I want to share a deeply personal story with you, a story that changed my life forever. As a child and forensic psychiatrist, I always believed I was emotionally stable and calm. But one day, I discovered I had my own demons to face.

Several years ago, I experienced a day that still haunts me - the worst day of my parenting life, perhaps even my entire life. It was a day that shook me to my core and made me realize that I needed to change.

Imagine this: A young child, my child, left distraught, anxious, and crying in a bustling school car park as I drove away in a fit of anger. The image of her tear-streaked face in my rearview mirror, her hand reaching out, pleading ‘daddy please,’ is etched in my memory. I could see other children nearby, wondering who the heartless man in the car was. Yes, that was me.

That morning, I was anxious about an important meeting. My daughter, sensing my anxiety, began showing signs of not wanting to go to school. I was torn between my professional comm...

Empathic discipline is an innovative approach to child-rearing that harnesses emotional intelligence and empathy to cultivate cooperation and reduce conflict. Rather than relying on force, it seeks to instill good character by fostering a secure, trusting, and connected relationship with your child.

School refusal is a term that describes a situation where a child feels anxious or fearful about going to school, or avoids attending school altogether. This can negatively impact their academic, social, and emotional development, and cause stress for parents who want their child to succeed. However, parents can help their children overcome school refusal by using empathy.

Understanding School Refusal

Children may refuse to go to school for various reasons. They might be dealing with academic pressures, social anxieties, or personal issues that make the school environment feel overwhelming. Regardless of the reason, school refusal can lead to significant academic setbacks and social isolation if not addressed promptly and effectively.

The Role of Empathy in Overcoming School Refusal

Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, is a powerful tool that parents can use to support their child. By empathizing with their child’s fears and anxieties, parent...

 As a parent, it's possible that you've heard your child say "I hate you" at some point. Although it can be a hurtful and unexpected experience, there are ways to deal with this situation with humor and empathy.

There's a sense of helplessness when our kids start hanging out with the 'wrong crowd', so to speak. 

We get anxious when our innocent sensitive kid gravitates to others who don't have their back. It's painful when your kid disagrees with your assessment.

So what's a parent to do? You can't exactly lock them away in a tower for 40 years (tempting). Forcing them to stop hanging out with said scoundrels is probably going to backfire! 

You are going to have to play the long game. You'll have to be subtle. A bit sneaky. Strategic. You're going to Trojan Horse the sh** out of this situation (I like to call it a sh*tuation. It presents an opportunity for your relationship to grow stronger over time).

The goal is to have the sort of connection with our kids that is predicated upon trust and security. Now. I do not mean trust that they are not going to do something stupid. And I don't mean security like Liam Neeson style parenting (we don't want to use his particular set of ski...