Alpha Children: Reclaiming Our Rightful Place in their Lives
A growing number of children and youth are presenting as demanding, prescriptive, bossy and controlling. A disturbing number of these alpha children are turning into bullies as well. Alpha children can be challenging to manage and, by their nature, are more likely to present with troubling behaviour. This is making the child-adult dance much more difficult than it used to be or needs to be, despite the plethora of advice-giving and strategies available today. Internationally renowned developmental psychologist Dr. Neufeld uncovers the surprising roots of the alpha complex and in doing so, opens the doors for lasting change: in the family, in the classroom and in society. This course is designed for all those involved in raising, teaching and working with children.
This course takes us on a fascinating journey to the essence of attachment, revealing a little-talked-about dynamic that impacts every relationship, most significantly the parent-child and teacher-student relationship. Alpha children are not only more challenging to parent and teach but also predisposed to a number of problems including anxiety, aggression, oppositionality and eating problems. The popular strategies offered for these behaviours only tend to make matters worse when the underlying problem is an alpha complex.
This course has implications for every single relationship, including marriage and friendship, and provides a unique opportunity for self-understanding. An understanding of the alpha dynamic also corrects the mistakes that we have taken in moving to more child-led egalitarian parenting styles in our society. While the focus is on children, the revelations and challenges are for us as adults. Dr. Neufeld unpacks this best kept secret of attachment dynamics in four sessions, each containing one hour of video material. This course will be directly relevant to all those involved in raising and teaching children, or supporting those who do. The course combines video presentations by Dr. Gordon Neufeld with in-person support sessions facilitated by Heather Ferguson, Registered Clinical Counsellor.
Interesting and refreshing. I like how this flips everything I have learned upside down.
Course Outline
Session 1: Making Sense of Alpha
Session 2: The Many Faces of Alpha
Session 3: The Causes and Consequences of an Alpha Complex
Session 4: Taming an Alpha Complex
Excellent. Eye opening. I can’t get enough of the concept of Alpha.
It is obvious that Heather has a deep understanding of the subject.
This course has offered me more than I expected, helping in many dynamics of relationship.
Interested in this course?
Click the Let me Know button above to receive notification when a new group is scheduled.
Excellent, well balanced, effective. Heather is great. She’s clear, on topic, organized and light-hearted (humorous!). She answers questions well, and engages with the students very effectively.
