The Self-Aware Parent: Resolving Conflict and Building a Better Bond with Your Child

by Fran Walfish

Overview

A healthy relationship based on mutual trust is every parent's wish. The bond between infant and parent is a natural phenomenon, but as children reach their preteens and form their own personalities, fireworks between the child and parent can ensue. Drawing on 20 years of clinical experience and new theories on attachment, family therapist and consultant to Parents magazine Dr. Fran Walfish argues that parents need to distinguish their own personality types in order to make more informed decisions about how they interact and raise their own children.

This step-by-step guide shows parents:
* how to recognize the strength and weaknesses of your parenting style and how it affects your child;
* the ways your style might clash with your child's nature, and how to negotiate a common ground;
* the vital importance of establishing trust with a preteen to better prepare for turbulent teen years.

Written with warmth, authority, and wit, Dr. Walfish holds a gentle mirror up to parents and helps them understand themselves in order to create a closer relationship with their child.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230102569
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	12/07/2010
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.58(d)

About the Author

Frances Walfish, Psy.D., MFT, is a leading child and family therapist in private practice. She is a consultant for Parenting Teens Resource Network, Parents magazine, Little Soul Productions, Los Angeles City Crisis Intervention Counselors, Momlogic.com and chairs the Governing Board of the Early Childhood Parenting Center, founded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She lives in Beverly Hills, CA.

Table of Contents

Foreword—Dr. Saul L. Brown * Introduction * The Importance of Knowing Yourself as a Parent * Separating Your Child from You * Managing Your Parental Worries and Concerns * The Helicopter Parent * Dealing with Your Parental Doubt * The Spaghetti Parent: Learning the Value of Saying No * Controlling Negativity in Your Communication * Managing Your Temper––Raising Awareness to Angry Feelings so Your Temper Doesn't Creep Up on You * It's About Your Child, Not You * The Importance of Bonding Solidly With Your Child * When One Parent Travels * Handling Special Circumstances * What to Do When the Chemistry Doesn't Mix * Win-Win Parenting * Where Do I Fall as a Parent * Applying the Knowledge––The Process of Change

Editorial Reviews

Dr. Fran Walfish's enthusiasm and dedication are infectious.” —Dr. Wendy Mogel, author The Blessing of a Skinned Knee

“The Self Aware Parent is a wise and powerful book. Imbued with the author's deep understanding of how relationships work, the book includes practical strategies all of us can use to become better parents, and better people. Both as a parent and a professional, I highly recommend this book.” —Michael Gurian, Author of The Wonder of Boys and The Wonder of Girls

“Most of us want to parent differently than was done to us, we just don't know how. Dr. Fran uses wisdom and examples to gently empower us to become conscious of and change our parenting patterns. A must for every parent, regardless of the age of your child!” —Dr. Becky A. Bailey, author of Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline

“Dr. Walfish's book is an invitation to confront ourselves as parents, but not in a harsh or negative way that leaves you feeling disheartened. Instead, I believe parents will feel encouraged by this book to look at themselves with a new, edifying lens, leaving them feeling realistically confident, and genuinely capable. That's certainly what it's done for me.” —Hal E. Runkel, author of ScreamFree Parenting

“Dr. Fran Walfish is a singularly creative and committed therapist. She brings to her clinical work a personal warmth and an innate wisdom about parent-child relationships.” —Saul L. Brown, M.D., Emeritus Director Department of Psychiatry, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, Emeritus Clinical Professor Psychiatry, U.C.L.A. School of Medicine

“Dr. Fran is the ‘secret sauce.' If not for her, my daughter might have fallen through the cracks. I have eternal gratitude to her for her sage advice.” —The Honorable Lisa Korbatov, vice president, Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education

“I have known Dr. Fran Walfish professionally for over twenty-five years. As a child development specialist I have observed her work with children and families in clinical and childcare settings, and admire her integrity and thoroughness. Fran has a genuine warmth and empathy in her work and is authentic in her care and treatment of children and their families. I highly respect her work and opinion and find her to be a consummate professional.” —Jan David, M.A., Emeritus Director, Warner Center Children's Corner, Woodland Hills, California

“As a school administrator, I have observed Dr. Fran Walfish's parent education programs and have been impressed with her engaging ability as she interacts with parents, teachers and children. She is a gifted communicator, therapist, and a consummate professional with compassion and insight into the lives of children and their families.” —Jane E. Rosenberg, M.S., Director, Pacific Oaks Children's School, Pasadena, California, Director Emeritus, Samuel Goldwyn Foundation Children's Center

“As a professional in the field of pediatrics with over thirty years of experience I have recommended many patients seek psychotherapy. I have referred more patients to Dr. Fran Walfish than to any other child therapist. Dr. Fran Walfish has had an enormous impact in improving the lives of many of my patients and their families.” —Aviva D. Biederman, M.D., Pediatrician, Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers, Los Angeles

“Being a parent has been the greatest learning lesson of my life, and Dr. Fran's book, The Self Aware Parent, helped me learn much about myself. The book speaks to parents and offers a great deal of practical wisdom.” —Katey Sagal, actress, singer, producer

“My experience as a parent gave me more than a few reasons and opportunities to seek professional advice through the years that my kids were still at home. All parents need good accurate information. However when it's imparted by someone with an exceptional gift for communication like Dr. Fran Walfish, it can be the positive turning point we parents are hoping for when we need it most.” —Michael McDonald, composer and recording artist

“As a child prodigy, I was the first one in my family to go into psychotherapy because I did not want to repeat what my parents did. Not that they didn't love, they did. I wanted to undo the old and put new chips in my parenting computer. I highly recommend The Self Aware Parent by Dr. Fran Walfish as a guiding tool that every mother and father should read. It is a necessity!” —Anna Maria Alberghetti, operatic singer and actress

“As a divorced parent, working with Dr.Walfish has been a gift. Due to her thoughtful, sensitive and highly educated guidance, I have become a far more aware parent. For over five years, I have applied her practical and customized suggestions, and––wow––it has allowed my amazing daughter and me to grow together.” —Deborah Raffin, writer, actor, producer and director

From the Publisher

The Self Aware Parent is a wise and powerful book. Imbued with the author's deep understanding of how relationships work, the book includes practical strategies all of us can use to become better parents, and better people. Both as a parent and a professional, I highly recommend this book.

Author of The Wonder of Boys and The Wonder of Gir Michael Gurian