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Parenting with More Confidence and Less Chaos

A Real-Talk Recap from Parent University with Michele McDonough, LCPC

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Keywords: parenting help, parenting support, parenting workshop, parenting advice, parenting strategies, parenting confidence, parenting reset program

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Let’s be real: parenting is amazing... and also a total circus some days.

That’s exactly why we created Parent University — a monthly, workshop hosted by The Centered Life to give real parents real tools for raising emotionally healthy kids (without burning out in the process).

At our most recent session, we were lucky enough to be led by Michele McDonough, LCPC, parenting expert and therapist with a gift for making even the toughest topics feel doable. The room was packed with caregivers, questions, laughter, and finally some answers.

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^{What Parents Learned from Michele (That You’ll Want to Know Too)}

Michele broke it down with humor, honesty, and real-life stories. No judgment. No fluff. Just straight-up helpful stuff. Here were some of the biggest takeaways:

1. You Don’t Have to Fix Every Feeling

Your kid is allowed to have a meltdown. Your job isn’t to make the hard emotions disappear — it’s to be their safe place while they feel it.

Michele said it best:
"Your child doesn’t need a perfect parent — they need a present one."
(Yes. We all wrote that one down.)

‍2. Calm is Contagious

If your child is losing it, the best way to help is to not join the chaos. When you regulate yourself — deep breath, calm tone, steady energy — they learn how to do it too.

Try this:
Before reacting, ask yourself, “What do I want them to feel right now?” Then model that.

3. Behavior is Just a Clue

Tantrums, back talk, total meltdowns — they’re not just "bad behavior." They're signs your child is struggling with something they can’t yet express.

Shift your thinking:
Instead of, “What’s wrong with my kid?”
Ask, “What does my kid need from me right now?”

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Want More Than a Workshop?

If you’re thinking, “Okay, that was great… but I need more help with what’s happening at home,” we got you.

Introducing the Parenting Reset Program — a personalized, 1:1 experience with Michele to help you create real, lasting change in your parenting (without reading 100 books or scrolling TikTok for advice at 2am).

Here’s what it includes:

✅ A parenting deep dive to understand what’s actually happening in your home
✅ Two coaching sessions with Michele McDonough, LCPC
✅ A personalized strategy you can start using right away

Just 5 spots available
$497 investment

Ready to learn more? email us at info@thecenteredlifetherapy.com to grab a spot or ask questions.

Don’t Miss the Next Parent University

These monthly workshops are for you if:

• You want support that’s actually helpful (not just “try gentle parenting and hope for the best”)
• You’re raising an emotionally intense child and feel like you’re walking on eggshells
• You want to connect with other parents who get it

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👉 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook (@TheCenteredLife) to stay in the loop. That’s where we announce each month’s topic and sign-up link.

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