Parent Consulting
Our Approach
Patti (Vancouver) and Colleen (North Vancouver) offer parent consultations for parents by phone/Skype or in person at our offices. We work with parents of children from toddlers to adulthood.
Based on the theories and approach of psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld, we help make sense of a child’s behaviour and how the parent can provide what the child needs. This approach is rooted in developmental theory—the theory that children learn, thrive, and reach their full potential through secure relationships with their parents and caregivers. We support parents who are dealing with their child or teen’s challenging, troubling, or confusing behaviour. We help them find ways to preserve their relationship with their child despite their struggles.
We support parents in dealing with a variety of challenges such as:
Discipline
Resistance and defiance
Dominance
Aggression
Anxiety
Grief and loss
Low self-esteem
Social challenges
Separation and divorce
Sibling rivalry
Bullying
Child/teacher relationships
Raising a sensitive child or teen
Raising a child with special challenges such as : autism, attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, giftedness, etc.
We do not need to see your child or teen to help you as a parent with the troubling issue. We see parents without the child/teen attending the session.
For more information about Dr. Gordon Neufeld’s approach, please visit www.neufeldinstitute.org
“Children must never work for our love; they must rest in it.”
Testimonials from Clients
One parent’s journey
“A friend invited me to Colleen and Patti’s Highly Sensitive Child talk six years ago. My four-year old son was reactive, aggressive, explosive and highly alarmed. We were struggling daily and parenting felt like a battlefield. In my heart the conventional discipline and behaviour methods felt wrong, and my son was crying out for help but I didn’t know what to do. I listened to the talk with tears of relief streaming down my face. I knew I had come upon the right support and this would be the beginning of new understanding, and a new way of relating to my son.
I did private counselling sessions with Colleen and continued attending the Drobot parenting presentations—every single one is worth it’s weight in gold. Colleen guided me with warmth, patience and a strong alpha presence that was reassuring and safe. She shared child development insights, personal examples from her own parenting journey, books and practical suggestions that helped me every single time. I grew a lot as a person and a parent—learning how to take the lead, nurturing resilience, softening my son’s defences and bringing his alarm down, collecting him, and ultimately offering a safe nourishing relationship where he is at rest and able to develop naturally. I learned about play, tuning in, sensitivity and more. I changed the way I engaged with my son and quickly saw things shift. It was also a safe place to process my own fear, grief and exhaustion that had accumulated during some very challenging years of parenting. My son is now 10 years old and thriving. I’ve found my confidence as a parent, we have a very connected relationship and we have harmony in our house.
I am incredibly grateful to Colleen and Patti for walking alongside me and showing me a path that in my heart feels right and that works for my son and my family.”
About Colleen
“Colleen has been a lifeline to me and my family. Her understanding of where I am coming from as a mother of a sensitive child initially drew me to her, yet over time, I find it’s the balance of her professionalism and wisdom that allow me to open up to her in a way that brings about deep and lasting change. While most of my work with Colleen has focused on my relationship with my eldest daughter, I can see that my relationships with my younger children have been positively impacted— I am so grateful to not be making the same missteps all over again with them! Colleen’s knowledge of attachment and development, along with her compassion and warm candor, have changed the lens through which I see my children and brought me closer to becoming the parent I always intended to be for them. ”
“Not many people get my kids. Few people really know anything about giftedness and sensitivity. It was amazing how Colleen was able in one hour to zone in on what might be bugging my son, without even ever meeting him. I feel so much better after our consults-both about the decisions we are making and about how to handle our son’s emotional needs.”
About Patti
“I worked with Patti during the time of my separation and divorce. Her warmth, compassion, and skill as a counsellor was a tremendous support for me. Her knowledge about child and human development as well as attachment theory helped me move through a difficult time as I was able to safely explore my own emotions and understand the relational dynamics that can lead to divorce while also understanding how to best support my children through this transition.”
“When I first came to see Patti I felt like I was fumbling in the dark parenting my highly sensitive daughter. With Patti’s support, I feel like I am finally in the light of day, I can now see clearly what she needs and how to support her. At our school Patti has helped with teacher consultations and educator workshops - every teacher has had nothing but the highest praise for Patti’s experience, expertise, and kindness.”