4 Powerful Benefits of Group Therapy

4 Powerful Benefits of Group Therapy

by | Apr 24, 2026 | Counseling, Personal Development, Self Care, Work Life Balance

Have you ever wished you had a space where people just get it without needing a long explanation? That’s part of what makes group therapy so powerful, it creates room for real connection with others who truly relate to what you’re experiencing.

Group therapy might sound a little intimidating at first, but it’s really just a space where people come together to talk about what they’re going through. With a therapist guiding the conversation, it becomes a place to feel understood, supported, and a little less alone. You’re not the only one – and that changes everything. There’s something powerful about being in a room with people who truly understand, where you can listen, share when you’re ready, and feel supported in a way that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Are Group Services for Me? 

If you’re open to hearing from others, sharing at your own pace, and building connections along the way, group therapy can be a meaningful place to explore support and growth. Many people find it helpful when they’re feeling isolated or looking for new tools to manage what they’re going through. At the same time, it’s completely okay if a group setting isn’t the right fit for every moment or every person. If being around others feels too overwhelming right now, or if you need more focused one-on-one support, individual therapy may be a better place to start. What matters most is choosing the space where you feel safest and most supported.

What You Might Experience in Group Therapy Services : 

1. Feel Seen and Heard – Connect with people who truly understand

In group therapy, you have the chance to be around people who are facing challenges similar to yours. Simply hearing “me too” or seeing that others have gone through similar experiences can be incredibly validating, helping you feel understood and less alone. There’s something especially grounding about being in a space where everyone is taking time to reflect and heal together. With room for honesty, pauses, and real conversations, it becomes easier to slow down and truly be heard. 

2. Share at Your Own Pace – Build courage to talk about the tough stuff

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you walk in, group therapy meets you exactly where you are, offering a space that’s patient, supportive, and free of judgment. There’s no pressure to share everything right away; you can open up at your own pace, when you feel ready. Even just listening at first is completely okay.  Just showing up is already a meaningful first step. Over time, this safe environment can help you build confidence in expressing difficult thoughts and emotions, both in therapy and in everyday life.

people writing in journals participating in group therapy

3. Discover New Ways to Think – Gain fresh perspectives from others

Hearing different viewpoints and coping strategies from other group members can open your eyes to ideas you might not have considered on your own. Everyone brings their own experiences, and with that comes a variety of ways of handling life’s challenges. Sometimes just listening to how someone else approaches a similar struggle can help you see your own situation in a new light. It can feel encouraging, even comforting, to realize there isn’t just one “right” way to cope-there are many paths forward, and you get to find what works best for you.

4. Stay on Track Together – Hold yourself accountable in a supportive space 

Being part of a group naturally creates a sense of gentle accountability in a supportive, non-judgmental way. When you share your goals and check in on your progress, it can feel motivating to know others are cheering you on and genuinely care about how you’re doing. It’s not about pressure or being held to impossible expectations, it’s about encouragement, consistency, and feeling less alone in the process. Along the way, even small steps forward feel more meaningful when they’re noticed and celebrated by others who understand what you’re working toward. 

team consult in the hallway

At Stronger, we’re always thinking about how to meet people in real life, not just in the therapy room.

Because two themes keep showing up:

  • People are craving connection.
  • They just don’t always know where to find it.

So we created experiences designed to support different seasons of life:

  • Walk + Talk — A therapist- led walking group for adults who want to: Clear their mind, feel more grounded, have real conversations, and take a step forward. 
  • Midweek Reset: Focus + Follow Through —  A weekly space to: get organized, reduce overwhelm, and follow through on what matters
  • Confident & Connected — Three exclusive experiences for students transitioning into middle school, high school, and college. Designed to build confidence and real-life social skills.

If you’re ready to experience support and connection, group therapy could be the place to start. 

You don’t have to go through life’s challenges alone, and you don’t have to have it all figured out before you begin. There’s a welcoming community ready to meet you, listen with care, and remind you that you’re not on this journey by yourself.

Groups We Believe in Locally:

Suicide Prevention Services of America (Batavia, IL)– Survivors of Suicide Support Group

Fox Valley Hands of Hope (Geneva, IL) – Grief Support Group

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) DuPage (Wheaton, IL) – Various Support Groups, including: Emerging Young Adult, LGBTQ+, Dual Diagnosis, Suicide Loss, Family/Parent Support Services

– Individual
– Teens/Young Adults
– Family/Parents

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) McHenry County (Crystal Lake, IL) – Individual and Family Support Groups

Al-Anon Family Groups – Help and Hope for Families and Friends of Alcoholics

Ready to get started with Stronger?

