Aware Parenting
with Rocío
Professional Coaching for Families
Hello & Welcome
Welcome to my family coaching practice, where I specialize in supporting families through the complexities of parenting with compassion and dedication. As an Certified Aware Parenting Instructor* with over a decade of experience working with families, I am committed to helping you build strong, empathetic relationships with your children using the Aware Parenting Philosophy*.
My mission is to foster healthier and more resilient family dynamics by emphasizing:
emotional attunement non-punitive discipline secure attachment
*Aware Parenting: to find out more please check out these links below
I am dedicated to equipping you with the skills and knowledge necessary to raise emotionally intelligent, resilient, and healthy children.
Together, we can create a nurturing environment where every family member feels seen, heard, and understood.
My Services
What You Can Expect from Aware Parenting
Through Aware Parenting, you will learn how to:
01.
Support emotional expression in a healthy way,
helping your child process difficult feelings instead of suppressing or acting them out. Children need a safe space to release their emotions, whether that’s through crying, tantrums, or laughter. Instead of trying to stop these expressions, you’ll learn how to lovingly support your child as they work through their feelings. This emotional release helps them feel more balanced and connected, which naturally improves behavior over time.
02.
Foster deep connection
The heart of Aware Parenting is building a strong, loving connection with your child, based on trust and mutual understanding, rather than fear or obedience. This bond is what allows your child to feel secure and understood, which in turn reduces the need for negative behaviors.
03.
Parent with empathy and respect
Rather than seeing your child’s behavior as something to “fix,” you’ll begin to understand their actions as a form of communication. Aware Parenting teaches you to listen deeply and respond to the emotional needs that lie beneath the surface.
04.
Address the root causes of behavioral challenges
You’ll learn how to guide your child’s behavior without relying on punishments, time-outs, or rewards. These traditional methods may work in the short term but often create disconnection and don’t address the underlying emotional needs. Instead, we’ll focus on collaborative problem-solving and setting loving limits that respect both your child’s needs and your own.
05.
Create a joyful and harmonious family environment
where both you and your child feel seen, heard, and valued.
Discover Lasting Solutions for Your Parenting Journey
1
1 on 1 Coaching for Parents
Sessions currently offered in Online and in Amsterdam
I provide one-on-one coaching sessions designed for parents to help them understand and implement the principles of Aware Parenting philosophy. My coaching sessions are designed to provide guidance, advice, and encouragement to parents in dealing with their kids. My personalized coaching sessions are designed to empower you as parents to connect deeply with your children, ensuring their emotions are heard and valued. I will provide techniques for emotional attunement, helping you understand and respond effectively to your children's emotional needs. My guidance on non-punitive discipline methods promotes understanding and cooperation, avoiding punitive measures. Additionally, I offer strategies to strengthen the bond between you and your children, creating a foundation of trust and security. These tools will help parents to develop strategies and techniques to improve communication, build trust, and strengthen relationships with their children, or to help parents deal with specific challenges they face with their children.
Are you seeking a deep, long-term solution for your parenting challenges rather than a quick fix? My services are tailored for parents who want to truly understand their children and address the root causes of behavioral issues.
2
Attachment Play Sessions
Sessions currently offered in person in Amsterdam
A healthy parent-child attachment is essential for your child's emotional well-being. Regular, playful interaction is key to maintaining and nurturing this bond. In challenging times—whether due to work stress, illness, divorce, financial difficulties, or major life changes—children often feel insecure and anxious, leading to difficult behavior. However, dedicating just 20-30 minutes a day to play can make a world of difference. Though it might seem challenging to engage in play after a long day or when you’ve never experienced such interaction yourself, consider this: the energy spent addressing conflicts directly can be better used to create a positive, playful environment. The result? A happier, more connected family dynamic. For parents who find it difficult to connect through play, I offer personalized sessions designed to foster emotional connection, build trust, and ease conflict. Let’s work together to create a more joyful and resilient relationship with your child. - Personalized Play Sessions: Tailored to your child's needs for deeper emotional connection. - Parental Guidance: Training and support for parents to effectively engage in Attachment Play. - Emotional Expression: Techniques to help children express and regulate their emotions through play. - Conflict Resolution: Play-based strategies to resolve conflicts and promote cooperation. - Building Trust: Activities that foster a sense of security and trust.
What is Attachment Play
Attachment Play uses playful activities to foster secure attachments, encouraging emotional attunement and expression in a safe, supportive environment.
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Personalized Play Sessions: Tailored to your child's needs for deeper emotional connection.
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Parental Guidance: Training and support for parents to effectively engage in Attachment Play.
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Emotional Expression: Techniques to help children express and regulate their emotions through play.
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Conflict Resolution: Play-based strategies to resolve conflicts and promote cooperation.
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Building Trust: Activities that foster a sense of security and trust.
Benefits:
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Strengthens parent-child emotional bonds.
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Promotes emotional resilience and intelligence.
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Encourages positive behavior and cooperation.
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Provides a fun way to address emotional and behavioral challenges.
I am dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where children feel safe and parents feel empowered.
Contact me today to learn how Attachment Play can benefit your family.
Using play as a tool not only addresses behavioral challenges but also prevents them. Play, laughter, and connection provide children with an emotional outlet, helping them navigate difficult situations with greater ease.
