Parents, It’s Mental Health Week (October 3-9, 2010)

How’s Your Child’s Mental Health?

by Gary M. Unruh, MSW LCSW

Parents know that a high-fat diet is not good for a child’s physical health. But parents don’t always know what is best for a child’s mental health. The mental/emotional equivalent of an unhealthy diet is too much stress and low self-confidence. The result: possible physical problems down the road and trouble maintaining life-essential quality relationships. 

Parents wanting to reinforce their child’s mental health should consider a breakthrough parenting approach developed by Gary M Unruh, MSW LCSW. Unruh explains, “In forty years of counseling (working with more than 2,500 children and their families), one thing became crystal clear:  Establishing a child’s good mental health is all about fully unleashing a parent’s love. The results have been amazing.” 

As detailed in his book, Unleashing Parental Love, Unruh’s approach is a simple two-pronged focus. First, validating feelings -- parents helping their children to be comfortable with their feelings through awareness, and dealing with them in a healthy fashion. Second, disciplining firmly and respectfully.

Two healthy results happen when parents follow this approach:

• First, stress is unstuffed and feelings come out. (No more unchecked cortisol; too much ruins body systems such as the immune system.) 
• Second, self-confidence flourishes. Knowing, accepting, and dealing with feelings appropriately -- through acceptable behavior -- results in a child being confident about “who I am, even when I make a mistake,” and knowing “there’s always room for improvement.” That’s resiliency.

Unleashing Parental Love is not just another Spock overindulgent approach. Respectful, firm discipline is a must along with warm parenting. Through this approach, children learn the meaning of “no”, how to effectively deal with disappointment, how to respect authority, and how to be empathetic as parents demonstrate empathy with them. Unruh emphasizes, “Empathy is a cornerstone of good mental health and at the heart of this approach.” 

Here is Unruh’s challenge to parents during Mental Health Week. “Every parent loves their child. Fully unleash your love for a three week period and witness your child’s mental health flourish.”

Unruh’s award-winning book, Unleashing the Power of Parental Love: 4 Steps to Raising Joyful and Self-Confident Kids, gives parents tried, tested, and practical guidelines about how to ensure good mental health for their children.

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