Click HERE to submit an inquiry to begin therapy with a therapist on our team.

We want our clients to
Understand Your Journey + Create Change + Feel Stronger

That’s our formula for helping you live an authentic life.

We know that Humans are complex and so is your story.

Your journey to wellness and strength doesn’t have to be scary to unpack and understand.

We think it can even be fun.

The Paradox of Being “The Strong One”

The Paradox of Being “The Strong One”

by | Mar 16, 2026 | Counseling, Personal Development, Self Care, Work Life Balance

woman therapist sitting on chair

Strength is often something people take pride in.

Being dependable.

Holding things together.

Being the person others can count on.

For many people, being “the strong one” became part of their identity long ago.

Sometimes it developed through responsibility taken on early in life.
Sometimes through navigating difficult experiences.
Sometimes through the quiet understanding that there wasn’t really another choice.

Strength, in those moments, often meant surviving.

It meant continuing forward even when things were uncertain, painful, or overwhelming.

That kind of strength deserves recognition.

But over time, constantly carrying everything, the expectations, the responsibility, the emotions, the past… can become exhausting.

And this is where an important paradox often appears.

Strength doesn’t always mean continuing to carry everything alone.

Many people who have spent years being “the strong one” have learned to hold things in, push through, and take care of others first.

But changing those patterns can be difficult.

The ways we learned to cope often developed to keep us safe or help us survive. Over time, those responses can become automatic, almost like well-worn pathways our minds return to without us even realizing it.

Even when those patterns are no longer serving us in the same way, they can still feel familiar and efficient. Trying something different, asking for help, sharing what we’re carrying, or allowing someone else to support us, can feel uncomfortable or even risky.

Sometimes it’s hard to recognize when we’re holding more than we should carry alone.

There can also be deeper beliefs underneath the surface:

  • Believing we should be able to handle everything ourselves.
  • Wondering if we’re asking for too much.
  • Worrying that we might be a burden to others.
  • Questioning whether we’re truly worthy of the support we need.

And sometimes, simply noticing these automatic patterns can bring up feelings of shame, embarrassment, or questions about our own worth, wondering if we were lovable enough, cared for enough, or deserving enough for things to have been different.

These are deeply human questions.

And many of these reactions are often rooted in the core beliefs we carry about ourselves.

Processing these experiences with a therapist can be incredibly important. With the right support, the automatic thoughts and patterns that once felt fixed can begin to soften. Over time, those beliefs can be explored, understood, and gently challenged, allowing new ways of responding to ourselves and to others to take shape.

At Stronger Therapeutic Counseling Services, the idea of strength is something we think about often.

Strength is not about carrying trauma forever.
It’s not about never needing support.

Strength can be growth.

Strength can be curiosity.

Strength can be healing.

And sometimes, strength means realizing you don’t have to be the only one holding everything up.

Because you were built strong.

And strength can also mean allowing yourself the opportunity to grow beyond survival.

Ready to get started with Stronger?

Click HERE to submit an inquiry to begin therapy with a therapist on our team.

We want our clients to
Understand Your Journey + Create Change + Feel Stronger

That’s our formula for helping you live an authentic life.

We know that Humans are complex and so is your story.

Your journey to wellness and strength doesn’t have to be scary to unpack and understand.

We think it can even be fun.

The Healing Power of Talking: How Speaking Your Truth Supports Anxiety, Depression, and Stress

The Healing Power of Talking: How Speaking Your Truth Supports Anxiety, Depression, and Stress

by | Nov 28, 2025 | Counseling, Self Care, Uncategorized, Work Life Balance

Individual therapy sessions with Kelly Jacobson

Talking is one of the simplest and most powerful tools we have for supporting mental health. Yet many people underestimate how much relief and clarity can come from saying something out loud.

When clients speak openly in therapy, often for the first time, something shifts. The mind calms. The body relaxes. A sense of pressure lifts.

This is why talking matters.

Talking Helps Anxiety

Thoughts move quickly in your mind, often faster than you can process. Naming your fears or worries out loud slows them down and reduces intensity.

Talking Supports Depression

Depression thrives in silence. Talking creates connection, which gently interrupts feelings of heaviness and isolation.

