Supporting Children Through the Loss of a Loved One
Trying to understand the death of a loved one can be confusing for a child. Perhaps your child has just had to say goodbye to a beloved grandparent, aunt, or uncle.
Has your family recently suffered a loss or are you anticipating a loss? If so, I am sending you compassion from afar.
Trying to understand the death of a loved one can be confusing for a child. Perhaps your child has just had to say goodbye to a beloved grandparent, aunt, or uncle. Maybe you have lost your spouse, and your child is trying to adjust to life without their parent. Or you have experienced a pregnancy loss after anticipating and celebrating a new sibling. If so, your child will likely have questions, fears and many feelings at once. And you may even see a younger version of your child for a period of time.
Oxygen Mask ON!
Supporting a child through the loss of a loved one can be emotionally challenging at times. After all, you are likely navigating your own grief as well. Please know that your wellbeing is incredibly important! Your grief needs space too. And at the same time, your child likely needs you even more right now. So place your own oxygen mask on first! For you that may mean asking for help from friends and family, finding support in your faith community, starting grief counseling or locating a support group. Then consider these tips for supporting your child through this uncertain time.
Encourage Them to Express Their Feelings
Give your child time and space to talk about how they are feeling. Be there to comfort them when they’re upset and crying. But it’s important to note that children experience grief somewhat differently than adults. For instance, it’s not uncommon for a child to cry over a deceased love one and then seem to cheer up a few minutes later and switch their focus to playing. Or maybe your little one is playing out stories of death in their imaginative play. Play is the language of children and a natural source of healing. Listen in or ask to observe. Then you can make note of what they are thinking, questions or errors in thinking and feelings that need validating. If you are feeling at a loss for words, check out some children’s books on loss from your local library. Stories can help both us and our kids find words and make meaning.
Talk About What to Expect
This applies to both an anticipated loss as well as one that has already occurred. If your child is accompanying you to the hospital, a funeral or wake they may have lots of questions about what it will be like. Tell them what to expect to prepare them for the dying process and memorial rituals. Hospice staff or Child Life specialists can be incredibly helpful in this area. And if the person who died was a part of their typical routines – for instance, a grandparent who picked them up from school – let your child know who will take over these roles now so that they aren’t caught off guard.
Be Direct
We often use euphemisms to talk about death. Your faith may be very important to you and your family in coping with your loss and will likely inform the words you choose. At the same time, while adults will know what you mean when you use phrases like “passed away,” your child may not. It can be hard to tell your child that someone they loved died, but using concrete terms to explain death is important to help them understand exactly what happened. This also helps prevent some misunderstandings and worries for young children.
Try to Maintain Routines
Yes, some routines in your child’s life may change permanently after their loved one’s death. And your family’s routines will probably be temporarily disrupted in the days or weeks immediately following your loved one’s passing. But once it’s possible to settle back into predictable routines, doing so can help your child adapt. Giving them a sense of structure will help them manage the stress of this loss and the resulting changes to your lives. This is a great area to put family and friends “to work” for you. They want to help but just don’t know how. Are there tasks they can assist with so you are freed up to take your children to and from school or to allow for one on one time?
Help Your Child Remember
Our broader culture has very few rituals for honoring the death of a loved one. If you are a part of a faith community, this may also inform the decisions you make to honor your beloved. Your child may want to attend and if older, may want to contribute by writing or creating something to be displayed or shared at the memorial or funeral. Many adults worry about young children attending funerals for fear of upsetting them. Yet, including young children in these rituals helps them understand and cope with the loss. Your little one may also want to draw or paint a picture of them having fun with their loved one. Allowing them to participate in the memorial process in some way can help them say goodbye. A memorial service is just the beginning of the remembering process. As a family, you can also work together to identify ways to honor the memory of your beloved during the days, weeks and years ahead. Including your children in this process can strengthen your relationship and offer comfort and healing.
Consider Therapy
Everyone copes differently with loss. And some children have a very hard time, especially those who have experienced prior losses. We also live in a culture that makes very little space for sadness, anger, upset and grief. It can make for a lonely journey. If you are becoming concerned about your child’s wellbeing, and you’re not sure how to help them further, working with an experienced child and family therapist can give you the additional support you and they need. My approach to Child Therapy can support you and them through this difficult time.
