Woods Psychological Services

02/01/2026

Out of the mouths of babes… 💕

01/31/2026

Most parents don’t mean to pass anything down.
They’re doing the best they can
with what they’ve been given.

But unexamined pain has a way of speaking anyway —
through reactions, patterns, and moments we don’t fully understand.

This isn’t about blame.
It’s about awareness.

Because much of what hurts children isn’t intentional.
It’s inherited.
Unquestioned.
Repeated under stress.

Healing doesn’t mean getting it right all the time.
It means being willing to look inward,
to repair when we miss,
and to interrupt what no longer needs to be carried forward.

So we heal for our babies —
so they don’t have to fight
battles that were never theirs to begin with. ❤️

Quote Credit: ❣️

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01/31/2026

01/31/2026

The people you spend time with literally physically rewire your brain’s response to stress.

Our nervous systems do not exist in isolation; they are deeply interconnected through a biological process known as co-regulation.

When we interact with others, our autonomic nervous systems begin to synchronize, causing our heart rates, breathing patterns, and stress levels to mirror those around us. This phenomenon, often called 'limbic resonance,' means that being around calm and supportive individuals can actually lower our cortisol levels and improve our vagal tone—the body's ability to recover from stress. Conversely, constant exposure to criticism, hostility, or chaos keeps the body in a persistent state of 'fight-or-flight,' effectively training the brain to remain hyper-vigilant and defensive.

Because our brains are plastic and adapt to repetitive environments, the long-term impact of our social circles is profound. We don't just 'catch' a friend's mood; we internalize their physiological state through a two-step process of unconscious mirroring and biological feedback. To protect your mental and physical well-being, it is essential to proactively manage your social environment. Choosing to spend time with predictable, trustworthy people and setting firm boundaries with those who drain your energy are not just social preferences—they are vital biological necessities for maintaining a regulated nervous system and a sense of internal safety.

source: Red Beard Somatic Therapy. (2023). The Power of Co-Regulation. Red Beard Somatic Therapy.

01/27/2026

01/18/2026

👇 📅 Want more info from experts on how to be a better parent?! Type SUMMIT to get a link to our FREE 2026 Parenting & Children's Mental Health Summit March 16-19, 2026.

🛡️ Many of us grew up in environments where big feelings were met with shame, punishment, or dismissal To stay connected to the adults we depended on, we learned to push down our sadness, anger, and fear as a form of self-protection.

⚠️ When our own children express those same emotions, it can quietly activate that younger part of us 👶💭. Their feelings don’t just belong to them — they stir old patterns in our nervous system Without realizing it, we may shift into protection mode, not because our child is unsafe, but because we feel unsafe with the discomfort those emotions bring.

In those moments, the urge to shut the feelings down, fix them quickly, or make them stop isn’t a parenting failure — it’s a survival response learned long ago. Awareness gives us the chance to pause ⏸️, soften 🌱, and respond with the safety and attunement we may not have received ourselves 💛.

MARCH 16-19 join Join Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, Dr. Steve Biddulph, Dr. Ross Greene, Dr. Laura Markham, Dr. Joel Warsh, Dr. Lawrence Cohen, Dr. Michael Gurian and so many more!

📕 TOPICS INCLUDE:
Emotion regulation, compassionate discipline, childhood anxiety, healing insecure attachment, ADHD, neurodiversity & autism, highly sensitive children, parenting toddlers, managing screen time, online safety, fostering brain development, raising resilient kids, positive body image, power of play, parental anxiety, fatherhood, picky eating, how to talk so kids will listen, and so much more!

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12/15/2025

Researchers have found that chronic negative thinking can physically change the brain. When the mind stays focused on worry, regret, or self criticism, stress circuits stay active for long periods. Over time, this constant strain can shrink the hippocampus, the region responsible for memory and emotional balance. It can also weaken the prefrontal cortex, the area that supports focus, planning, and self control.

The good news is that the brain is neuroplastic, meaning it can change and repair itself. Studies show that simple practices like gratitude and mindfulness can begin rebuilding healthier neural pathways within weeks. When you repeatedly shift your attention toward positive moments or grounding exercises, the brain strengthens circuits linked to calmness, resilience, and emotional clarity.

