Good Enough Parenting: An In-Depth Perspective on Meeting Core Emotional Needs and Avoiding Exasperation

"Good Enough Parenting" combines principles from schema therapy and the latest research with the Louis’ experiences as therapists, community leaders and parents to provide a thorough, practical, easy-to-read and well-reasoned guide. "Good Enough Parenting" introduces “Core Emotional Needs” and explains why meeting them is absolutely crucial for raising emotionally healthy children. Parents will gain insights into their own issues and learn how to avoid “Exasperation Interactions” as well as how to “Repair” after a conflict and Reconnect” with teenagers and adult children.

Table of Contents:
SECTION ONE: INTRODUCING GOOD ENOUGH PARENTING Chapter One: Parenting Matters Chapter Two: The Case for Core Emotional Needs Chapter Three: The Frustration of Core Emotional Needs Chapter Four: Exasperation Interactions SECTION TWO: THE CORE EMOTIONAL NEED FOR CONNECTION AND ACCEPTANCE Chapter Five: Connection and Acceptance Chapter Six: The Domain of Disconnection and Rejection Chapter Seven: Quality Time Takes Time Chapter Eight: Empathy and Validation of Feelings SECTION THREE: THE CORE EMOTIONAL NEED FOR HEALTHY AUTONOMY AND PERFORMANCE Chapter Nine: Healthy Autonomy and Performance Chapter Ten: The Domain of Impaired Autonomy and Performance Chapter Eleven: Age-Appropriate Empowerment SECTION FOUR: THE CORE EMOTIONAL NEED FOR REASONABLE LIMITS Chapter Twelve: Reasonable Limits Chapter Thirteen: The Domain of Impaired Limits Chapter Fourteen: What Inhibits Limits? Chapter Fifteen: Staying Out of The Vortex SECTION FIVE: THE CORE EMOTIONAL NEED FOR REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS Chapter Sixteen: Realistic Expectations Chapter Seventeen: The Domain of Exaggerated Expectations Chapter Eighteen: Parental Involvement---Asset or Liability? SECTION SIX: MOVING TOWARDS A HEALTHIER OUTCOME Chapter Nineteen: Spiritual Values and Community Chapter Twenty: Repair and Reconnect

About the Author :
Based in Asia for over 25 years, the John and Karen Louis divide their time between conducting their “I Choose Us” and “Good Enough Parenting” workshops around the world, helping others in and around Singapore, and serving on a myriad of committees. John is a certified Schema Therapist and member of the International Society for Schema Therapy, trained by the founder, Dr. Jeffrey Young; Karen is a certified Solution Focused Therapist. A Malaysian, John enjoys playing competitive badminton, and Karen, a native of Texas, enjoys mysteries; they especially love spending time at the ocean with their two adult children. John Philip Louis, Karen McDonald Louis--both hold a Masters Degree in Counseling and are professional counsellors based in Singapore; John was the first certified schema therapist in Southeast Asia and is a regular speaker at international conferences. Their marriage book, "I Choose Us", has been translated into seven languages and their marriage & parenting programs are taught all over the world. The Louis recently received confirmation that their marriage program will be catalogued by the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Review :
Schema Therapy has been successful with adults, but I have always wanted to see someone do something on preventing schemas, or Lifetraps, in children, and here it is! --- Dr. Jeffrey Young Dept. of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York; Founder, Schema Therapy; Author, Reinventing Your Life This ground-breaking book will help parents raise healthier children, and when they grow up, healthier and more successful adults. I highly recommend it. --- Charles L Whitfield MD International bestselling author, Healing the Child Within [Full of] step-by-step strategies for overcoming [parents’] most difficult obstacles…Good Enough Parenting will be a valuable asset to your library. --- Wendy Behary President, International Society of Schema Therapy, Author, “Disarming the Narcissist”