For parents who love their child deeply and keep ending up in the same hard cycle.
The attachment-based approach I teach therapists around the world, written for parents. Twelve hours, at your own pace, to help you stay calmer when things get hard and feel closer to your child the rest of the time.
This course is for parents of children ages 3 to 17.
"Best parenting class I've attended so far, and I've attended many."
Jessica C., parent
It's bedtime, or the morning rush, or the third time you've asked. You can hear your voice getting sharper. Your child gets louder. Or goes quiet and won't look at you.
Later, when the house is quiet, you replay it. You wanted to be patient. Instead, you sit there and wonder why it keeps happening.
You've read the articles. You've tried sticker charts and consequences. Some of it worked for a week.
You are not alone, and you are not failing. In my decades of working with families, I've sat with hundreds of parents and caregivers in this exact place. It's incredibly hard to help a child settle when your own body is in alarm or shutdown mode too.
Most parenting advice focuses on getting your child to behave differently. This course starts somewhere else: with what happens in your own body when you're triggered, and what your child's behavior may be trying to tell you.
When you can calm your own body, even a little, your child has someone solid to lean on. Over time, that's often what helps a child settle down and start trusting you with the hard stuff.
It's the same attachment-based work I've done with families for 30 years, and the same work I teach therapists. In The Anti-Perfect Parent, I've written it for parents, with examples from real family life.
Starting with you doesn't mean any of this is your fault. Every family ruptures. What matters is repair, and this course shows you how to do it.
I'm a family therapist and attachment specialist with 30 years of experience helping children and parents find their way back to each other.
I'm a certified trainer and supervisor in Theraplay® and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), author of Integrative Attachment Family Therapy and co-author of Theraplay: The Practitioner's Guide. I teach child and family therapy to practitioners around the world in four languages.
I specialize in treating children and their parents, including those with ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, and behavior outbursts, as well as those exposed to chronic mental illness, attachment wounds, and other forms of trauma.
From all this experience, I know how difficult it is to parent in these modern times, especially when your child has needs and challenges outside of your knowledge and experience. I created this course so parents could learn what I teach professionals, without waiting for a therapy appointment.
For parents and caregivers who love their child deeply and are tired of feeling reactive, stuck or defeated. You may be the parent who:
For therapists and other professionals who support families. Take it for yourself, and share it with the parents you work with, so the work keeps going at home between sessions.
It's probably not the right fit if you're looking for a script that makes behavior stop overnight. It's also not a replacement for therapy. If your family is in crisis, please reach out to a professional who can work with you directly.
Six modules you can watch at your own pace. Each one builds on the last, starting with your own reactions and ending with the support around you.
Learn what's happening in your body and nervous system when you're triggered, and how to steady yourself in the moment. You'll build the foundation for responding with clarity instead of regret.
Shift from "How do I stop this?" to "What is my child communicating?" You'll learn how to read behavior through an attachment lens and choose responses that help your child settle and cooperate.
You'll learn: how to respond to what's underneath the behavior instead of fighting the behavior itself.
Create more connection in everyday life, not just in crisis moments. You'll learn simple ways to increase warmth, safety, and engagement so your child experiences you as someone who can help.
Every family ruptures. What matters is repair. You'll learn how shame and repair are connected, how to prepare yourself to repair, and how to come back together after a fight in a way that rebuilds trust.
You'll learn: how to talk to yourself with compassion when you've gotten it wrong, so you can make the first move back toward your child.
For difficult behaviors like aggression, lying, swearing and other out-of-control behavior. You'll learn how to cope with dysregulation (yours and your child's), and how to heal when the same ruptures keep happening.
You'll learn: how to understand your child's dysregulated, out-of-control behavior so you can step in more accurately and with compassion.
You don't have to do this alone. This module covers building your own community of support, your relationship with your co-parent, resolving sibling conflicts, and making things right after harm.
You'll learn: how to help your children build empathy for each other, and what to do when a child doesn't show it.
I liked Dafna's straightforwardness. She obviously knows the common problems parents are facing and is able to talk directly about the solutions. I like how her approach is compassionate, and she opened up my mind about how a child's nervous system could be affecting their behavior.
Stephanie W., parent
Dafna does an excellent job of explaining the approach she uses with high-needs children and teens. She gives very specific examples which are helpful to get a sense of how to use these strategies in real life. I like that Dafna says the hard things to parents, as in you need to work on yourself so you can show up better for your child.
Brooke F., parent
Best parenting class I've attended so far, and I've attended many. I like the main philosophy, focusing on the behavior of the parents.
Jessica C., parent
Dafna is a great presenter, SO knowledgeable, and she shares the information in a thoughtful, gentle way.
Becki W., parent
The course is fully on demand. Watch a lesson during nap time, after bedtime or whenever you have a quiet moment.
Come back whenever you need support: during a tough season, after a hard moment, or as your child grows and new challenges show up.
The language and curriculum are inclusive of all children and parents, whatever your family's history, structure or needs. Captions, slides and course materials are now available in English, French, Spanish and Hebrew.
If you're ready to be the patient, grounded parent you want to be, I'd love to help you get there.
When you enroll, you'll also get three bonuses to use alongside the lessons:
The Anti-Perfect Parent
The 30-Day "Is It a Fit?" Guarantee
Watch the lessons and try the tools at home. If the course isn't right for your family, email my team within 30 days and we'll refund you in full.
Secure checkout through Thinkific.
The course is best suited for parents and caregivers of children ages 3 to 17.
Absolutely. This course is designed to help every parent and caregiver calm their own reactions and show up for their child with patience. The language and curriculum are inclusive of all children and parents, regardless of psychology, history, and family structure.
It's fully on demand. Once you enroll, you can start right away and move through the lessons at your own pace.
For life. You can come back to any module whenever you need it, like during a tough season or when your child hits a new stage.
I love when co-parents learn together! If you plan to watch together on the same device, one enrollment is all you need. If you'd each like your own login and progress, you'll need to enroll separately.
Yes, and I'd love to have you. The lessons speak directly to parents and caregivers, which makes the course a helpful resource to take yourself and to recommend to the families you work with. If you're looking for clinical training, IAFT Level 1 is the place to start.
Email my team within 30 days of enrolling and we'll refund you in full.
Send me a note and my team will get back to you.
Twelve hours of guidance, three bonuses and lifetime access.
Start right away, at your own pace.
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