Gratitude activates regions associated with reward and connection, helping the brain form new patterns that counteract negative thinking. Mindfulness reduces stress signals and increases activity in the prefrontal cortex, supporting better decision making and emotional regulation.

These practices work because the brain responds to repetition. The thoughts you choose to return to become the pathways you strengthen. Even small daily habits can create long lasting change, proving that internal patterns are not fixed but continually shaped by awareness and intention.

12/12/2025

Finding some purpose in pain…

12/12/2025

Scientists tracking families have discovered something beautiful: grandparents provide a kind of support for children’s wellbeing that feels truly unique 👴👵💛

A major study from the University of Oxford found that grandparents play an important role in children’s emotional and behavioral development. Their involvement is linked to better wellbeing, stronger problem-solving skills, and more stability when families go through tough times like loss, conflict, or change. When life gets hard, grandparents often become a steady source of comfort, routine, and understanding.

What makes this relationship so special? Grandparents offer love and guidance without the daily pressures of parenting. They pass down stories, traditions, and history that help children understand where they come from. Many studies show that grandmothers often provide nurturing support, while grandfathers tend to share activities and mentorship. Together, they offer patience, wisdom, presence, and perspective — a combination that’s hard to replicate.

There’s also a powerful mental health connection. Research shows that close emotional relationships with grandparents are linked to lower depression risk for both generations. Kids who have involved grandparents often feel more secure, more supported, and more grounded through the ups and downs of growing up. And grandparents benefit too, experiencing higher life satisfaction, purpose, and emotional wellbeing.

Of course, not every family has active grandparent involvement, and children can thrive in many different family structures. Other caring adults can provide similar support. But when grandparents are present and engaged, research shows they can buffer stress, strengthen resilience, and add an extra layer of emotional safety in a child’s life.

So to every grandparent reading this: your presence matters more than you know. Your stories give your grandchildren roots. Your patience teaches them grace. Your steadiness helps them feel safe. You are a living link to their history and a source of love and wisdom they will carry with them forever 💛

📚 Sources: University of Oxford research on grandparents’ role in children’s wellbeing. Systematic reviews on grandparental care and child health from multiple institutions including research published in Swiss universities and international journals. Mental health research on intergenerational relationships. Studies on grandparent involvement and child development outcomes from family research literature.

12/08/2025

Children often save their most intense emotions for their mothers because they see her as the ultimate “safe base” to release stress and be their unfiltered self, trusting her co-regulation (calming presence) to soothe their nervous system after holding it together elsewhere. Their nervous system literally attunes to the mother’s, and showing big emotions is a sign of deep trust, not defiance, indicating they feel secure enough to “fall apart”.

▶️Why this happens (The Science):
📑Safety & Trust: A child’s nervous system recognizes the mother (or primary caregiver) as the person they can fully trust to handle their big feelings without judgment or threat, allowing them to drop their guard.
📑Co-regulation: Mothers help calm a child’s distressed nervous system through mirroring (heartbeat, breath) and soothing. This teaches the child self-regulation.
📑Mirroring the Nervous System: A child’s internal state (heart rate, stress hormones) mirrors the parent’s. A mother’s calm presence is medicine; her anxiety can become the child’s “normal”.
📑The “Safe Field Effect”: When a child sees their mother, their brain gets a signal they’re safe to release pent-up emotions from school or other situations.

▶️What it looks like
📑“Saving the Worst for Last”: They might behave perfectly at school but have meltdowns at home because the tension has to go somewhere.
📑Not Misbehavior, but Release: The tantrum isn’t defiance; it’s the child letting go of stress in the one place they feel secure enough to do so.

▶️How to respond
📑Regulate Yourself First: Your calm is their medicine. Take deep breaths to signal safety.
📑Validate & Connect: Say, “You held a lot in today. It’s okay to let it out now”.
📑Offer Presence, Not Logic: Their logical brain is offline. Offer connection, gentle touch, and calm, not lectures.

Studies also show that when children don’t have this secure attachment to lean on, it negatively rewires the child’s brain.
Read more here: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250612/Unpredictable-caregiving-rewires-the-braine28099s-threat-response.aspx