Parental Mental Health
Explore mental health and wellbeing resources for parents.
Parenting could easily be described as one of the most challenging of human experiences and can vary for each family depending on multiple factors. While we hope you are able to find moments of delight in parenting, we also understand that parenting presents us with a rollercoaster of emotions: fulfillment, exhaustion, joy, anger and frustration are all normal reactions and we hope you will reach out for support if needed. The UC San Diego Campus Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is here for you, and your co-parent if you have one. Our licensed counselors provide individual, couples’ and group therapy for every stage of adult life, and can help you find many local resources.
Below you will find a list of resources such as articles, books, and websites. Please explore this list at your leisure and consider reaching out to a trusted medical provider, therapist or one of the Faculty and Staff Assistance program counselors if needed, as these resources are not a substitute for professional assistance.
Wishing you and your family all the best.
General Parenting Articles
- Want Better-Behaved Kids? Manage Your Own Emotions Like This
- Emotion Coaching: One of the Most Important Parenting Practices in the History of the Universe
- How Neuroscience Can Help Your Kid Make Good Choices
- How to Regulate Your Emotions Without Suppressing Them
Parenting Through Divorce
- Putting Children First: Proven Parenting Strategies for Helping Children Thrive Through Divorce, by JoAnne Pedro-Carroll (Paperback, 2010)
- The Truth About Children and Divorce: Dealing with the Emotions So You and Your Children Can Thrive, by Robert E. Emery, Ph.D. (Paperback, 2006)
You might also consider:
- Mindful Co-parenting: A Child-Friendly Path through Divorce by James B. Morris Jr., Ph.D. and Jeremy S. Gaies, Psy.D.
- Mom's House, Dad's House: A Complete Guide for Parents Who Are Separated, Divorced, or Remarried by Isolina Ricci, Ph.D.
- Talking to Children About Divorce: A Parent's Guide to Healthy Communication at Each Stage of Divorce by Jean McBride MS, LMFT
Books for Parents
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The Attachment Connection (Ruth Newton): Explains the science behind parent-child attachment and provides concrete examples on how paying attention to the emotional needs of your child at each of the various developmental stages (particularly during the first five years of development) cultivates confidence and security. |
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The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting (Brene Brown): "It's actually our ability to embrace imperfection that will help us teach our children to have the courage to be authentic, the compassion to love themselves and others, and the sense of connection that gives true purpose and meaning to life," states Dr. Brown. The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting is a practical and hopeful guide to raising children who know that they are worthy of love, belonging, and joy.
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The Whole Brain Child (Dan Siegel): Research and science-backed, age-appropriate strategies for dealing with day-to-day struggles based on age & developmental level. The Whole-Brain Child shows you how to navigate common behaviors to cultivate healthy emotional and intellectual development so that your children can lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives. |
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Parenting from the Inside Out (Dan Siegel): Understand the foundations of neurobiology and attachment research. This book explains how interpersonal relationships directly impact the development of the brain, and offers parents a step-by-step approach to forming a deeper understanding of their own life stories, which will help them raise compassionate and resilient children. |
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No Drama Discipline (Dan Siegel): Concrete, developmentally-based strategies designed to help you work with your child to peacefully resolve conflicts, inspire happiness and strengthen resilience in everyone in the family. |
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The Conscious Parent (Shefali Tsabary): An opportunity for parents seeking a non-traditional approach to connect with their children to look in the mirror and question the foundational beliefs affecting their parenting. This book encourages parents to “find their way back to their essence,” and shift away from the traditional parent-to-child "know it all" approach and more towards a mutual parent-with-child relationship.
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Mindsight (Dan Siegel): Learn the science behind rewiring the brain and practical strategies to practice how to focus your attention on the internal world of the mind in a way that will literally change the architecture of your brain. |
Books for Kids
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Breathe With Me (Miriam Gates): A super simple introduction on how to navigate through difficult emotions by breathing.
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Moody Cow Meditates (Kerry Lee MacLean): Introduction on how mindfulness and meditation can help with moods and thoughts.
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Kindness Starts with You (Jacquelyn Stagg): Follow Maddy through her day at school, where your child will learn how easy it can be to spread kindness! From taking turns on the swing to including everyone in the game - this storybook shows that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted!
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My Strong Mind (Niels Van Hove): Teach children about Confidence, Resilience and a Growth Mindset. With My Strong Mind, children will be introduced to mental strength and learn social skills and techniques to develop their own strong mind.
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Tiger-Tiger, Is It True? (Byron Katie): Introduction to questioning stressful thoughts & feelings as well as looking for evidence that we are ok & loved.
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