Parenting and Co-Parenting
What often holds us back from being the parent we aspire to be isn't lack of love or effort, but the unresolved patterns within ourselves that go unnoticed.
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​Parenting is hard, challenging, and never-ending. Not only are we responsible for guiding another human being, but we are also constantly faced with the realization of how much our unconscious mind shapes our interactions with everyone around us—children, partners, and co-parents alike. As we navigate these relationships, it becomes clear that much of what we bring to the table is influenced by our own internal world.
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The attachment style a parent developed with their own parents can unconsciously influence how they interact with their children. Whether secure or insecure, this attachment pattern often manifests in the way parents respond to their child's needs, shaping the child's emotional and psychological development. Furthermore, children are highly sensitive to the emotions that parents bring into interactions. They pick up on subtle emotional cues and often mirror their parent’s behavior, adopting both their anxieties and calmness. This emotional resonance highlights the importance of parents being mindful of their own emotional states, as children are likely to internalize and reflect them.
While it is important to be aware of the responsibility we carry as parents, it is equally vital to attend to our own needs first—after all, we can only give what we have. Part of parenting is accepting that we will inevitably make mistakes, and knowing how to repair those mistakes with our children is crucial. Instead of being paralyzed by the fear of failure and withdrawing, it’s essential to model accountability and resilience by addressing and fixing the missteps we make.
Our children often bring up the most triggering issues for us, acting as trailheads for our own therapeutic growth and maturation. By engaging with these challenges, we not only grow alongside our children but also demonstrate that there is always more to learn about ourselves (and them). Although our children should not be the outlet for processing our own emotions, they often serve as the greatest motivation for us to do so. They are always observing where, how, and whether we engage in that emotional work. This process of evolving together fosters an environment of mutual respect and growth, where both parent and child are active participants in lifelong learning.
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When faced with challenges in raising children, we can look inward for answers, rather than trying to fix our children or interfere with their natural development. This shift offers great freedom and a renewed sense of control, as we take responsibility for what is happening in our lives and reclaim our ability to influence our own growth.
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Birth Trauma Resolution
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​A non-pathologizing approach to therapy honors each person as whole, focusing on healing the root causes of suffering. Symptoms are seen as adaptive responses that offer insight into deeper emotional needs.