Keeping Your Cool: Parenting Course

This course will be focused on learning about your own nervous system as a foundation for

better understanding and managing your emotions and behaviors. Together we will build

awareness and gather tools for staying regulated so that you can be your best self for the young

people in your care. Each week’s meeting will follow the same basic structure: 1) a guided

meditation/grounding practice, 2) a brief lesson and/or activity, and 3) a facilitated discussion

among caregivers. Below is an outline of content that will be covered each week.

Week 1:

Introduction

● Group norms/agreements

● The autonomic nervous system

● Safe and social

● Fight/flight

● Shutdown

● HW: noticing these states in self and others

Week 2:

Getting to know your nervous system

● Mapping your autonomic ladder

● What cues do you have to help you know when you are in a particular state?

● Body sensations

● Stories/beliefs

● What triggers/glimmers exist for these states

● HW: what triggers or glimmers you into each state

Week 3:

Working with your nervous system pt 1

● Regulated resources map

● What barriers exist for accessing Safe and Social connection?

Week 4:

Working with your nervous system pt 2

● Nervous system regulating tools

● RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) practice

● Body scan for shutdown

● TIPP skills for fight/flight responses

Week 5:

Integration and wrapping up

● Takeaways

● Areas for future exploration/growth