Jennifer Chen Speckman, LCSW
Oakland/Berkeley, CA
Adult, Child, Family, and Couples Psychotherapist
Parenting Support
Personalized Parenting Program
I have a passion for supporting parents.
As a parent myself, I appreciate how difficult and non-stop the work can be. At the same time, in working with parents, I witness inspiring heart and amazing opportunities in developing strong bonds, resilience, and healing. I utilize an attachment-based model which incorporates an emphasis on building insight and empowerment in the relationship, viewing each parent and child as a unique individual.
With the multitude of parenting books out there, it can leave a well-meaning parent lost and confused as to where to turn. In my practice, I work to tailor parenting practice that fits the temperment of the child and parent(s)/caregivers which incorporates their own culture, personal values and generational legacies, meaning our own personal narrative that we want to build in our children. I specialize in supporting parents who are separating with co-parenting needs, parents of adopted children, parents of children who have experienced trauma or grief, parents of gifted children, and parents of "feisty" children or with a difficult to soothe temperament.
Reflective Parenting Groups
The goal of reflective parenting groups is to enrich the parent-child relationship by creating safe space to allow the parent to be reflective on their own behavior and feelings as well as their child's. A program based on the research of Peter Fonagy, the group seeks to increase reflective functioning which Fonagy defines as an "uniquely human capacity to make sense of each other”.
This program offers an innovative approach to parenting. Individuals learn to be strong, effective parents while remaining sensitive and responsive to their child's needs. It is a 10-week, curriculae-based and supportive group allowing parents to gain insight into their child's behaviors in order to create stronger and healthier bonds with their children. Many parents who have attended my groups report feeling a greater sense of confidence in their parenting decisions, a sense of support and find a deeper empathy for themselves and for their children.
For more information:
See The Center for Reflective Parenting
or
"From Reactive to Reflective Parenting"
“Call them rules or call them limits, good ones, I believe, have this in common: they serve reasonable purposes; they are practical and within a child’s capability; they are consistent; and they are an expression of loving concern.”
-Fred Rogers