Reach out to me today to request a free 30 minute discovery session to explore if I could be a good fit for your family’s needs.
Jeri Lea Kroll is a psychotherapist and parent coach specializing in early childhood, parenting, trauma, attachment across the lifespan and adoption using a lens informed by attachment theory and the relational neurosciences. She is also an adopted person and adoptive parent. She provides relationship-focused therapy and coaching to individuals, parents and families virtually and in-person from her offices in Brighton and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Jeri Lea offers a free 30 minute discovery session to those considering parent coaching, counseling or child and family therapy. You can request a discovery session HERE.
5 Ways to Foster a Growth Mindset in Kids
Growth mindset can help buffer children from the effects of hardships and failures. It is a wonderful perspective to have for anyone!
Do you have a child who is especially hard on themselves, avoids taking risks or expects perfection in all things?
Or maybe you have noticed that virtual learning has turned your child off to learning in general?
How do you help them change course and rediscover a love for learning?
Helping your children (and yourself) shift their thinking and actions toward a growth mindset is one way to promote persistence, healthy risk taking and a lifelong love for learning.
What is the growth mindset? Growth mindset is a term coined by Carol Dweck, a psychologist who studies human motivation. She describes two mindsets, one fixed and one growth. The growth mindset is defined as one where effort and process are valued over innate talents and giftedness, and mistakes and failures are seen as our best opportunities for learning and growth. In her book Mindset, she states “There’s another mindset in which these traits are not simply a hand you’re dealt and have to live with, always trying to convince yourself and others that you have a royal flush when you’re secretly worried it’s a pair of tens. In this mindset, the hand you’re dealt is just the starting point for development. This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.”
Growth mindset can help buffer children from the effects of hardships and failures. It is a wonderful perspective to have for anyone! In reality we all have a combination of growth and fixed mindsets about different areas of our lives but the practice of leaning into a growth mindset with our children can help them strengthen this way of thinking for themselves. So how do you begin? Below are a few ideas and resources to get you started.
5 Strategies for Fostering a Growth Mindset
Model a healthy approach to mistakes
Your kids are always watching you, right? This can feel like a lot of pressure at times but really it isn’t about getting it perfect but about being mindful of how you talk to yourself and how you approach your own challenges and mistakes.
Talking about your own process as you consider a new opportunity or challenge can give you the opportunity to model courage, vulnerability and your own growth mindset.
Phrases like: “This is hard,” “This feels like a growth opportunity for me,” “I need some help finding a new way to do this,” “I am looking forward to a challenge but am feeling nervous too” and “I need more practice” can all be starting places. AND those times you inadvertently say something disparaging about yourself out loud will serve as opportunities for modeling repair. Your own version of “Oops! Let me try that again”…
Leave room for struggle
This one is for even the parents of babies and very young children. One way you can foster a growth mindset from the beginning is by giving your child body autonomy and being a confident encourager as they learn new things including rolling over, walking and how to negotiate conflict with other little ones. We live in a culture that often judges us based on our children’s behavior and where, as a result, many parents swoop in to intervene quickly, so this can feel risky to practice in public but you can start at home. Allow your little one to persist as he attempts to stand or roll over. Allow your daughter to fumble as she explores a new toy or object. When we allow for exploration and mistakes we are fostering confidence and autonomy. It also helps build “muscles” for larger struggles as they grow.
Share the power of YET
“I can’t”
“I am terrible at this!”
“I don’t know how to ______.”
Coaching your child to add the word “yet” to the end of these sentences can make a powerful point. There is a big difference between “I can’t do it.” and “I can’t do it yet.”
Recognize effort and process over talent
Taking the focus off of intelligence and talent as the determinants of achievement can go a long way toward lowering stress and encouraging risk taking. We also live in a culture that frames success around talents and giftedness so this one will require some practice and even coaching of invested family members. Practice offering acknowledgement that is specific and focused on your child’s efforts and process:
“I see how persistent you are being!”
“This may take more practice.”
“I see how you found a new way to _______.”
“You worked so hard!”
“I noticed you were having a hard time getting started and I love how you solved that problem.”
“Let’s think of some other strategies you could try.”
Talk about the human brain, their brain
Helping your child learn about their brain is one of the best strategies I know for reducing shame and increasing self-compassion. This is especially important for children who have sensitivities, learning differences, sensory needs and other differences that may contribute to feelings of “not getting it right.” In that case it can be helpful to talk to them about their unique brain and how it learns best and feels safest.
Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson have written a series of books for parents about parenting with brain science in mind. Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain is a quick, portable way to explain the brain and what happens when we are stressed. The Fantastic Elastic Brain book also elaborates on the human brain and what happens when we try new things (see below). AND because I love children’s books for sharing new concepts and language with kids:
Here are Three of My Most Recommended Books:
(These are not affiliate links)
Bubble Gum Brain: Ready, Set, GROW!
“Meet Bubble Gum Brain and Brick Brain: two kids with two VERY different mindsets. Bubble Gum Brain likes to have fun adventures, learn new things, and doesn’t worry about making great mistakes. Brick Brain is convinced that things are just fine the way they are and there’s not much he can do to change them, so why try?
When Bubble Gum Brain shows Brick Brain how to peel off his wrapper, Brick Brain begins to realize just how much more fun school…and life… can be!
This creative story teaches children (and adults) the valuable lesson that “becoming is better than being,” which can open the door to a whole new world of possibilities!”
From the publisher: “Beautiful Oops! is a one-of-a-kind bestseller that started a movement: It’s OK to make a mistake! Along with his recent follow-up, My Book of Beautiful Oops! (a fill-in artist’s journal), Barney Saltzberg’s books show young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. Chock full of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering, Beautiful Oops! and My Book of Beautiful Oops!are filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlaps, and smudges—each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder.”
“Did you know you can stretch and grow your own brain? Or that making mistakes is one of the best ways your brain learns? Just like how lifting weights helps your muscles get stronger, trying new things without giving up like finding the courage to put your face in the water the first time you're at a pool strengthens your brain. Next time, your brain will remind you that you overcame that fear, and you will be braver!”
And a new favorite!
One More Media Resource:
Big Life for Kids is all about fostering a growth mindset and healthy social-emotional development in kids! They have a podcast for kids, journals of course, and if you sign up for their mailing list they will send you free printables each week! So much good stuff.
If your child is struggling with anxiety or perfectionism, check out my Child Therapy page for more about my approach to therapy with children.
Jeri Lea Kroll is a psychotherapist and parent coach specializing in early childhood, parenting, trauma, attachment across the lifespan and adoption using a lens informed by attachment theory and the relational neurosciences. She is also an adopted person and adoptive parent. She provides relationship-focused therapy and coaching to individuals, parents and families virtually from her office in Michigan.
Jeri Lea offers a free 30 minute discovery session to those considering parent coaching, child counseling or family therapy. You can request a discovery session HERE.
Supporting Young Children Through Change
Helping young children adjust to a new caregiver, child care or school setting takes time and attention under the best of circumstances. After nearly a year of pandemic living, it will likely require even more.
Helping young children adjust to a new caregiver, child care or school setting takes time under the best of circumstances. Helping a child who has experienced separation, loss or otherwise has a vulnerable nervous system, usually requires even more planning and attention from us.
Babies and young children who have these early experiences or vulnerabilities are often sensitive to the subtle changes in our moods, routines and rhythms. Helping them prepare for a more significant change (even a wonderful one!) can bring on stress and anxiety for us as the caregivers. Professionals in our lives may offer well intended suggestions that fail to honor the sensitivity of our child and our own intuition about what is needed. I am here to encourage you! Young children who have early stressors and losses can adjust changes in caregivers and you can do this! As they grow and your relationships with one another evolve, it will likely get easier and more predictable. Our little ones can grow in their sense of security in us as we grow in our confidence and security in ourselves.
Here are some of the strategies that I have found most helpful.
8 strategies to help you help them:
Check your mask. Your oxygen mask, that is!
As I mentioned above, change is hard, especially these days. You are not alone in having to make decisions for yourself, your child and your family where there might not be a “right” answer. Juggling financial, educational and social needs for a family involves weighing risks, benefits and necessities. Being the maker of decisions involves extra labor and weight. And you may benefit from having someone or a number of “someones” to help you hold that weight. That may be a combination of your partner, family, trusted friend, leader in your faith community, counselor, coach and/or mentor. Our circles are strained and smaller these days. Consider who and what you are missing and reach out when needed. Your children will benefit from having parents who are regulated, confident and hopeful in helping them navigate change.
