top of page


Collaborative problem solving
Collaborative conversations are a fundamental part of NVR parenting and NVR approaches in schools. Starting from a belief that everyone's...

elainenichollsnvr
Aug 14, 20241 min read


Can I use consequences in NVR parenting?
Parents often ask if it's okay to use consequences in NVR parenting. Consequences are part of life. We can't avoid them. Consequences are...

elainenichollsnvr
Aug 13, 20242 min read


Coregulation
Therapeutic parents are encouraged to share their calm to coregulate their dysregulated child. They might be very distressed. They might...

elainenichollsnvr
Aug 8, 20242 min read


Children who need love the most...
Parenting is hard. Really hard. Therapeutic parenting is beyond hard. In all the therapeutic parenting advice (specific to...

elainenichollsnvr
Aug 7, 20242 min read


Everyone's doing their best
This statement can really help to shift our nervous system state when we’re struggling with children’s behaviour. I think there are few,...

elainenichollsnvr
Aug 6, 20241 min read


No matter what!
Relationship gestures - a fancy term for all the things we do that keep us deeply connected to our children - are fundamental to NVR. A...

elainenichollsnvr
Aug 2, 20242 min read


The problem with praise
If you want your kids to feel good about themselves then let them overhear you tell other people good things about them - the ways...

elainenichollsnvr
Jul 29, 20242 min read


The language of children's harmful behaviour
The terminology around children's harmful behaviour is tricky and language matters. The language we use influences whether families...

elainenichollsnvr
Jul 28, 20242 min read


Kind stories
This is a really hard one for parents/carers of children who struggle to regulate their emotions or manage their behaviour in safe and...

elainenichollsnvr
Jul 10, 20242 min read


Letting go
There's a lot of letting go in NVR. One of the things we can let go of is the idea that we're responsible for the actions and responses...

elainenichollsnvr
Jul 6, 20241 min read


Mindful parenting
I’ve been doing a lot of driving lately - a lot - and I’ve been listening to audiobooks to make the most of the time. So far I’m still on...

elainenichollsnvr
Jun 23, 20241 min read


Creating the conditions for felt safety
I love this but… Yes - and no. Let’s keep the measure of success to things we can control. Children with significant levels of trauma,...

elainenichollsnvr
Jun 14, 20241 min read


You can't do everything
I don’t believe we can do everything. Actually, I don't believe we can do anything either. I have my limitations and I believe we all do....

elainenichollsnvr
Jun 10, 20242 min read


Parental presence
This to me is parental presence. Everything we do (and don't do) influencing their development, influencing their values, influencing the...

elainenichollsnvr
May 31, 20241 min read


Triggers and glimmers
Sometimes we know how we want to deal with things as parents. We know what we need to do and what we should avoid doing. We can picture...

elainenichollsnvr
Apr 26, 20242 min read


Self care
Being told to make space for self care when things are difficult can feel shallow & it can highlight just how little people understand...

elainenichollsnvr
Apr 18, 20241 min read


It takes a village
It takes a village to raise a child, any child, but especially a traumatised child. We can’t do it alone. We need other people who can...

elainenichollsnvr
Apr 8, 20241 min read


Realistic therapeutic parenting
Parenting is hard. Really hard. Therapeutic parenting is beyond hard. In all the therapeutic parenting advice (specific to...

elainenichollsnvr
Apr 7, 20242 min read


Birthdays
Birthdays can be interesting times in adoptive families (whatever the legal framework - adoption, fostering, or kinship care). Loss can...

elainenichollsnvr
Apr 4, 20242 min read
bottom of page