St. Hugh School Counselor Workshops
Parent Educational Series Workshops 2025-2026
Presented by Edla Grisard, LMFT, PhD
Empowering parents with tools grounded in psychology, Catholic values, and evidence-based strategies
Thursday Sept 18th
How to teach Empathy and Social Skills to our children using Psychology and Catholic Values
A brief introduction to the concept of empathy as a human characteristic and a result of Catholic virtues. Discuss the necessary social skills for each developmental stage and how to instill and teach childen to practice empathy. (Use the principles from the SPIRIT acronym)
Thursday Oct. 16th
Screentime and Technology Use: how it impacts the brain
Bring evidence-based research on the subject, including a table of appropriate screen time by age. Discuss how to prevent and avoid risky online behaviors. Teach parents how to monitor their children’s screen use. Discuss how to instill limits by modelling healthy screen habits at home.
Thursday Nov. 13th
Disciplining Your Kids with Tough Love! No regrets in the future
Introduce the concept of “Tough Love” (Jesus’s love). Explore love as both a feeling and a reality, which includes confronting sin (bad behavior) and encouraging righteousness. Discuss how to educate with clear limits and assertiveness as a expression of love. Compare and contrast Positive Psychology with permissiveness. Preparation for Christmas with a family “tough love” purpose.
Thursday January 22nd
Good habits: a road to school success!
Teach parents the basics of Executive Functions. Discuss the importance of playing certain games (board games, memory games, card games) to develop cognitive skills. Allow parents to experience some of these games and understand their positive impact on parent-child relationship. Brief discussion on structure and organization as tools for academic success.
Thursday Feb. 5th
How to parent boys and girls in today’s Cyber World
Provide a brief overview of the differences between parenting boys and girls in today’s Cyber world. Discuss the damages in the brain due to exposure of inappropriate media. Focus on conflict, self-esteem, confidence and the impact of social media on their behaviors. Discuss possible interventions using the cognitive triangle (Thoughts-Emotions-Behaviors). How to recognize signs of Addiction, Anxiety and Depression.
Thursday March 19th
Impacting your children’s emotional, cognitive and social well-being
Discuss the differences between a father’s impact and mother’s impact on child development. Introduce the theme of maternal/paternal beliefs and attitudes on a parent involvement with a child. Discuss the role of the father and the role of the mother in educating children, promoting emotional strength and social well-being (mind, body and soul).
Wednesday, May 13th
Teaching boundaries & modeling gratitude
Brief presentation of Family Cycle (thought Family Systems point of view) and the importance of clear boundaries in the relationships. How to model gratitude to your children. Applying catholic virtues and values on family relationships to increase gratitude. Preparation for end of school year with a gratitude purpose.
St. Hugh Parent Educational Series
Parenting with Love & Leadership
By Pepa Wenrich Leadership Parent Coach
Certified by the John Rosemond Parenting Institute
Sept. 8th
Mastering Your Calm:
Essential for Effective Discipline Discover why adult composure is the foundational skill for successful discipline. We’ll explore the Conscious Discipline Brain Model, emphasizing the principle of “Mental State First, Behavior Second.”
Nov. 10th
Building Connection and Trust, Keys to Guiding Children:
Children need to feel loved, not only in the fun times but also in the challenging ones. Learn concrete strategies and tools to foster a sense of safety and connection in children, which is crucial for their willingness to follow guidance at home.
Jan. 12th
Guiding Through Conflict: Teaching Children Problem-Solving
Transform your approach to conflict by understanding it as a call for help and an opportunity to teach children valuable problem-solving skills. We’ all explore four different ways to respond to children’s behavior
Mar. 9th
The Power of Leadership in Loving Parenthood
Good parenting begins with love, but leadership is key. Leadership is often weakened by the attempt to be “popular” with one´s children.