The Connected Parent: Real-Life Strategies for Building Trust and Attachment

This book is full of not only the science behind how trauma changes the brain, but real-life help for connecting with these precious children. Not only would I recommend this book to friends who are fostering or adopting, but also friends with children who want to learn skills that help you connect to your child's heart and not just focus on behavior modification. My husband and I have adopted three children, one older child with RAD, and this book has given us help for situations that have felt hopeless. The "scripts" the author gives for specific situations are so helpful and are already changing how we see our children connecting to us. I love how Lisa authentically shares stories from her and her husband's own experience using these strategies, not leaving out their struggles and feelings of failure or being overwhelmed at times. It made the book feel relational, like you were sitting down with her over a cup of coffee as she shared her heart and passion for how these things have helped her and countless other families. This book will be one that I go back to time and again as a reminder of not only the "why" behind the behaviors we experience from our children, but the encouragement that with consistency real healing and connection/attachment is possible. Thank you Dr. Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls for sharing your wisdom, your love for each child you have poured into, and the tools we need to be the best caregivers/parents we can be to our children. Disclaimer: I was given an advanced copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.

As an adoptive parent of two special needs children, I have waited anxiously for The Connected Parent book. We saw Dr. Purvis speak at her conference in 2014 a couple of months prior to our adoption and knew we would be using TBRI with our newest additions. After six years of parenting children from hard places and using TBRI ideas, I am so very thankful to have The Connected Parent as a tool for my toolbox and a resource to share with other adoptive and foster families. The book explains in depth the principles of connected parenting, giving both parental perspective and the scientific reasons why our children struggle. The flow between Lisa’s writing and Dr. Purvis’ writing is seamless and each give input that complements the other beautifully. The “try it at home” ideas are wonderful and helpful for any parent to incorporate into their home and bring more connection. We have surrounded ourselves with Dr. Purvis’ work since before our adoption, and The Connected Parent brings all of the information into a book which is easy-to-read and has nuggets of encouragement and wisdom throughout. While reading it, I jotted down numerous things to try for areas we are struggling and after finishing the book, I feel so encouraged, refreshed and renewed. It was as if I was sitting listening to Dr. Purvis all over again. This book is a must for any adoptive and foster parent, as well as extended family, teachers, therapists and others who work with children from hard places. I know many families will grow in connection through The Connected Parent.

This is an amazing practical book! I was given an advanced copy to read and here is my honest review. I was so keen to do this because I have read and reread, loved and lent, tried and applied the methods in The Connected Child by Dr Karyn Purvis and was so excited that another book was being released with her amazing wisdom that has been so helpful for our family. We have 3 children, the youngest of whom is adopted. I love that her work is based on experience and research and that she understands what it's like to have a child like mine. So often it feels lonely having a child whose mind and behaviour are so different from my friends around me, but reading about how and why he acts the way he does, and how it's best for me to parent in light of that is an amazing, practical gift! I loved that this book targets ME as a parent. After all, I am the only one I am in control of! But how I react and respond to my child, makes such a difference to him. More than just parents, this book could be just as relevant for any adult working with children from hard places. I loved the summaries at the end of the chapter, and am ordering the physical copy of the book, because I know I'll need these pages bookmarked and open to keep referring to as I practice more of these techniques till they become natural. I liked having the dual authorship of Dr Purvis along with Lisa Qualls describing how she learnt from Dr Purvis and put techniques into practice in her own parenting. Someone like me, showing how it can be done. Right now, we're in a hard patch with our little guy. This book came at a great time, giving me hope to keep going, not to give up. We've seen great progress using TBRI techniques so know it's worth it to keep persevering. We have even more tools in our toolbelts now. Thank you Lisa Qualls for making sure this book made it to press - amazing!