Parenting Groups

But how do you develop this connection with your child? How does it ultimately contribute to her development, and to yours? It starts with your approach. The heart of Mind to Mind Parenting is our reflective parenting groups. These groups offer the opportunity to step outside of your own experience and listen to another parent’s story. Through a series of exercises and “homework,” we develop your ability to reflect about your child’s experience in the same way. Eventually, parents engage their capacity to think reflectively about their own experience as parents, what influences it, and what they bring to the relationship. This process of reflection profoundly influences your relationship with your child, your own behavior as a parent, and your child’s response to you.

Mind to Mind groups are structured around the normal developmental transitions of parenting. They mirror your child’s development. We focus on the way these transitions affect you, and your relationship with your child. Our goal is to 1) support you through these process, and 2) help you adjust your relationship with your child to reflect the new reality that accompanies such shifts.

In our experience, these are the stages or issues where parents are most likely to need help:

• Understanding your baby’s signals. For new parents.
  (We’ll be your village).
• What tantrums, play and separation are all about.
  (For parents of children 3-6) .
• Surviving the Mean Girl Years.
  (For mothers of girls 11-14).
• Identity, Gender and Social Pressure.
  (For parents of middle school children).
• Engaging  and LISTENING to your adolescent.
• The year of Letting Go.
• Navigating boundaries with your adult child.
• Men/o/pause. Confronting hormones, aging and boyfriends.
  (All at once).
• Understanding and deciding about medication (or not) .

Parents often feel anxious about discussing their parenting experiences in a group environment. Mind to Mind groups are not emphatically non-judgmental. Our goal is to nurture and support empathy and perspective-taking, and promote candid and thoughtful conversation.Parents practice responding reflectively, learn new ways to communicate, and become more confident in their parenting. This creates a stronger and more intimate relationship with your child, and allows you to parent more joyfully and effectively.

We also offer issue-specific groups upon request, which have included a group for divorcing parents, a group for parents of children with medical issues, and a group for single parents.

All groups meet weekly for ten weeks. Each session is an hour and a half and groups are limited to ten members. Each session is $80.00, or $70 per session if purchased as a group.  Some scholarships are available.

Mind to Mind Spring 2010 groups are listed below.

Mind to Mind Parenting
Reflective Parenting Spring 2010 Workshops

New Parents:

Understanding your Baby’s Signals

Tuesday, April 6 through Tuesday, June 8, 10:30 am -12:00 pm

Wednesday April 7 through Wednesday, June 9, 7:30-9:00 pm

Parents of Children 3-6:

Tantrums, Play, and Separation

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, June 9, 9:00-11:00 am

Thursday, April 8 through Thursday, June 10, 7:30-9:00 pm

Mothers of Middle School Girls:

Surviving and thriving the Mean Girl years

Tuesday, April 6 through Tuesday, June 8, 8:30-10:00 am

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, June 9, 5:45-7:15 pm

Parents of Middle School Children:
Identity, Gender, and Social Pressure

Tuesday, April 6 through Tuesday, June 8, 1:45-3:15 pm

Thursday, April 8 through Thursday June 10, 8:30-10:00 am

Parents of Children Leaving Home:

Letting Go

Friday, April 9 through Friday, June 11, 8:00-9:30 am
And Friday April 9 through Friday, June 11, 10:00-11:30 am

A brief interview is required prior to attending a group.