Episode 40: Aware Parenting Children with Special Needs with Aletha Solter PhD
In this week's episode, the founder of The Aware  Parenting Institute, developmental psychologist, Aletha Solter PhD  provides answers to questions from the community. Aletha briefly shares  how Aware Parenting came to be, before we dive into this episodes topic  discussing insights, experience, research and our personal stories.
In this episode you will discover:
- can we differentiate between accumulated feelings/trauma and genetic factors
- defining neurodiversity
- why Aware Parenting can support all children
- observing our children is a key component in Aware Parenting
- tantrums and meltdowns
- when children are "stuck" with their feelings - Aletha shares 4 reasons
- the balance of attention and its role in healing
- how a diagnosis can be helpful
- plus so much more
Where to Find Aletha:
Website -  Aware Parenting Institute
Facebook - Aware Parenting Institute
Books by Aletha Solter PhD:
The Aware Baby 
Cooperative & Connected 
Tears & Tantrums 
Raising Drug Free Kids 
Attachment Play 
Healing Your Traumatized Child 
ABOUT ALETHA:
Aletha  Solter is a Swiss/American developmental psychologist who is recognized  internationally as an expert on attachment, trauma, and non-punitive  discipline. She studied with the Swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget, at the  University of Geneva, Switzerland, where she obtained a Master's degree  in human biology. She then earned a PhD in psychology from the  University of California . She has 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren.
When her first child was born in 1977 (following a traumatic birth) she did not find any parenting books that advocated attachment-style parenting and non-punitive discipline while taking into account the impact of stress and trauma on children's development. Her 6 books have been translated into many languages, and she has also written numerous articles for parents and professionals.
In 1990 she founded The Aware Parenting Institute, which now has certified instructors in over 20 countries. Her goal is to help create a nonviolent world in which all children are allowed to attain their full potential. With the tools of Aware Parenting, she is confident that parents can raise their children to be competent, compassionate, nonviolent, and drug free. She also knows that parenting is a difficult job and that parents deserve recognition, information, and support.
