When working with families the primary focus
is on the parents.
This is because they are the best and most
likely agents of change for the children.
To do this, however, parents must be in the
process of resolving their own issues. I believe that this calls for a heart
change in them. I tell parents that this will be very challenging for them, but
I also give them hope through the Word of God.
My personal experience with heart change
helps me to understand their struggles. My personal heart change helps me
understand their pain.
Parents have to feel good enough about
themselves to be emotionally available for their children. Their window of
tolerance needs to be able to handle any emotion that their children bring to
them. Parents need to be a secure attachment figure for their child. God calls
us to be in a state of love for our children.
***
Ken Thom, MS, LPC is a nationally recognized Christian counselor and
writer. He is available for parent and individual coaching. Ken is a Post
Institute Certified Family Regulatory Therapist, Certified Coach and Great
Behavior Breakdown Instructor as well as a certified BCI parent trainer. Ken's
book Christian Parent Wisdom is a daily scripture based medication book for parenting
children with challenging behaviors. Contact Ken.
