Lawrence Cohen PhD

Untitled Document Resolution As parents, we must resolve our own childhood traumas, losses and unmet needs in order to meet the needs of our children. Every person alive has experienced some form of loss; it's just part of the human condition. We may have lost a parent or a sibling, or lost our sense of safety because of being abused or neglected as a child. We … [Read more...] about The Ten Talents of Parenting: Resolution

Understanding and Empathy If we look under the surface of our children's behavior, at how they might be feeling, we are often in a better position to get things back on track. How have you nurtured that talent of looking deep inside, understanding where a child's behavior is coming from and seeing the pain behind the problems? When our children have been "bad," it's hard for … [Read more...] about The Ten Talents of Parenting: Understanding and Empathy

Untitled DocumentWhy and How to Reflect on Being a Parent The best way to jump-start a habit of self-reflection is to set aside a specific time every day for writing in a journal or sharing your thoughts with a friend. Just 10 minutes can make a difference. In The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy, Louis Cozolino describes people with a rare type of brain injury who are … [Read more...] about The Ten Talents of Parenting: Reflection

Untitled Document Finding Emotional Balance Finding emotional balance is hard when we are filled with our own anger, frustration, anxiety or resentment. These feelings knock us off balance, and parenting is already challenging enough when we aren't wobbling - or falling all the way over! Have you noticed the language that we parents use when things are not going well with … [Read more...] about The Ten Talents of Parenting: Balance

Untitled Document Recognizing and Responding to Your Child's Needs The key to providing security to children is recognizing and meeting their needs. It isn't always easy. Babies' needs are pretty obvious: feed them when they're hungry, change them when they're wet, hold them when they want to be close, show them the world when they are curious. But as children grow up, their … [Read more...] about The Ten Talents of Parenting: Responsiveness