Talking Helps With Overthinking

Racing thoughts tend to loop internally. Once spoken aloud, they become clearer, more manageable, and easier to understand.

Talking Reduces Work Stress

When you name workplace overwhelm or burnout out loud, you create space to problem-solve and receive support rather than carrying everything alone.

    A Practical Strategy: “Name It to Navigate It”

    1. Name the feeling out loud
    2. Ask a curious, compassionate question
    3. Share it with someone who can support you

    Why Therapy Helps

    Therapy gives you a safe, judgment-free space to talk, understand your patterns, and build tools that help you feel more grounded and strong.

    If you’re ready to begin, click here to join our waitlist or schedule an appointment.

    If your workplace could benefit from learning more about preventing burnout and stress, contact us to learn about our wellness workshops.

    You were built strong. Now let’s help you believe it.

    Ready to get started with Stronger?

    Click HERE to submit an inquiry to begin therapy with a therapist on our team.

    Meet our Founder

     Click HERE to virtually meet Kelly, the founder of Stronger. Kelly is excited to share with you her passion for mental health and wellness to normalize therapy through the services she and her team are proud to offer.

    We want our clients to
    Understand Your Journey + Create Change + Feel Stronger

    That’s our formula for helping you live an authentic life.

    We know that Humans are complex and so is your story.

    Your journey to wellness and strength doesn’t have to be scary to unpack and understand.

    We think it can even be fun.

    Telehealth Tips for College Students: Making Therapy Fit Your Campus Life

    Telehealth Tips for College Students: Making Therapy Fit Your Campus Life

    by | Aug 21, 2025 | Counseling, Self Care, Uncategorized, Work Life Balance

    Individual therapy sessions with Kelly Jacobson

    College life is exciting, busy, and sometimes overwhelming. Between classes, internships, and late-night study sessions, it can feel like there’s barely time to breathe, let alone take care of your mental health. That’s where telehealth can make things easier.

    With telehealth counseling, you can connect with a licensed therapist right from your dorm room, the library, or wherever you can find a little privacy. No commute, no waiting rooms, just a safe space to talk about what’s on your mind.

    If you’re a college student in Illinois adjusting to campus life, here are some simple tips to help you get started with telehealth.

    Finding a Private Space for Telehealth Sessions

    Privacy can be tough to find on a busy campus, but with a little creativity, it’s possible. Some options students often use:

    • Reserve a study room in your campus library or a local public library.
    • Check your residence hall; some offer small private rooms for students.
    • Visit your wellness center and see if they can offer a quiet space for telehealth.
    • Look for open rooms in career centers, tutoring labs, or academic offices.
    • Consider faith-based spaces like churches that might have a private space to share.
    • Hop in your car if you have one on campus;  it can double as a private spot.
    • Consider a walk and talk session if the weather permits, throw on some gym shoes, your earbuds, and take a walk around campus to get the added benefit of moving your body during the session while keeping the session moving to offer privacy.

    Making Your Session Feel More Private

    If you’re meeting from your dorm or apartment:

    • Try to schedule sessions around your roommate’s classes. Communication can be key. Communicate to your roommate if you’re worried their class might end early and your privacy will be interrupted. Share with your roommate that you have a private meeting during their class and that you’ll be finished at xxx time. Providing clarity around when you’ll be done and that your meeting is private can help your roommate plan ahead to fill their time should class end early or get cancelled.

       

    • Use headphones so only you hear your therapist’s voice. We all know that dorms and apartments aren’t the most private; oftentimes, the walls can be pretty thin, or we’ve even seen vents on the exterior doors. Using headphones helps keep your therapist’s voice just between the two of you.

       

    • White noise, a towel, or playing music near your door can help block sound. We use white noise machines in our therapy office hallways, but we know this isn’t exactly aesthetic on a college campus. Sometimes music can be enough of a buffer, but laying a towel down at the bottom of the door can help a ton, too!

    Preparing for Your Appointment

    A little prep goes a long way in making your telehealth session smooth and stress-free:

     

    • Check your tech. Test your Wi-Fi, camera, and microphone ahead of time.

       

    • Download the right app. Platforms like Simple Practice or Zoom are commonly used.

       

    • Jot down your thoughts. Write out a few questions, concerns, or topics you’d like to cover so you feel ready.

       

    • Get cozy. Wherever you decide to plan to set up for your oline therapy appointment, make sure that you feel comfortable. Grab a favorite beverage for the session, wear a cozy hoodie if you’ll be in the AC, or bring along a pillow or blanket to cozy up with.

