Parenting – You Can Only Build on Strengths

Happy New Year! Hope your holidays were restful and fulfilling! Now we’re ready for a new year and some new changes!

I’m expanding my blogs beyond just ADHD and starting to include more of my philosophy on parenting and marriage and family therapy! I enjoy working with individuals, couples and families dealing with mental health and parenting in addition to working with individuals, parents and families that have neurodivergent brains!

So what is my philosophy on parenting and family therapy? Well, let me try and explain.

One of the main influences in my philosophy is of course my parents, and how I was raised. My parents were very much positive parents, believed in mutual respect, focusing on recognizing and building from strengths, quick and concise discipline and when there were issues, problem solving, talking through issues and moving forward as a team.

That foundation set me up very well to work with individuals, parents and families! Little did I know when I started at the Adler Graduate School, my parents’ philosophy was very much aligned with Adler’s!

You may hear me say that I’m an “Adlerian”. This means that I subscribe largely to Alfred Adler’s philosophies, techniques and theory! Alfred Adler was a German Psychiatrist who developed “Individual Psychology”. The word “individual” means one or single in English but in Adler’s native language of German, it has more a sense of the indivisible and undivided person. (Reference here for more information on  Adlerian Psychology.)

Alfred Adler believed that all of human behavior is driven by the needs for significance and belonging. He was one of the first people to provide family counseling and he furthered the values of mutual respect, equality, civil rights and democracy. In addition, he developed the theories and practices often referred to as “Positive Psychology” and “Positive Parenting”.

Positive Parenting is very much a part of my philosophy and how I attempted to raise my kids! Because I had parents who naturally subscribed to this philosophy, it is easier for me to adopt this method of parenting.

I am also now offering a class to share this philosophy with others! In addition, I’m adding components and updates to this philosophy on how to work with neurodivergent brains within the constructs of this philosophy! Click here for more information about this class.

Judy Richardson-Mahre, MA, ADHD-CCSP
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
ADHD Expert & Coach
Parent Coach
Educator
612.930.3903