The Inner Practice Brand Evolution, New Beginnings and Your Evolution

Letter from Renee, October 2022

I always wanted to work with children, to be their therapist and to make a difference in the therapy room that would change the rest of their life outside of the therapy room. After over seven years as a home-based therapist, a decade as an in-clinic therapist, and through my eight years of tertiary education, their was one undeniable truth that became evident: If you work with the child, you must work with the parents.

My early research investigated how working with parents can exert indirect positive effects for their child’s developmental and psychological outcomes, without even meeting the child. I became obsessed with the invisible and largely unseen aspect of how parents impact their children, and how children impact their parents, that some refer to as parent-child interaction. A bi-directional and intergenerational relationship I shared in my doctoral research and book, Parenting Freedom.

I now know that breaking the cycle is my life’s work, having delved deeply inward on my own inner journey, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you, doing the ongoing work as a parent. As the world has become intrigued by healing childhood trauma in adulthood, I have remained laser focussed on how we can develop nuanced emotionally attuned parenting skills to raise children who can express and regulate their emotions and experiences within healing environments. Most people believe the regulation comes first, but I advocate for the expression first and foremost.

We can become an attuned parent by starting to look within our own internal world as a person who was once parented, and by developing an emotionally sharp parenting attunement toolkit to raise children consciously, from awareness, not conditioning. Rest assured, our children do not need us to be perfect but rather present, responsive, and trusting of their autonomy. This is the basis of my new body of work, including speciality parent workshops and courses, to be shared as it evolves.

Inner Practice is an evolution of my private psychology practice and work as an academic and author; a new practice and brand that feels bigger than just me. My teachings, workshops, courses and resources will be available online so that anyone can start to break and create healthier cycles in their parenting and life. All work produced is grounded in integrity, scholar and compassion. I really hope that you decide to be a part of this important and brave journey.

Self-Reflection Prompts:

Consider something in your life may be waiting to be evolved. Waiting for you to evolve, or to simply recognise how you have already evolved and to adjust accordingly. Let me know on Instagram if you feel called, but most importantly, at least acknowledge it to yourself:

• What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of something in your like that is waiting to be evolved? (by you!)

• Why hasn't it already evolved? Identify what is keeping you stuck (bad habits, self-limiting beliefs, lack of time/resources etc.) and what needs to change (organisation, working through limiting self-beliefs, taking action steps, stopping procrastination etc.).
• Do you feel fearful, anxious, triggered or envious when others around you change or evolve? This does not mean you're a not happy for others but rather it provides you with 'data' and clues as to what changes and areas of growth you might like to make in your own life (if we could take away all the real and perceived barriers and uncomfortable emotions). 

Parenting Strategy of the Month:

Stop retelling old stories again and again about your children. Allow them to change, flourish and be who they authentically are without trying to hold them to old identities. You will not 'lose' them, in fact, they will fell 'seen' by you and appreciate you more for it. Maybe we could start by not holding ourselves to old identities.

Ideas I’m Exploring:

This month feels like my returning to more consistent work following maternity leave, so I naturally came back with a rant about the first vital year of parenting, "Reflections from a psychologist one year after having a baby".

I must admit that I was surprised about how much it resonated with others, with around 500 people privately sharing this post with partners and friends, and receiving countless messages from new parents saying they felt validated and as though they had a voice.

My main takeaway is that we can do way better in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of new parents and better understand the vulnerable and often difficult postpartum challenges. I would love to hear your thoughts on this too.

If you're interested to learn more about my workshops and courses when they become available, please ensure that you have signed up to receive my monthly Letters on this website, as they will be first released there.