    You Don’t Have to Do College Alone

    Starting college is a big adjustment. You may be living away from home for the first time, balancing classes with a job or sports, or just figuring out where you belong. Many students feel homesick, anxious, or stressed, and that’s completely normal.

    Therapy can give you a space to process those feelings and learn tools to handle the ups and downs of campus life. At Stronger Therapeutic Counseling Services, our team specializes in supporting young adults and offers telehealth therapy for students all across Illinois. We understand how stressful this season can be and we’re here to support you through it.

    You don’t need to have it all figured out to start therapy. Sometimes, the first step is simply giving yourself permission to reach out.


    Want support that fits into your college schedule? Our Stronger team is here to make therapy simple, supportive, and flexible so you can focus on just being you and enjoy the experience!

    Ready to get started with Stronger?

    Click HERE to submit an inquiry to begin therapy with a therapist on our team.

    Meet our Founder

     Click HERE to virtually meet Kelly, the founder of Stronger. Kelly is excited to share with you her passion for mental health and wellness to normalize therapy through the services she and her team are proud to offer.

    We want our clients to
    Understand Your Journey + Create Change + Feel Stronger

    That’s our formula for helping you live an authentic life.

    We know that Humans are complex and so is your story.

    Your journey to wellness and strength doesn’t have to be scary to unpack and understand.

    We think it can even be fun.

    Burnout Is More Than Just Feeling Tired

    Burnout Is More Than Just Feeling Tired

    by | Aug 18, 2025 | Counseling, Self Care, Uncategorized, Work Life Balance

    You wake up, hit the ground running, and don’t stop until your head hits the pillow.
     From the outside, you look like you’re handling life beautifully.  Juggling work, home, family, and everything in between. People even tell you, “I don’t know how you do it all.”

    But inside? You might be running on fumes.

    Individual therapy sessions with Kelly Jacobson

    Defining Burnout

    Burnout isn’t simply exhaustion! It’s a state of emotional, physical, and mental depletion that happens when you’ve been under prolonged stress. It can creep up on anyone, parents, students, business owners, healthcare workers and it’s especially common in people who pride themselves on being strong and capable.

    At Stronger Therapeutic Counseling Services, we see burnout show up in many ways: anxiety, depression, ADHD struggles, and even physical health changes. Recognizing the signs of burnout early is the first step toward prevention and recovery.

    Why High-Functioning Burnout Is So Hard to Spot

    Burnout isn’t always about collapsing into bed and crying for hours. For some people, especially high-achievers,  burnout hides behind productivity, humor, and “I’ll be fine.”

    If you’re also managing anxiety, depression, or ADHD, it can be even harder to recognize:

    • With anxiety, burnout feels like constant overthinking, muscle tension, and never being able to truly relax.

       

    • With depression, it might show up as emotional numbness, irritability, or feeling disconnected from things you once enjoyed.

       

    • With ADHD, burnout often means decision fatigue, forgetfulness, and frustration with yourself when your brain just won’t cooperate.

       

    The signs can sneak in slowly, until one day you realize you don’t feel like yourself anymore.

     

    Common Burnout Symptoms

    Take a moment to consider if you might be feeling burnt out. Below we have a few common symptoms of burnout that can help you shed light on your emotional bandwidth and consider some changes if you’re experiencing burnout. You might be experiencing burnout if you notice:

    ☐ Emotional exhaustion: Feeling drained before the day even starts
    ☐ Loss of motivation: The things you used to care about now feel like chores
    ☐ Irritability or detachment: Snapping at loved ones or withdrawing socially
    ☐ Brain fog: Trouble concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
    ☐ Physical changes: Headaches, sleep problems, changes in appetite
    ☐ Reduced performance: Struggling to keep up at work, school, or home

    If you checked more than a couple of these, it’s worth taking them seriously. Left unaddressed, burnout can spiral into chronic anxiety, depression, or health problems. Our team of clinicians can help with the symptoms of burnout. We believe that insights leads to understanding which can help cultivate meaningful changes to show up how we really want to feel.

    What Causes Burnout

    The Mental Load That Pushes Us Over the Edge

    Burnout is fueled by the mental load, that invisible, never-ending checklist running in your mind:

    • Remembering every detail for work
    • Tracking family schedules
    • Managing household needs
    • Keeping up with texts, emails, and social commitments
    • Worrying about things that might go wrong

    When that mental load never gets a break, it wears you down, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.

