The Parent Confidence Project provides a map for parents to recover their confidence and common sense and to discover ways they can adjust their part in dynamics that are not optimising their young person’s development of self-regulation and responsibility. The manualised individual or group program equips helpers to effectively engage parents to make positive adjustments to how they relate to their children/adolescents.
Register for coach training & free seminar
For many years I have been committed to developing an approach to assist parents to recover leadership and confidence in being a resource for their young person’s growth in resilience. Over three decades working as a clinician, family therapist, supervisor, and external consultant in the field of child and child/adolescent mental health (as well as a parent myself), my passion and interest in ‘parent inclusive practice’ has consolidated. In parallel I had been studying and applying Dr Murray Bowen’s family systems theory which espouses the benefits of parents shifting their anxious focus away from trying to mould their child and instead learning to invest energy into changing their own selves as a parent.
Feedback from Parent Coach Trainee
“I have valued a program that gives me clear guiding principles to reflect on during and after each session.”
“This program has helped me to see how prone I am to rescue or coming up with answers for my clients. The structure of the program enables me to restrain myself and allow parents to go at their pace and develop their own insights.”
The Parent Confidence Project Journey
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Stage 1: Sessions 1-3 | Stepping back: Observation and awareness
Learning to observe the parent-child interactions when stress is high.
Seeing the pattern
What fuels my child’s
Shift focus
Where is my energy directed to
Calm self
How am I reacting?
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Stage 2: Sessions 4-6 | Stepping up: Adjusting self
Learning to adjust parent interactions to promote the young person’s growth in responsibility and wellbeing.
Recovering leadership
What is in my control and taking.
Stronger connection
Connection to the whole child not their problems.
patience for gradual improvement
Seeing the big picture and living my job description.
It is possible to move straight to the parent coach training without completing required theory training seminars if you have completed an in-depth training program in Bowen theory. Please email contact@parenthope.com.au to request an exemption, providing evidence of your previous training.
Frequently Asked Questions
The free intro seminar [Research and the Development of the Parent Hope Project]and the 3 part theory seminar [Family Systems Understanding of Symptom Development in Children] are prerequisites for coach training. An exception may be given to skip the theory seminar for any who have completed intensive training a Bowen theory training centres ( email us if you think this applies).
Parent Hope Project coach trainees will be practising child and family professionals in mental health or couple & family therapy.
Parent Confidence Project trainees may be working in family support of ‘non-clinical’ family groups such as community work, pastoral care & education.
The training allows for flexibility over approximately six months. The initial workshops require an intensive period of at least 20 hours and are best completed over a week to two week period to keep the continuity and allow trainees to start using the manuals. Following the intensive start, the rest of the training load is light and will support the initial utilisation of the program with parent clients or volunteers. Another intensive one day workshop (can be spread over a week) is completed a few months into the learning experience.
The training is a professionally developed online training that can conveniently fit into your schedule. It provides active learning via the web-based learning: program. There are 2 levels of professional Training
- Level 1 (Courses 1- 3) provides training to start using the manuals with parents.
- Level 2 (Course 4) extends this learning to group work and ongoing work with parents.
Each level commences with more intensive training spread over a couple of weeks. This is followed by less time-intensive learning support over a couple of months while trainees commence using the manuals. There are a variety of learning forums over a period of approximately 4 months for Level 1 and an additional 2 months for level 2. Each section has some learning tasks to submit at the commencement and completion.
Learning experiences include:
- didactic training
- viewing role plays
- question and answer dis cussions
- activities and practise exercises
- listening to group supervision
- live case presentation webinars
At the commencement and completion of each section there are some questions to answer and submit.
Throughout the training there are some reflection pauses that are designed to helpfully engage each learner. These need to be answered to move onto the next module- however they are not submitted to the tutor for comment. Course tutors have access to all trainees progress however each person is responsible for their own pace and progress.
The manuals can be purchased online on behalf of parents or directly by parents. To start the training, you must have a copy of your coach manual and a parent manual.
The coach manual provides a resource for operationalising each session. Parents will work from their own manual both in sessions and in between meetings.
The training provides a variety of input and roleplays for utilising the manuals with parents in individual work or as a group for the Parent Confidence Program.
You will receive a certificate of completion for each course stating the content and number of professional development hours involved. Only those who complete level 2 training are able to advertise as a trained PHP parent coach. Our office will keep a register of those who have completed training and can add you to our referral base. Those who complete level 2 training can also access supervision groups for their ongoing work with parents.
Occasionally Jenny runs the initial two day Parent Coach training in person. We will announce such live events on the web site. The cost is the same and participants will access all the online training but will be able to bypass the day 1 & 2 workshops.
See the flow of training to understand the training experience.