Dr. TIna Payne Bryson

Parents worry. It’s what we do. We worry about our kids and their safety; about the times we let our kids down; if we’re giving them too little or too much attention; and how to manage in a world filled with digital distractions and endless commitments on our time. The latest brain and attachment research is clear and reassuring about how best to make a difference in our child’s life over the long run: we simply need to show up.

In this presentation based on her latest book (co-authored with Dan Siegel), Dr. Bryson will share how when a caregiver predictably –not perfectly– cares for a child, that child will enjoy the very best outcomes, even in the face of significant adversity. To help our kids succeed and feel at home in the world, children need to feel what Siegel and Bryson call in their latest book, the Four S’s:

1. Safe—they feel protected and sheltered from harm;

2. Seen—they know you care about them and pay attention by focusing on their inner experience of feelings, thoughts, and meaning in their lives;

3. Soothed—they know you’ll be there for them when they’re hurting; and

4. Secure—they trust you to predictably help them feel “at home” in the world, as they learn to help themselves feel safe, seen, and soothed.

Offering plenty of warmth and humor, Dr. Bryson will share stories and simple strategies for honoring the Four S’s effectively in all kinds of situations—when our kids are struggling or when they are enjoying success; when we are consoling, disciplining, or arguing with them; and even when we’re apologizing for the times we mess up. No parent is perfect, but all of us can show up for our kids. Impactful parenting begins right where you are, right now.

Dr. Tina Payne Bryson is the author of “Bottom Line for Baby” and co-author (with Dan Siegel) of “The Power of Showing Up”  and “The Yes Brain,” (Random House 2018), as well as two New York Times bestsellers: “The Whole-Brain Child” and “No Drama Discipline.” Tina is a psychotherapist and the Founder/Executive Director of The Center for Connection, a multidisciplinary clinical practice, and of The Play Strong Institute, a center devoted to the study, research, and practice of play therapy through a neurodevelopmental lens.