    While the triggers vary, burnout often stems from:

    • Workplace stress: High demands, lack of support, unclear boundaries
    • Caregiving: Constantly meeting others’ needs while neglecting your own
    • Perfectionism: Holding yourself to impossible standards
    • Unmanaged mental health conditions: Anxiety, depression, or ADHD without proper coping tools

    Burnout doesn’t just happen on an individual level, it often has roots in the environments we’re part of. In workplaces, constant demands, lack of resources, and unclear boundaries can drain employees and impact overall team performance. That’s why we also work with organizations to create burnout prevention strategies that foster healthier, more connected teams.

    How to Recover From Burnout

    Burnout recovery isn’t about a quick weekend away or sleeping in once. It’s about consistent changes that address both the cause and the symptoms.

    Here’s where to start:

    1. Set boundaries– Learn to say no without guilt. (This can be especially hard when one’s identity is rooted in helping others). At Stronger we can help our clients sort this out and unpack it to say no and actually not feel any guilt.

    2. Schedule rest– Treat downtime like an important appointment. If you bend the boundaries for others it’s likely you bend the boundaries for yourself. In your role as a parent, caregiver, or leader it’s likely that  you feel that you always have to be on or available. Rest is essential for all of these roles and feeling as though you have systems in place to support your wellbeing can be part of the process. 

    team consult in the hallway

    3. Connect with support– It’s likely your rational self will refute this option and want to tell you that you can navigate it on your own. Or that you don’t need to talk to anyone because everyone’s just as busy as you are. As a team of therapists that works primarily with high functioning individuals we hear this all too often and often even have to remind ourselves to talk to a therapist, mentor, or trusted friend. Talking not only helps us feel validated but it physically can remove stress from our bodies. Additionally, the power of connection can then increase our motivation, help us gain clarity and insight to make new decisions and free ourselves from patterns that are no longer serving us.

    4. Move your body– Even a short daily walk can improve mood and focus. This can be something you do to start your day, end your evening, or something that you include to give yourself a little opportunity for giving back to yourself and all that you do.

    5. Evaluate your workload– This can be a hard one to take some time to do when life feels like you’re responsible for it. But zooming out we know life will go on without us for an hour. Take a moment with your morning coffee, during your lunch break or cut off the workday an hour early one afternoon to focus on all that you do. Start to identify tasks/roles that pull you away from the bigger picture that someone else can step in and do for you. You’ll be surprised to see what can be delegated, delayed, or dropped all together.

    Pro tip: If you’re an employer or team leader, evaluating workloads is just as essential for your team as it is for yourself. When leaders model and encourage healthy boundaries, productivity and morale improve for everyone.

    How Therapy Helps You Recover From Burnout

    There’s a myth that asking for help is weakness.

    In reality, asking for help is one of the strongest things you can do, especially when your mental health is on the line.

    Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you.

    Therapy helps you sort through the noise so you can hear your own voice again.

    It gives you tools to manage anxiety, understand your triggers, and rebuild your energy, without having to keep pretending you’re fine.

    Therapy gives you a safe, judgment-free space to:

    • Identify what’s driving your burnout

    • Learn coping tools tailored to your needs

    • Improve boundaries and communication skills

    • Reconnect with what actually matters to you

    You Were Built Strong… But Do You Actually Believe It?

    Strength isn’t about doing it all alone. It’s about knowing when to lean on support, create boundaries, and give yourself permission to rest. At Stronger Therapeutic Counseling Services, our therapists help you go from barely hanging on to feeling strong and balanced again.

    You were built strong. Now let’s help you believe it.

    📅 Click here to contact us to book a session or join our waitlist today.

    💼 Think your workplace could benefit from learning how to prevent burnout?
     Send us an email to start the conversation about customized burnout prevention training and strategies for your team.

    Together, we can create a healthier, more sustainable work culture.

    Ready to get started with Stronger?

    Click HERE to submit an inquiry to begin therapy with a therapist on our team.

    Curious about anxiety?

    Click HERE to watch a webinar that offers helpful insight and guidance on how to better understand and manage anxiety.

    In this session, you’ll:

    🤍 Unpack the symptoms of anxiety and explore what can contribute to it

    🤍 Learn practical tools and resources to support your mental health

    🤍 Discover real-life coping skills you can start using right away. Whether you’re experiencing anxiety yourself or supporting someone who is, this workshop is a great place to start. to better understand anxiety, how it’s diagnosed, understand its symptoms, and how to cope.