Give your children advanced notice of changes
It can be tempting to wait until right before a change to start talking about it with your kids, especially young children. This could mean fewer days of tears and clinging. Yet, that time and the conversations (and possible tears accompanying them) are needed for children to prepare themselves for something new. This preparation gives them time to marshal the internal resources to cope. It also helps protect your relationship - their trust in you. In a world of the unexpected, you are their secure base and safe haven.
Answer their questions
Preparation can make a big difference in how we all adjust to change. Talking through and even drawing through the changes can allow children to rehearse their new routine and how they will handle the changes. Make visits to the new home/school/center. Drive by. Talk about what your new routine will be like. With less vocal children, you might need to anticipate questions. Books can be a wonderful way to reassure them and answer their questions. See below for a few of my favorites.
Acknowledge and validate feelings
Some worry is really quite normal. In fact we all have a brain that is constantly scanning for threat. A little bit of worry in anticipation of separation is a sign their brain is doing its job: working to protect them from potential danger. From an evolutionary perspective little ones are inherently safer being close to their parents. This bit of information can be reassuring to you and your child.
Sometimes as parents we want to shield our children or ourselves from the emotions around change. Our decisions can bring up guilt or sadness about a phase of parenting that is ending before we are ready. This can make it more difficult for us to hold our children’s big feelings. Yet, it is important to acknowledge feelings. Theirs and yours. As Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson say, “Name it to tame it.” Acknowledging and naming feelings helps children understand themselves and build new skills. You can also validate feelings without agreeing with them.
And going back to trust, this helps them trust you as someone who sees them and really gets them.
When you label your own feelings (in an age appropriate way and with the assurance that you are taking care of yourself) it helps them understand what they see and feel going on without taking on added weight or worry.
Stick to a routine - keep the things that aren’t changing the same
As you know, children thrive on routine and predictability. Predictability can help your child weather changes big and small. Keeping your morning and evening routines the same as you prepare for and adjust to change is very helpful. It might also be helpful to delay the start of other activities until there has been some time to adjust to the new caregiver or setting.
Offer comfort and transitional items
Times of stress and transition are not the time for ditching blankies or bubbies. If your child already has a comfort object, make sure it can be accessible to your child during the early days of their transition. If your child doesn’t have a comfort object you can offer something of yours or a photo of your family to be tucked into their backpack or pocket for the day.
Say good-bye
It can be so tempting to back out of a room when your child appears calm and engaged in an activity with someone else. Holding your relationship at the center of your decisions can help center you. Disappearing acts build insecurity, the opposite of what you are looking for in the long run. Create a brief and consistent good-bye ritual. If your little one has a primary caregiver, help your child build a connection with that person by engaging them in conversation and including them in your good-bye. When my daughter was feeling nervous at preschool or kindergarten, I found that helping her make a warm connection (eye contact, high five, smile) with a friend or friendly adult often helped send just the right signals of safety to her brain to turn down the “alarm center” and wake up the playful and ready for learning “social engagement system” within a few minutes.
Create rituals for reconnecting
Make sure to have time when you come back together to listen, play and connect. Lots of adults need a few minutes to decompress when returning home from a day of work or school. After greeting your child with delight, give yourself that time AND then make sure you also have time for play and connection before heading into the bedtime routine. This could be as you prepare dinner, have some outside playtime, play some connecting games, or build in some more time for touch and connection during their bath and bedtime.
Books and stories are some of my favorite ways to talk about difficult subjects, teach something new or prepare for change. Sometimes custom “books” using photos or simple clip art can help a child rehearse and process a new routine or arrangement, better than a more generic book. Back in the day I often made them with copy paper and a sharpie… They weren’t very pretty but they served to help children cope with stress and change. And they could refer back to them when needed. Fortunately, there is tremendous variety these days in children’s books and media around topics supporting social-emotional health. I am including a few that are new and old favorites of mine.
A few children’s books about separation & change:
The links included are to the publisher, author or another source of additional information. There are no affiliate links.
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell (2017) - A sweet story about a trio of owls and their mother that reinforces the message that mommy (or daddy or ________) always comes back! The text of this book can be changed to include daddy, grandma, big sister or anyone who may be in a caregiving role with a toddler or young child. This was a favorite for my little one and she loved modifying the adult owl character to be whomever she was missing at the time.
