Karen Skinulis

Whether you are concerned about your teen or simply feeling frustrated because a child's challenging behaviour is not improving despite your best efforts, I can help. I have chosen to focus my practice on parenting and family issues because I believe parenting is the most difficult and important job there is and I know how difficult it is to get parenting advice you can trust. Children and teens are experiencing more stress and anxiety than ever before and parents are often inundated with so much information that its difficult to sift through the latest parenting trends. I will help you zero in on your parenting goals and determine what impediments are standing in the way of cooperation, self-esteem, responsibility, or feelings of well-being. I will also help you frame problems in a way that will lead you to make positive changes and encourage you to take the steps to make them happen. I believe that establishing an atmosphere of mutual respect is essential and including children/ teens in problem-solving is the most effective way to win cooperation and improve the family atmosphere. I will provide you with practical suggestions and strategies to help you bring about improvement, particularly with "defusing" power-struggles and addressing hurt and anger. Punishments and rewards are ineffective and not conducive to promoting self-esteem. I'll help you replace these outdated approaches with more appropriate and progressive ones. Encouragement and communication are key areas that I will also help you master. These are the fundamental building blocks of healthy family relationships.