    Meet our Founder

    Click HERE to virtually meet Kelly, the founder of Stronger. Kelly is excited to share with you her passion for mental health and wellness to normalize therapy through the services she and her team are proud to offer.

    We want our clients to
    Understand Your Journey + Create Change + Feel Stronger

    That’s our formula for helping you live an authentic life.

    We know that Humans are complex and so is your story.

    Your journey to wellness and strength doesn’t have to be scary to unpack and understand.

    We think it can even be fun.

    Best Parenting Books for the New Year: Key Insights & Strategies

    Best Parenting Books for the New Year: Key Insights & Strategies

    by | Feb 4, 2025 | Books, Counseling, Personal Development, Self Care

    As we embark on a new year, I’ve been diving into some parenting books that have truly inspired and supported my own journey. I’ve found each of these books to be invaluable in different ways, whether you’re a new mom navigating the early days, a parent looking to connect with your inner child, or managing the delicate dynamics between siblings. I wanted to share a few key takeaways from these books, which I hope will resonate with you, too!

    1. Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman

    Ideal for: First-time moms or parents in the early stages

    Starting your parenting journey is often overwhelming. As a new mom, you might feel like you’re constantly juggling a million things while trying to keep it all together. This book, Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts, offers a lighthearted yet validating perspective on the challenges and fears that come with new motherhood. Karen Kleiman presents an honest and funny take on the “scary thoughts” every mom experiences. From intrusive worries to doubts about your capabilities, she normalizes the fears that can accompany becoming a mother.

    Individual therapy sessions with Kelly Jacobson

    One of the things I love about this book is its whimsical nature. It’s not just a dry, clinical read—it’s playful, with sweet, and often funny, illustrations on every page that help soften the serious topics it covers. This book is perfect for any first-time mom who needs a little reminder that her feelings are valid, and that no one has it “perfect.” It’s a great resource for gently reminding yourself that parenting is hard, and you’re not alone in those moments of uncertainty.

    Key Takeaway: Being a new mom is tough, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Embrace the chaos and give yourself permission to experience the hard moments without guilt.

    2. Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy

    Ideal for: Parents looking to nurture their children and their own inner child

    One of the reasons Good Inside has resonated so deeply with me is its shift in perspective on both children and parenting. Dr. Becky doesn’t just encourage us to look at our children’s behavior in a more compassionate way; she challenges us to completely rethink how we perceive our kids and ourselves. The heart of her approach is this simple yet profound idea: Your child is good inside—always. Regardless of the behavior they may be exhibiting at any given moment, they are, at their core, inherently good. This mindset is the foundation of the book and one that can truly transform the way we respond to our children.

    In traditional parenting models, it’s easy to slip into the habit of labeling a child’s behavior as “bad,” “disobedient,” or “naughty” when they’re acting out. But Good Inside flips this notion on its head by reminding parents that their child’s “bad” behavior is a sign of unmet needs, not a reflection of their character. Dr. Becky’s approach asks us to look beyond the surface—beyond the tantrums, the defiance, the moments of frustration—and recognize that these are signs of something deeper. When we see our children as “good inside,” we start to approach their behavior with curiosity and empathy rather than judgment. 

    This shift can be so powerful, especially when dealing with challenging moments like a child refusing to listen, hitting their sibling, or throwing a tantrum. Instead of feeling triggered or frustrated, the book invites us to pause and think: “What is my child trying to communicate right now?” This mindset opens up a world of understanding, where behavior becomes a language we learn to interpret, rather than something to punish or suppress. It allowed me to take a step back and reflect when my 2-year-old kept attempting to hit our dog. Rather than yelling, I took time to have a conversation about what was really bothering her: she was feeling like he was crowding her space, and hitting was the only way she knew to get him to leave. We were able to brainstorm some solutions that felt better for her and our dog.

    Dr. Becky provides parents with actionable, practical strategies to respond to children with this lens of compassion. One example she offers is the practice of validating your child’s feelings before addressing the behavior. So, if your child is acting out because they’re overwhelmed or tired, instead of reprimanding them immediately, you can say something like, “I can see that you’re really upset right now, and I know this situation is tough for you. Let’s work through this together.” This approach doesn’t ignore the behavior, but it creates space for connection and emotional understanding. The result? Less defensiveness, more cooperation, and ultimately, a stronger parent-child bond.