In My Heart by Mackenzie Porter (2020) - I found this sweet book at my local Target. I wish it had been published a few years ago when my daughter was spending more time away from me and preparing to start preschool. In it a mother and child are shown going through their day from waking in the morning to reunion at child care, bath time and bed at home. And in the middle the mother describes all the times throughout her day that she is reminded of her little one.
“Though we’re not together, we’re never truly apart because you’re always on my mind and you’re always in my heart.”
“Lunchtime brings a smile because it’s joy that I feel when I realize we are eating the very same meal.”
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (2000, 2008) - This popular book offers imagery and metaphor that can be helpful with separations short and long, including losses. In it the mother also reassures her children that their connection can’t be broken by distance, anger, behavior or death. The author has subsequently written a workbook of activities to accompany The Invisible String as well as a book specific to pet loss, The Invisible Leash.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (1993) - The Kissing Hand has been helping children adjust to preschool and Kindergarten for nearly 28 years! I recall recommending it to many parents and teachers as a young therapist and eventually gifting it to my step-daughter for her 5th birthday as she prepared to enter Kindergarten. The story of Chester and his worries about leaving his mom to attend night school for the first time is one so many can relate to. And the practice of the kissing hand, offering a kiss to be an invisible reminder of a parent or caregiver, is one we can replicate and repeat for our children in playful ways today.
For children who have experienced early adversity including unexpected separations (even at birth) and losses, transitions can bring up strong emotions and fears. If your child is taking much longer to adjust, struggling with challenging behaviors at child care/school or even refusing to go, coaching and/or child counseling can help. Together we can identify and address the root of their worries, support you as their secure base and help them build confidence and skills for navigating change.
Click the link to learn more about my approach to Child Counseling
Jeri Lea Kroll is a psychotherapist and parent coach specializing in early childhood, parenting, trauma, attachment across the lifespan and adoption using a lens informed by attachment theory and the relational neurosciences. She is also an adopted person and adoptive parent. She provides relationship-focused therapy and coaching to individuals, parents and families virtually from her office in Michigan.
Jeri Lea offers a free 30 minute discovery session to those considering parent coaching, child counseling or family therapy. You can request a discovery session HERE.
Three Reasons an Online Therapist Can Help Right Now
I saw this question in a local online group the other day: “Anyone have any luck with online therapy?” This question in the midst of our current circumstances got me thinking of my own journey with technology and virtual work.
I saw this question in a local online group the other day: “Anyone have any luck with an online therapist?” This question in the midst of our current circumstances got me thinking of my own journey with technology and virtual work.
My Own Online Evolution
I remember reading a message a number of years ago from my professional association stating that they were considering offering workshops online for the first time and were looking for feedback from their members. This from an organization focused on relationships… My initial response was “How could we feel the depth of that work through a computer?” and “It just won’t translate to online learning.” This memory and my reaction came to mind the other day as I was going about my day, planning for online meetings and the current needs of an online practice. I quietly laughed at the irony. Since then I have learned, like so many people, to appreciate the benefits of online learning especially during seasons in my life when traveling was too difficult or cost prohibitive.
As I returned to my practice after being home with my daughter for several years I was even more determined to find ways to offer support to parents with young children as early and easily as possible. I understood the isolation, fears and exhaustion unique to early parenting in a new way and I wanted to make a difference. I also recognized how hard it was for me to find support and community. Offering online coaching to parents, child therapy, and family therapy is one way of breaking down those barriers to support.
All of these experiences and reflections have been coming forward as I think about the unique place we are in during this pandemic. So many changes, losses, and limitations that have created new layers of stress for both parents and children.
As a parent myself, I can say that I have felt like I have had a handle on the changes at times … for a minute … and then something shifts. I know I am not alone in this feeling of being on a roller coaster or the itchy feeling of wanting things to get back to “normal.” In lots of ways it can feel like we are just holding our breath until the orders are lifted. Then we can exhale and eventually address some of the important needs that we had put on hold or that have arisen along the way. Yet, as we get closer to that time here in Michigan it is becoming clear to me that things won’t be returning to “normal” for us or our children for quite some time (and likely never quite the same). Just the other day our governor shared in an interview that she can’t imagine school being the same in the fall, “with 30 kids to a classroom”… And so this world that includes social distancing and virtual communication is likely going to be a part of our collective experience for a while longer.
