Archives: Courses

When your child approaches you to share or process their thoughts and feelings about gender identity or sexual orientation they are trusting you with their deepest sense self. These conversations can spark fears for their wellbeing and it can be a struggle in that moment  to know how to respond without rejecting or discounting their experience. Classes in this library will help you prepare for an open, ongoing dialogue with your child or teen that is candid, authentic and supportive.

Parents who access the “LGBTQ and Gender Essential Series” library will be able to:

• Identify the differences between sexual orientation and gender identity
• Identify common LGBTQ identities and what they may mean for your child
• Recognize and apply ways to respond to your child that are supportive 
• Recognize responses to your child that are not helpful
• Apply listening and talking strategies that help your child feel safe enough to express their true thoughts and feelings
• Apply approaches that will support your child’s positive thoughts and feelings about themself

• Do you sometimes find it difficult to connect with your teen?
• Do you sometimes wonder what’s really going on in their heart and mind?
• Do you want to find ways to argue less and connect more? 

Adolescence is a time of big changes and parents sometimes wish they could better understand their teen. This session will be a conversation about ways to communicate that may increase your teen’s willingness to be open with you as well as strengthen their confidence and their well-being. Many accomplished youth start to feel more anxious during adolescence or even discouraged in ways that you may not notice. We will all talk together about strategies you can use to provide the support and connection that will help your teen thrive. You will have a chance to hear from other parents and ask questions of Peace At Home Parenting founder, Ruth E. Freeman, LCSW and teen expert and school social worker, Autumn Cloud-Ingram, MSW. 

It’s that time of year and many of us will look forward to expressing gratitude around a table of loved ones. We know, however, that those who practice gratitude throughout the year reap enormous benefits including improved mood and mental health. Join our team of experts and bring your questions, your doubts and your friends to this lively conversation about a topic that may be much more important than you ever guessed. We promise you will come away with some practical ways to uplift family life and even feeling more enthusiastic about the holidays!

Are you concerned about your child or teen’s mental health? Wondering how you can really help? Do you question how well mental health providers respect culture and ethnicity? Some are declaring a “pediatric mental health emergency” because so many parents are showing up in hospital emergency rooms with fears about kids’ emotional issues. Many parents are not sure where to turn and wonder what is best for their struggling children and teens during these challenging times. World Mental Health Day is Sunday, October 10th. The theme is “Mental health for all – let’s make it a reality.” Our panel of Peace At Home clinicians will answer your questions about mental health and help you think about how to integrate your culture and ethnicity into the treatment process.

Parent stress has dramatically increased since the start of the pandemic, but children’s essential needs haven’t really changed.

Parents are less stressed when they recognize myths that may cause family conflict and understand what’s most important to help raise thriving, cooperative children. And, good news, kids are more cooperative when they feel positively connected with their parents.

This live online class will help you understand and apply:

• Communication skills that build strong parent-child connections
• Parent behaviors that help kids cope with stress and develop self-control
• Effective discipline approaches that reduce misbehavior and increase cooperation.

You will have a chance to ask questions and get expert solutions on the spot. You will also receive helpful cheat sheets to guide you when trying new approaches.

Parent stress has dramatically increased since the start of the pandemic, but children’s essential needs haven’t really changed.

Parents are less stressed when they recognize myths that may cause family conflict and understand what’s most important to help raise thriving, cooperative children. And, good news, kids are more cooperative when they feel positively connected with their parents.

This live online class will help you understand and apply:

• Communication skills that build strong parent-child connections
• Parent behaviors that help kids cope with stress and develop self-control
• Effective discipline approaches that reduce misbehavior and increase cooperation.

You will have a chance to ask questions and get expert solutions on the spot. You will also receive helpful cheat sheets to guide you when trying new approaches.

Felicitaciones, su hijo es un estudiante exitoso que ha sido reconocido por su talento y sus logros.
Ahora, ¿qué pasos puede tomar usted para ayudarlo a manejar las emociones y a prepararse para la independencia? Para los estudiantes talentosos y sus familias, la aceptación en un programa riguroso es solo el comienzo.

Ayude a su hijo a prepararse para un futuro brillante usando estas pautas:

• Aplicar las habilidades para gestionar el tiempo.

• Reconocer la importancia del autocuidado

• Encontrar el equilibrio entre compromisos y conexiones.

• Adquirir “inteligencia emocional” y así fortalecer su salud mental

• Comunicarse de manera positiva para profundizar en las relaciones personales.

Estas clases cortas, grabadas para su conveniencia, le brindarán herramientas e información para ayudar a su hijo a aprovechar al máximo esta oportunidad y a establecer el camino al éxito.

Parent stress has dramatically increased since the start of the pandemic, but children’s essential needs haven’t really changed.

Parents are less stressed when they recognize myths that may cause family conflict and understand what’s most important to help raise thriving, cooperative children. And, good news, kids are more cooperative when they feel positively connected with their parents.

This live online class will help you understand and apply:

• Communication skills that build strong parent-child connections
• Parent behaviors that help kids cope with stress and develop self-control
• Effective discipline approaches that reduce misbehavior and increase cooperation.

You will have a chance to ask questions and get expert solutions on the spot. You will also receive helpful cheat sheets to guide you when trying new approaches.

