Articles written by Brenda

HearthMath Handout

Heartmath is a biofeedback technique that teaches you how to use your breathing and your heart to reduce or eliminate unpleasant symptoms and to put you back in control of your emotional states. read more...

Adoptive Family Identity Formation

Adoptive Family Identity Formation can be defined as the way in which the family system transforms emotionally, spiritually, and physically from its pre-adoptive state to one that embraces and reflects the recently placed child. read more...

Parent Teen Conflict -The Control Principle

Parents and teens have been having conflict since the dawn of time. So, how can you, the parent, use this conflict in a way that adds to the teen’s healthy development, while you stay sane and avoid feeling like one of the walking wounded? read more...

Childhood Rages

Rages are not uncommon in children who are adopted from domestic foster care or internationally. If you have a child who does this then you know the symptoms. read more...

Understanding Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive method of exercising the brain to enhance overall function and to manage symptoms. read more...

Surprise

I was presenting at a workshop recently and mentioned, in an off-handed kind of way, that I was curious about what surprises we would find with our next adoption. read more...

Trust

Recently, an adoptive father asked me for suggestions on how he could develop a trust based relationship with his seven year old daughter, adopted internationally from an orphanage two years previously. read more...

Family Helper

I have been a child and family therapist for twenty five years (when did I get that old?). In my therapeutic and coaching practice, I work with adoptive and foster parents to help them develop strategies for managing children with the challenging behaviours that are associated with attachment trauma, FASD, ADHD, anger management, and simply learning how to belong to a loving family. read more...

Dear Teacher

This article may be useful for parents who are dealing with the way a teacher or counselor is responding to the particular challenges in your adoptive family. read more...