Parent Presentation Topics

Click here for more info or to book Susan at your school

    • “I want what I want when I want it!”
        How to help kids deal with frustration and find their way to the all-important life skill of Adapting: Why it’s important that children experience frustration, and essential that we help them avoid aggression by learning to adapt when life doesn’t go their way

    • How to get kids to cooperate, listen and actually do what you ask, without threats, punishments or timeouts
    How to deal with behavior problems by focusing on the relationship: The importance of understanding that we’re meant to resist those we’re not connect to...and do the bidding of those we’re attached to

 • How to find your cool when you’ve temporarily lost it
    Parenting without escalating threats, hysteria or the general feeling that you’ve utterly lost control

 • How to be the one your kids turn to, through thick and thin
    How to be calmly and confidently parent ‘in charge’ as you hold fast to the role of “Captain of the ship” in your child’s life:  Specific strategies for maintaining the all important place of being the one your child looks to for guidance, support and direction
    
    • ADD: What it is and isn’t, and how to successfully be a hunter in a farmer’s world
    Helping children and teens deal with problems with focus, impulsivity and organization:  Myths and realities of the ADD label, and strategies for helping these right-brained kids succeed in a left-brained world

    • Fortifying the essential attachment to our children—and teens— so they become easy to parent
    The stages of attachment:  How to parent from close connection and ‘right relationship’ to awaken your child’s natural instincts to follow, cooperate and behave

    • Connecting— or reconnecting— with your child or teen
    How to connect— or reconnect— with a child or teen who’s resistant, disconnected or shut down:  It’s never too late, and much more doable than many parents believe

    • Helping children and adults who struggle with depression and anxiety
     Specific techniques that parents can use to help kids who struggle with mood instabilities

***********

Comments

Susan Stiffelman was one of the most dynamic and useful speakers our parents have hosted.  Her warm and informative style had our parents at ease in no time, and we had her come back again within a month to continue.  Her orientation really makes you think about how we relate and respond to adolescent behavior, and find ways to be positive and supportive.  Patty Lancaster, Counselor, Archer School for Girls

 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Every parent and teacher should spend some time with Susan. She is able to impart practical solutions and guidance to the variety of behaviors that we all experience in children as well as adults. She is able to provide insight into the reasons for human actions and reactions, enabling the teacher, parent or co-worker to understand and respond in a manner beneficial to the situation. Susan is able to provide tools and techniques for dealing with our ever challenging life situations."
Shari Latta Director, Children’s Creative Workshop, Malibu

 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Susan is able to find ways to help all kinds of kids, especially those who are unique and may not be able to have their needs met by the system. Because of her special insights, strategies and alternatives, she’s the one I refer children to who just aren’t succeeding with conventional approaches. Having known Susan for nearly fifteen years, I can recommend her without reservation.”
Phil Cott
Principal, Webster Elementary School

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Susan has worked with many local families and consistently gives sound, thoughtful and expert advice. She’s a wonderful asset, and comes with our highest respect and regard.”
Laureen Sills, Director, Malibu Special Education Foundation

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Susan Stiffelman has a talent that extends far beyond what a formal education can teach. Her intelligence, combined with her intuition and her unique ability to hear what is and isn’t said, make her exceptional in her profession. She is a rare gem.”
Danielle Guttman, Malibu parent

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Susan Stiffelman makes parenting easier by bringing much needed support and guidance to help parents stay deeply connected with their kids. Susan is full of heart and soul but firmly grounded in common sense understanding."  

John Gray, author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"A most gifted communicator and resourceful teacher of the age's most important subject: learning how to learn."
Tim Gallwey, author of The Inner Game of Tennis

 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Susan Stiffelman has been a valuable consultant and therapist to patients I have referred to her for many years. She is bright, caring, and extremely skilled in her work with people.”
Dr. John Horton, Internist, Hanzelik & Horton Medical
Practice, Westlake Village

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Susan Stiffelman's presentation on How to Help Your Child with Frustration and Adaption was terrific.  Her experience as an educator enabled her to teach us parents simple and usable approaches that my husband and I can use to "correct our course" and  help our easily frustrated 9 year old daughter to develop the resilience she will need as she moves into adulthood."     A.P. Franklin School PTA

 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Thanks so much, Susan, for helping our teenage daughter this past year. You've given her a gift that will last her whole life - a bag of tools to deal with life's complexities, and the confidence in her own ability to use creative solutions to problems. Thank you with all my heart.”
GS, Malibu parent

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Thanks to Susan, we have seen a real improvement in our son's ability to maintain focus, significantly increase his success with assignment completion, accept responsibility for his own projects, and generally cooperative much more. He is happier--and so are we!”
LD, Malibu parent

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Susan Stiffleman's presentation of Hold Onto Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld, Ph. and Dr Gabor Maté, M.D. to the families of Point Dume Marine Science School was filled with wisdom and warmth. Her thoughtful and gentle approach to parenting is a positive influence in our community."
Parent Education Committee, Point Dume Marine Science School

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"You've given me [from your class] an entirely new say of thinking about myself, my children and how I interact with them. This, to me, has been life changing."     Carl McMahan

 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"I loved these classes. They've been so different from any parenting classes I've ever taken--with so much practical information that I can actually use. My kids and I have never, ever gotten along so well. Thank you so, so much Susan." LP

 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"I found the class extremely helpful. I have taken many courses and read many books and Susan is the first teacher who emphasizes the quality of the relationship between parent and child as the most important element of parenting. I am finding that [since taking the classes] most of our "issues" have fallen away."     DK

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I really got a lot out of your 1 1/2 hour talk last night!  I'm so delighted that you were able to come to our school.  I liked it so much I sat down with my husband and tried to recap everything you said, and he was impressed too.   Thanks again!
S.Y.
 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••