This series addresses ways to support the unique strengths and challenges of gifted first generation college students. First generation college students are more likely to be members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, come from low income households, and commute from home. Sadly, these traits are also commonly associated with students dropping out of college. In this series you will explore ways to support your gifted first generation college student including strategies to help you:

• Build positive relationships with your maturing child
• Support your child’s social emotional well-being
• Talk to teens in positive ways and how to give effective feedback
• Recognize the importance of mindset 
• Effectively foster independence in your child
• Set limits and reduce conflict
• Grow your understanding of stress and the brain

Co-parenting is often a challenge for parents living apart. The impact of constant stress and arguments can be exhausting. This course will help you recognize factors that interfere with cooperative co-parenting and provide you with concrete strategies to reduce conflict. 

By the end of this live online class parents will be able to: 

● Identify factors that keep conflict going 

● Identify and revise harmful conflict cycles 

● Develop a successful co-parenting plan 

● Apply skills to help you manage co-parenting stress 

● Apply effective strategies to manage conflict 

Even if you are excited about having a baby, it is common to feel worried too. Learn the facts about what to expect from the prenatal process. Get ideas about how to care for yourself and your baby in order to calm your concerns. This class will help you turn your worries into practical steps toward a healthy birth. 

Participants will be able to: 

● Recognize risks to pregnant women and newborn babies, especially for women of color

 ● Identify action steps you can take to protect your health and your baby 

● Work together with your medical provider in ways that will help you build a healthy birth

Studies show that youth who feel they can talk with their parents are less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as The adolescent brain assesses risk differently and teens get bored more easily. These are just a few of the changes taking place in your adolescent’s brain that might make communication and safety a lot more challenging. This class will provide parents with important information about teen brain development and practical strategies to help teens stay safe as well as grow and thrive. 

As children enter adolescence, they have a natural desire for independence. Teenagers’ desire for freedom can be scary for parents/caregivers, however, it is what gradually turns your adolescent into a healthy adult. 

Class participants will be able to: 

● Recognize key factors in adolescent brain development that influence behavior

● Identify factors that make independence during adolescence “risky” 

● Recognize the consequences of restricting independence 

● Identify and apply steps in planning with teens for situations that strengthen the independence 

Does your child have meltdowns when you try to limit behaviors? 

Is your little one suddenly hitting or biting others in frustration? 

Have you tried to resolve these challenging behaviors, and nothing seems to work? You are not alone. Participants will learn 

● Why challenging behaviors are typical at this age 

● How to help children manage their impulses 

● How parents can manage their own distress when challenging behaviors occur

● Positive discipline approaches to help children recover from aggressive behaviors 

● How to implement positive routines that reduce intensely emotional and aggressive behaviors 

Co-parenting is often a challenge for parents living apart. The impact of constant stress and arguments can be exhausting. This course will help you recognize factors that interfere with cooperative co-parenting and provide you with concrete strategies to reduce conflict. 

By the end of this live online class parents will be able to: 

● Identify factors that keep conflict going 

● Identify and revise harmful conflict cycles 

● Develop a successful co-parenting plan 

● Apply skills to help you manage co-parenting stress 

● Apply effective strategies to manage conflict 

For most of us the answer is yes. But it helps to plan mindfully. 

One definition of a blended family is a family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? However, as 40% of US families know, it can be far more complicated. Not just how we spend Christmas, but day to day complications may arise associated with confusion and hurt feelings in both children and adults. 

This class will focus on raising your awareness about the kinds of internal and external struggles many blended families face and identify approaches that can ease the difficulties for both adults and children. 

Are you sometimes frustrated with the material focus of the holiday season? Do the current safety considerations make the holidays and school vacation just seem impossible? Wondering what you can do differently?

Participants in this class will be able to:

• Identify what research tells us kids really want that money can’t buy
• Reflect on your own wishes and behavior related to the holiday season
• Consider family rituals that enrich holiday connections
• Plan together with your family for a holiday that is meaningful
• Plan a school vacation with your family that works for everyone

Many parents report that fewer outside activities for kids and increased work at home while caring for children is causing increased stress, worries and even depression. Mindfulness is a great tool to help parents and children find that calm center that lets us enjoy peaceful, quality time together. Bring the kids to this class where we’ll try out some playful yoga, breathing, and brain calming activities that families can practice every day. 

This class will help you and your children: 

● Gain strategies to calm yourself in the moment 

● Reduce overall stress, anxiety, and depression 

● Use play to connect with each other in happy ways 

All children are sad, anxious, irritable, or aggressive at times. Occasionally kids find it challenging to sit still, pay attention, or interact with others. In most cases, these are just typical phases in their development. However, these behaviors may indicate a more serious problem in some children. Without attention, these mental health conditions can prevent children from reaching their full potential. 

Whether your child is doing fine and you want to  prevent future mental health issues, or your child just  doesn’t seem like their usual self, or has actually  declared suicidal thoughts, you can help.  

Participants in this class will be able to:

• Identify and apply relationship strategies and everyday habits that support good mental health in children and teens. 
• Recognize the impact of parents’ mental health on the family. 
• Recognize and respond to signs in children and teens that more mental health support is needed.