by Harper West | Apr 12, 2024 | Parenting
I’m sure you’ve seen videos of those amazing sheepherding dogs, usually Border Collies, who masterfully urge flocks of sheep into fields and pens. These dogs seem to have an instinctive understanding of the best way to encourage the sheep to move in the direction they...
by Harper West | Jul 27, 2023 | Parenting, Trauma
I often recommend Dr. Jonice Webb’s books and blogs, because she writes about the important topic of Childhood Emotional Neglect and its impact on emotional development. I thought I’d highlight and expand on the subject of a recent video blog she posted on “4 Subtle...
by Harper West | Aug 22, 2021 | Parenting, Shame
Aliesha, 9, had reluctantly followed her parents from the waiting room into my office and slumped into a chair. Her parents immediately launched into a description of her latest behaviors and their concerns about how this would cause her to flunk a grade and be held...
by Harper West | Aug 20, 2021 | Parenting, Shame
Would you believe that I can spot low self-worth and poor shame tolerance even in a child as young as three? It’s true. Sometimes it is obvious. I have worked with three- and four-year old children who say things like: “I’m no good,” and “I’m a bad kid.” These...
by Harper West | Jun 27, 2021 | Parenting
I met the mother, father, and daughter in my waiting room for their second therapy appointment. (This case is a fictionalized composite.) In the 20 seconds it took the family to walk from my waiting room to my office, I heard the mother say all of this to the child:...