3 Scenarios Where an Online Therapist Can Help
If one of the important needs on your list has been to find a therapist for your child or family but you have been hesitant to start the process when online is your only option, here are three ways an online therapist can help now:
If you and/or your child are showing signs of distress now due to the loss of routines and relationships
If behavior you were concerned about in your child has been magnified during this time of sheltering together and/or your tank is on empty after weeks of juggling all-of-the-things at home while your entire “village” social distancing, now may be an excellent time to find someone who is a good fit for you and your family. With most therapists offering some version of virtual therapy it is a great time to interview prospective therapists to find one you connect with, who uses an approach that resonates with you and has the unique set of skills and knowledge you are looking for.
While professional licensing standards around the provision of therapy may be relaxed during this time of crisis you will want to consider what your longer term needs are and whether you might like to shift to in-person meetings eventually. If so, geography is an important consideration. If you are looking for therapy that is short-term or ongoing but online, you could choose to broaden your search beyond your town or county to include licensed therapists or counselors within your state. State licensing standards usually restrict the provision of counseling or therapy to clinicians licensed within your state.
Once you have found someone who fits your needs you can begin with virtual parent sessions to help support you and your own regulation and resilience during this time of crisis; share information about your family and child’s history, strengths and challenges; and begin to learn ways to shift your perspective and approach to help your child best cope. All from the comfort and privacy of your own home!
2. If you have a child who is enjoying being home now but needs extra support around transitions and change
It may be helpful to think ahead to the supports your child will need to cope with the next wave of changes as we gradually open and resume life in our community. Beginning a therapeutic relationship with a therapist now offers the opportunity to broaden your child’s window of tolerance for stress and build overall resilience. Having a supportive relationship with a therapist in place as you adjust work and school routines, builds in another layer of support and consistency for all of you.
3. If you have a unique family, child or need
When looking for coaching or consultation from someone with expertise with a specific experience (for example adoption, foster care, trauma) or condition, you need not be limited to the professionals in your town or even your nearest city. Seasoned therapists with specialized knowledge and skills may make their services more broadly available by offering virtual coaching or consultation. Often they offer these services across state lines and some even internationally. I will offer an example from my own life:
Just a few years ago I was looking for support to help me work through some of my own struggles as a new parent. I had local connections and I used some of those. I was also drawn to a psychotherapist I had been following online for a while. Her writing spoke to me and, in addition to compassion and warmth, she had a unique blend of specialized training and experience in the areas that I intuitively recognized I most needed help. While she lived hundreds of miles from me, I knew from following her that in addition to psychotherapy she offered virtual coaching sessions. After reading and reading I decided to take the leap and reach out to her. That move led to a relationship that has served as an ongoing anchor for me as I have navigated lots of change and growth over the last 4 years. Even though we haven’t met continuously since then I continue to benefit from the work we have done and the knowledge of her ready presence should I be in need of support again. I am so grateful. The experience has also opened my eyes and heart to what is possible at a distance. In my field, we often talk about the “holding space” that a therapist creates for a client to do important, healing work. I can attest that a skilled person can create and carry that “holding space” across time and space. That is the power of relationship.
We are wired for relationship, all of us. It isn’t optional. Social distancing and even quarantine need not equal isolation. Support is available and can be incredibly helpful in building resilience and helping you and your children thrive again. Imagine coming out of this crisis with new insights, skills and stronger relationships with your children and partner. It is possible!
Click the link to learn more about my approach to Child Therapy
If you would like to explore how I could be of help to your family during this crisis and beyond, please click the button below to send me a note to request a free 45 minute discovery session. During the video discovery session we can talk about your needs and my approach and determine if we are the right fit for one another. If not, I am happy to help you find someone who is.
Jeri Lea Kroll is a psychotherapist and parent coach specializing in early childhood, parenting, trauma, attachment across the lifespan and adoption using a lens informed by attachment theory and the relational neurosciences. She is also an adopted person and adoptive parent. She provides relationship-focused therapy and coaching to individuals, parents and families virtually from her office in Michigan.
Jeri Lea offers a free 30 minute discovery session to those considering parent coaching, child counseling or family therapy. You can request a discovery session by clicking the button below.