body Parenting, Dr. Delahooke offers a radical new approach to parenting based on her clinical experience as well as the most recent research in neuroscience and child psychology. Instead of a “top-down” approach to behavior that focuses on the thinking brain, she calls for a “bottom-up” approach that considers the essential role of the entire nervous system, which produces children’s feelings and behaviors.
When we begin to understand the biology beneath the behavior, suggests Dr. Delahooke, we give our children the resources they need to grow and thrive—and we give ourselves the gift of a happier, more connected relationship with them. Brain-Body Parenting empowers parents with tools to help their children develop self-regulation skills –and the energy to provide the essential “co-regulation” children need. When parents shift from trying to secure compliance to supporting connection and balance in the body and mind, they unlock a deeper understanding of their child, encouraging calmer behavior, more harmonious family dynamics, and increased resilience.
Beyond Behaviors
"Beyond Behaviors provides the basis for a paradigm shift in understanding and treating children with disruptive behaviors. Historically, educational and therapeutic models treat anti-social and asocial behavior as motivated and incentivized. In this accessible and beautifully written volume, Dr. Delahooke pulls the veil off this myth and replaces it with a neurobiologically-informed treatment model that provides insightful directives leading to effective outcomes."
Stephen W Porges, PhD
Distinguished University Scientist, Indiana University, Professor of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, and author of The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe.
"I love this book. It will be one I give and recommend over and over. Beyond Behaviors is succinct, accessible, practical, science-based. And it’s a game changer. My hope is that not only parents, educators, clinicians, and all helping professionals read it, but that it becomes required reading for professionals in training. It’s time for us to use science-informed approaches to go beyond behaviors to support children and their caregivers, and this is the book to light the way."
Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D., LCSW
Executive Director of The Center for Connection
Co-author of the bestsellers The Whole Brain-Child and No-Drama Discipline
"Brilliant!! Dr. Mona Delahooke integrates knowledge from the fields of infant mental health, child development, clinical psychology and neuroscience to provide a revolutionary approach to challenging behaviors in children. Complex neurobiologic processes are beautifully translated into a practical model for meaningful intervention. The unique, yet critical, perspective on children's most challenging behaviors has the power to transform lives. This book is an essential read for all people who care for, or interact, with children."
Megan Stilwill, DO FAAP
Pediatrician
"Dr. Delahooke encourages child professionals and families to see concerning behaviors as the tip of an iceberg. With compassion and insight, she guides us toward creating healing environments of safety and security."
Marylyn R. Sanders, MD, FAAP
Attending Neonatologist, Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Professor of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
"As a developmental psychologist, compassion teacher, and autism mom, I can whole-heartedly say this book is brilliant. Traditional methods of “shaping” children’s behaviors typically ignore children's emotional state, at great cost to the child’s ability to learn, develop, and form secure relationships. This book provides concrete ways to help understand safety as the foundation for children’s learning, working with rather than against natural brain functions to maximize learning potential."
Kristin Neff, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Educational Psychology
The University of Texas at Austin
Beyond Behaviors Flip Chart
A Psychoeducational Tool to Help Therapists, Teachers & Parents Understand and Support Children with Behavioral Challenges
With this psychoeducational, in-session tool, you will learn the fundamental concepts behind the Beyond Behaviors approach, including:
- The developmental iceberg as a way to understand individual differences
- The three main autonomic nervous system states that inform a child’s behaviors
- How the process of neuroception reframes disruptive behaviors as protective and adaptive
- The six processes of social-emotional development
- How to reframe behaviors and provide appropriate accommodations for each child
The Child Behavior Quiz
Here’s a fun opportunity to think about your child’s behaviors and reactions to their life experiences.
Take The QuizThe Beyond Behaviors Course
Available Now!
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