Our approach draws from a variety of frameworks, research traditions, and evidence-informed practices. Much of the foundation comes from psychology, particularly research on emotions, relationships, trauma, behavior change, and human development. We also draw from communication, neuroscience, and parenting research, incorporating practical approaches that translate these bodies of knowledge into tools people can use in their everyday lives. Below are some of the research and practice that informs the work:

• We are motivated by the data on child maltreatment which shows that supportive parent-child relationships are a protective factor against both violence and neglect. For adults, supportive relationships can reduce the risk of experiencing or perpetrating violence by decreasing isolation, improving mental well-being, and providing access to resources and assistance.

• In order to explore disciplinary frameworks, we use a framework used in Restorative Practices called the social discipline window. This helps us identify what framework was employed when we were growing up, what impact it had on us as adults, and grounds us in a framework for understanding how to raise children who become capable adults through offering high expectations and the high levels of support needed to achieve those expectations. Research on Restorative Practices in schools show that schools have a 35% reduction in student arrests in school and a 15% reduction in out-of-school arrests.

• Our work on emotions pulls most from the research and theories of Brené Brown and Marshall Rosenberg. Brown explores both the struggle and need to name emotions. Rosenberg’s nonviolent communication (NVC) offers tools for moving away from communicating with blame, judgment, criticism, and defensiveness and instead communicating in a way that identifies what happened, and what the feelings and underlying needs are.

• Our work on trauma is informed by Bessel Vanderkolk’s research as well as neuroscience and mindfulness practices. We explore what’s happening in the brain under stress and how to manage trauma triggers so we can reduce our reactivity. We focus on tapping and breath work to reduce stress and anxiety by influencing cortisol levels. Studies show intentional breathing relieves symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, obsessions, compulsions, and inattention.

• We draw from Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems to explore negative core narratives and harmful coping strategies we can develop. IFS was designated as an evidence-based practice and has shown to be effective with depression and self-compassion.

• We use theory and practices from Relational Life Therapy to help people build healthy adult relationships. A recent study of 100 couples found significant improvements in relationship satisfaction and emotional well-being after participating in RLT. These tools provide insight into common relationship dynamics as well as providing practices that create healthier communication.

• We teach participants to integrate new behaviors and to achieve goals through rewiring limiting narratives and implementing the Tiny Habits® Method, which  is an evidence-based approach designed to help people incorporate new behaviors into their existing routines. The Tiny Habits Method was created by BJ Fogg, PhD and is based on twenty years of research on behavior design.

• We also pull from a wide variety of parenting strategies that have been found to help adults reduce stress for themselves and their children, grow social-emotional competence, and reduce challenging behaviors in children.