About Rocío
Certified Aware Parenting Instructor and Professional Nanny
From Archaeologist to Family Coach: My Journey
My professional journey began with over a decade spent as an archaeologist, dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of the past. However, when an economic downturn struck Spain, I found myself forced to pause my archaeological work. While waiting for the situation to improve, I took on various jobs and even pursued a master's degree in archaeology, hoping to return to my field. Then, in a twist of fate, a friend approached me with an unexpected opportunity—to help a family in Amsterdam in urgent need of support. With little hesitation, I stepped into the role, not realizing it would change the course of my life. Since 2014, I’ve worked as a nanny for numerous families in Amsterdam and Haarlem, navigating the complex dynamics of households with twins and multiple children. This experience immersed me in the real challenges parents face—tantrums, sibling rivalry, tears, and the frustration of trying to guide their children through emotional turmoil. As the years passed and the situation in Spanish archaeology remained stagnant, I began to seek a new purpose. My search led me to Aware Parenting, a philosophy that immediately resonated with me. As a highly sensitive person, I had always felt emotions deeply and longed for a space where they could be freely expressed—a space that was absent in my own upbringing. Discovering Aware Parenting was like finding a missing piece of the puzzle; it helped me understand my own childhood and its lasting effects, igniting a deep desire to support other families. Training as an Aware Parenting Instructor has profoundly transformed my approach to childcare. I now see the immense value in equipping parents with the knowledge and tools to truly see and hear their children. My journey from archaeologist to family coach has been unconventional, and yet it has given me a unique perspective on the importance of emotional connection in raising healthy, happy children.
If you're curious about working with me, here are some things you need to know
Who is this for
My Aware Parenting coaching is designed for parents who are looking for a deeper and more fulfilling approach to parenting. You are:
01.
Committed to long-term growth
Aware Parenting isn’t about quick fixes or changing your child’s behavior overnight. It’s about understanding the deeper emotional needs behind their actions and working towards sustainable, long-lasting solutions that nurture trust and connection.
02.
Want to explore a different path
If you're tired of traditional parenting methods that rely on punishments, rewards, or control, and are open to a fresh perspective, Aware Parenting offers an empowering way to parent. It encourages you to look at your child’s emotions and behaviors as a form of communication, not something to be ‘fixed’ or controlled.
03.
Are ready to work hard and have fun
Parenting is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Aware Parenting involves deep self-reflection, patience, and emotional work. But it’s also about having fun with your children, enjoying the process of discovery together, and finding joy in your relationship with them. It’s about learning to find joy in the ups and downs of parenting, and not just focusing on the outcomes.
04.
Want to handle emotions differently
In Aware Parenting, we don't see emotions—like anger, sadness, or frustration—as negative or something to be shut down. Instead, we view them as valuable expressions of underlying needs. You’ll learn how to support your child in feeling and processing their emotions, helping them build emotional resilience and trust in you as a safe space.
05.
Desire a more connected family life
This approach emphasizes deep emotional connection, not control or power struggles. The focus is not on getting your child to behave in a certain way, but on understanding why they are behaving the way they are. Often, challenging behaviors are a reflection of unmet emotional needs. By addressing the root cause of these behaviors—whether it’s fear, frustration, or an unexpressed need—you can help your child feel seen, heard, and loved. This approach leads to more genuine cooperation, rather than temporary obedience based on fear or rewards.
06.
Want to enjoy being a parent
Many parents feel overwhelmed by the daily challenges of raising children. This coaching will help you develop the tools and mindset to enjoy your role as a parent. You’ll learn how to create a home environment where everyone feels connected and respected, leading to a more harmonious family life.
Who this is not for
While Aware Parenting can be transformative, it isn’t for everyone. You might find that this coaching is not a good fit if:
01.
You are looking for quick fixes
If your goal is to immediately change your child’s behavior without addressing the emotional reasons behind it, this approach might feel too slow or challenging for you. Aware Parenting focuses on long-term emotional well-being, not short-term behavior management.
02.
You believe that controlling behavior
through punishments or rewards is the most effective way to parent, this coaching may not align with your values. Aware Parenting seeks to move beyond the cycle of external control, offering a more nurturing and respectful way to guide your child.
03.
You’re not ready to face your own emotions
A key part of this journey is learning to handle your own emotions with the same care you give to your child. This may require you to reflect on your own upbringing, triggers, and stress. If you’re not yet open to this level of introspection, this approach may feel overwhelming.
04.
You prefer traditional discipline methods
If you rely on conventional discipline strategies like time-outs, threats, or rewards to manage your child’s behavior, this coaching might challenge those beliefs. Aware Parenting encourages a focus on healing the root cause of misbehavior rather than simply trying to control or stop it.
05.
You aren’t ready to challenge old beliefs
Parenting from an Aware Parenting perspective often requires a shift in mindset. It involves questioning traditional practices and being open to new ways of thinking about emotions and behavior. If you’re not ready to explore these changes, this approach may feel uncomfortable.
Aware Parenting is a profound and rewarding approach that requires patience, but the benefits for your family’s emotional health and long-term relationship are invaluable. If you're ready for a transformative parenting journey, this coaching is for you.
My Clients Say
Rocío has provided invaluable guidance on raising our son, particularly regarding weaning, nutrition, and managing tantrums. Her support has been instrumental in helping us understand our son's needs and addressing them in a way that aligns with our parenting style, offering us reassurance and companionship during the early stages of parenthood when uncertainty is common. It's clear that she possesses extensive experience with children of all kinds. I highly recommend any family reach out to her for assistance in navigating the challenges and questions that arise in parenting. Thank you so much, Rocío!
Isabel Motos Souto