Course Description

Did you know your child's most problematic moods and behaviors are an incredibly wise way of communicating with you? In this course, Lisa Dion, licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist, will teach you how to use the insights of modern neuroscience to better understand and shape your children's moods and behaviors. This course includes video lectures, experiential exercises, and easy to implement parenting techniques.

Topics include:

  • Why understanding your child's nervous system will help you be a better parent.
  • Powerful techniques to understand tantrums and misbehavior.
  • The ability to clearly understand what your child is trying to communicate when they are misbehaving.
  • Techniques for helping your child manage their own nervous system and reduce problematic behaviors.
  • Easy to implement strategies to make you a more effective and attuned parent.
  • Powerful experiential exercises to help you deal with the challenges of parenting.
  • And much more!

In this course, Lisa makes the growing field of neuroscience accessible and relevant to parents of all backgrounds. This course caters to both experienced and new parents, and will help parents manage toddler tantrums, teenagers getting in trouble, or just the everyday stresses of parenting. Parents will leave with this course with a powerful new perspective on parenting.


"Lisa offers a refreshing approach to understanding our children's moods and behaviors that transcends labels and judgment. Rather than presenting quick tricks to get your child to do something, Lisa's program offers a deeper solution: to foster self-awareness and skills as a parent to be able to respond to our kids in ways that develop their capacity for emotional intelligence, regulation and resilience. This program should be required for all parents as a foundation for not only raising healthy, connected and compassionate children, but also for shaping the next generation."

- Dan Panzarella, MA. LPC.,



"Lisa's parenting course is a must for every parent. I am a pediatric occupational therapist and parenting tools are a very important piece of the equation. Lisa's presentation is phenomenal with just the right balance of teaching, guidance and science. It is a great support tool to my practice. The modules are well put together allowing parents to go at their own pace. It provides a strong foundation for all parents in understanding the nature of behavior and how to better manage as a parent. Every parent needs to take this course."

- Janine Wiskind, MS, OTR/L


"In her Online Parenting Course, Lisa offers a cutting edge perspective on behavior by focusing on the brain and nervous system. She has an amazing ability to translate neuroscience into terms and concepts that are easy to understand and apply. Lisa invites parents into a process of reflection as they discover more about themselves, their child and their relationship. Parents are given permission to be themselves as they tune into their own internal wisdom, while also learning about the incredible wisdom within their child’s behavior. Lisa offers concrete strategies to better understand children’s moods and behavior, as well as ideas to support them during challenging moments. This parenting course creates the opportunity for a truly transformative experience in relating to your child."

-Kim Buller, Certified SPT Therapist

- Healbright -

Healbright creates online mental wellness programs that provide the many benefits of therapy via home accessibility. Healbright’s expert mental health instructors educate users on methods to reduce stress, practice meditation, and become more effective in their relationships. Healbright offers its programs to both large and small organizations to make mental wellness accessible, affordable and stigma-free. For more information visit www.healbright.com, or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Disclaimer

    • Disclaimer

  • 2

    Module 1: Introduction to this course

    • Welcome to Understanding Childrens' Moods and Behaviors

    • Module 1 Review

    • Nervous System Handout to print/download

  • 3

    Module 2: Learning Outcomes

    • Lesson 2.1 Why is it so Hard to Understand a Child's Moods and Behaviors?

    • Lesson 2.2 What You Will Learn in This Course

    • Lesson 2.3 Tips for Success

    • Module 2 Review

  • 4

    Module 3: Understanding the Brain

    • Lesson 3.1 Reptilian Brain and Sensory Input

    • Reframe Exercise

    • Lesson 3.2 The Limbic Brain

    • Should Reflection Exercise

    • Lesson 3.3 The Hippocampus

    • Regulated Breathing Exercise

    • Lesson 3.4 Frontal Cortex Development

    • Children's Brains "Should" Exercise

    • Development Level Reference

    • Module 3 Review

  • 5

    Module 4: The Nervous System and Dys-regulated States

    • Lesson 4.1 Perception and Activation of the Nervous System

    • Your Activation Exercise

    • Nervous System Handout to print/download

    • Lesson 4.2 Sympathetic Branch Responses

    • Hyperarousal Exercise

    • Lesson 4.3 Parasympathetic Branch Responses

    • Fight or Flight Journal

    • Nervous System Symptoms

    • Lesson 4.4 Self-Regulation and Mindfulness

    • Your Regulation Journal Exercise

    • Nervous System Handout to print/download

    • Module 4 Review

  • 6

    Module 5: Moods and Behaviors Reframed

    • Lesson 5.1 All Behavior is an Attempt at Regulation

    • Childs Activation Journal Exercise

    • Regulation Activites

    • Lesson 5.2 Disorders and Moods Reframed

    • Lesson 5.3 Feedback Mechanisms of the Body

    • Childhood Regulation Exercise

    • Module 5 Review

  • 7

    Module 6: The Nervous System and Regulated States

    • Lesson 6.1 What Regulation is and What it Isn’t

    • Regulation Modeling Exercise

    • Lesson 6.2 Help Cultivate Regulation

    • Naming Regulation Exercise

    • Regulation Activites

    • Module 6 Review

  • 8

    Module 7: "The Setup"

    • Lesson 7.1 Projection Process

    • Set-up Journal Exercise

    • Lesson 7.2 It is all Information

    • Set-up Journal Exercise

    • Lesson 7.3 What do we do with the Information from The Setup

    • Set-up Journal Exercise

    • Congruency Exercise

    • Module 7 Review

  • 9

    Module 8: The Parents' Job

    • Lesson 8.1 External Regulator

    • Parent's Job Journal Exercise

    • Compare regulations activities exercise

    • Lesson 8.2 Authenticity and "Shoulds"

    • Parents Shoulds Exercise

    • Lesson 8.3 Attunement and Co-regulation

    • Movement Exercise

    • Module 8 Review

  • 10

    Module 9: Putting it all Together

    • Lesson 9.1 Boundaries

    • Empathy and Redirect Exercise

    • Lesson 9.2 The Regulatory Process

    • Lesson 9.3 Review and Planning Ahead

    • Planning Session Exercise

    • Lesson 9.4 Putting it All Togther

    • Module 9 Review

  • 11

    12 Week Course Extension Program

    • Week 1

    • Week 2

    • Week 3

    • Week 4

    • Week 5

    • Week 7

    • Week 8

    • Week 9

    • Week 10

    • Week 11

    • Week 12

  • 12

    Resources

    •  Mental Health Resources

    • How to Find a Therapist