    Another powerful tool in the book is the idea of boundaries rooted in empathy, which is something I’ve been working on myself. Dr. Becky emphasizes that boundaries should not be about asserting power or control, but about creating a safe environment where both parent and child’s needs are honored. The goal is to teach children how to regulate their emotions and make better choices while still feeling seen and understood.

    But what really sets Good Inside apart for me is the way it naturally encourages parents to explore their own childhood experiences. Dr. Becky acknowledges that parenting isn’t just about the child; it’s also about the parent’s history, emotional needs, and unresolved experiences from their own upbringing. For many parents, reading this book might stir up feelings about their own childhood—the way they were parented, the emotions they were taught to suppress, or the unmet needs they still carry. This is where the concept of “parenting your inner child” comes into play.

    When we think about parenting from this perspective, it’s not just about nurturing and guiding our children—it’s also about healing ourselves. Good Inside invites us to explore our own wounds and triggers, allowing us to respond more consciously and with less reactivity. For example, if a parent feels deeply frustrated when a child resists authority, it may be helpful to examine whether this reaction is rooted in their own experiences of control or lack of autonomy as a child. By understanding and addressing our own inner child, we become more attuned to our children’s emotional needs and better equipped to provide them with the understanding and support they need to thrive.

    What I love most about Good Inside is how it gives parents permission to be imperfect. Dr. Becky doesn’t promise that you’ll never feel frustrated or overwhelmed with your child’s behavior—but she does offer a compassionate and practical roadmap for working through those feelings. It’s a reminder that being a good parent isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being willing to learn, grow, and show up with love and patience, even on the tough days.

    Key Takeaway: Good Inside encourages us to view our children as inherently good, no matter what behaviors they may exhibit. By responding with empathy and compassion, we can foster a deeper connection with our children. And by exploring our own childhood experiences, we can heal and grow alongside them, ultimately becoming better parents and more whole individuals.

    An open door to a therapist's waiting room

    3. Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish

    Ideal for: Parents of multiple children, or those preparing to expand their families

    As an expectant parent about to welcome a second child, Siblings Without Rivalry has been an invaluable resource. The book provides practical advice on preventing rivalry and fostering a strong sibling bond from the start. What struck me most is how the way we, as parents, address each child’s individuality plays a huge role in their relationship with one another. A simple example: rather than comparing your children or labeling one as “the smart one” and the other as “the quiet one,” it’s more effective to celebrate each child’s unique qualities. When I welcome my second baby, I’ll be mindful to focus on my firstborn’s role as a “great big sibling” rather than creating a comparison to the new baby.

    A core principle of the book is the idea of neutral language—responding to children’s behavior in a way that doesn’t incite competition. Instead of saying, “Why can’t you be more like your sister?” the book recommends acknowledging emotions by saying things like, “I can see you’re frustrated right now.” This helps prevent defensiveness and keeps the focus on the child’s feelings rather than their behavior in relation to their sibling. Another key takeaway is the idea of fairness versus equality—fairness isn’t about giving each child the same amount of time, but about meeting each child’s unique needs. My firstborn will need extra reassurance and attention as they adjust to a new sibling, while the baby will have different, age-appropriate needs.

    The book also reminds us that sibling rivalry is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. Instead of trying to eliminate all conflict, we can focus on teaching our children healthy ways to resolve issues. For instance, guiding children to express frustration calmly or allowing them to work through disagreements together helps nurture respect and understanding. One final tip I plan to implement is to never force affection. Encouraging natural, respectful bonding rather than insisting on hugs or kisses promotes positive relationships and reduces resentment.

    Key Takeaway: Siblings Without Rivalry teaches parents to avoid comparisons and to recognize each child’s individual needs. By fostering empathy, using neutral language, and encouraging healthy conflict resolution, we can reduce rivalry and build stronger sibling connections.

    Parenting Books as a Tool for Reflection

    Each of these books has provided me with a refreshing perspective on the challenges of parenting. Whether it’s learning how to accept your own feelings as a parent, providing tools for navigating sibling dynamics, or finding humor in the wild thoughts that come with new motherhood, these books have enriched my understanding of both myself and my children.

    If you’re looking for some parenting inspiration this year, I highly recommend picking up any of these three books. Each one offers practical advice and valuable insights that can help you in your unique journey, no matter what stage of parenting you’re in.

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