A self-paced course that teaches
you how to confidently move through
your first year of parenthood

The Authentic Parent

with psychologist Dr. Sarah Bren

Sign up now! >>

Whether this is your first step into parenthood or you’ve done this before, raising a child requires tremendous resilience.

It can feel stressful, confusing, and lonely and we often doubt ourselves in the face of these particular emotions. So we turn to Dr. Google and scroll endlessly, which rarely makes things better.

Instead, arming yourself with the basic fundamentals of how a child’s brain, relationships and personality develop, as well as the psychology of parenthood, will allow you to focus on your connection with your child without constantly wondering “am I doing this right?!”

Parenting is hard... 
but there are things you can do to make it easier

"I was so overwhelmed and scouring social media to try to find the answers for my daughter. But after taking this course I now have a foundational knowledge of what to expect which has allowed me to relax and just enjoy the process of parenting without feeling the need to endlessly Google."

- Lauren (Mom to an 11 month old) 

The Authentic Parent

We spend so much time and energy planning our pregnancy, our birth plan, and bringing baby home safely from the hospital. But what about planning for that moment when all of the fanfare settles down after baby is born and you suddenly realize...ok, I'm a parent, now what? 

There isn't a lot of support for you after you move past the 4th trimester and into the first year of parenthood.

And I want to change that!

This self paced course will cover what you need to know to best support your child’s development while honoring your own mental health as you transition into parenthood so you can set the groundwork for a healthy parent-child relationship from the start!  

Learn all the things you need to know (that no one tells you ahead of time) and equip yourself with the tools you need to successfully navigate the transition to parenthood during your child's first year

and truly enjoy parenting!

Say no more, I'm in! >>

I don’t like to call myself a parenting expert. 

I believe you know best!

I’m a clinical psychologist with more than a decade of experience helping adults, children, and families disrupt generational patterns, find harmony in their lives, and tap into their innate resilience. 

I am also a mom of two (very different) toddlers and battled with postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression in my own transition into motherhood.

And through all of these experiences, I learned not only how hard parenting can be, but that understanding certain fundamentals allows us to feel more confident and to trust in this process, making parenting so much easier. 

So what are these key things you need to know?


How children form relationships and learn to feel safe in this world


How their brains and bodies grow and how we can support this (and where we need to step back and let them lead)


How to support resilience, emotional health, and mental wellbeing in both our children and ourselves

Attachment Science

Child Development

Psychology

The Authentic Parent

What is different about

In order to support the health of a child, you must support the health of the parent. 

In order to support the health of a parent, you must support the health of the child.

A lot of parenting courses out there either focus on the needs of our children or supporting the mental health of the parents. When we move too far in one direction or the other, we lose access to the necessary give and take of parenting. This course lives in the space between.

We are in a relationship with our child. We are a symbiotic pair. We have separate needs, separate desires, separate lives, and at the same time we are inextricably connected.

We cannot become parental martyrs who forego all of our needs for the sake of our child.

We also need to match our children’s pace and try to understand the world through their eyes, with developmentally appropriate expectations. 

This course will help you to walk this middle path of parenting, where both you and your child are seen and held and tended to.

Two great ways to join The Authentic Parent...

A one-time payment of

$197

I'm ready to feel confident in parenthood! >>

3 monthly payments of

$75

What you'll learn inside 

The Authentic Parent

  • The postpartum period and changing identities
  • The unique needs of a newborn
  • Understanding your child’s temperament and personality

Module 1:

The postpartum period

  • Identifying your values
  • Aligning your values with others
  • Understanding the different parenting styles

Module 2:

Finding Your Authentic Parenting Voice

  • Understanding how your past impacts the present
  • How do you view your child
  • Communicating with authenticity and respect

Module 3:

Parenting & Communication

  • The nervous system and how to regulate it
  • Gross motor development
  • Milestones: Why they don’t tell you what you think they tell you
  • The importance of play

Module 4:

Brain and Body

  • Sleep: the role it plays in brain development & how to get more of it for your baby and you
  • Setting the stage for a healthy relationship with food from birth
  • Baby gear: what you do and don't need

Module 5:

Sleep, Feeding & Baby Gear

  • Discipline vs. Guiding: How to actually get your child to cooperate
  • Fostering intrinsic motivation
  • Taking care of yourself

Module 6:

Family Harmony and Cooperation: Finding the Calm

Module 1:

The postpartum period

  • Understanding how your past impacts the present
  • How do you view your child
  • Communicating with authenticity and respect

Module 3:

Parenting & Communication

  • The nervous system and how to regulate it
  • Gross motor development
  • Milestones: Why they don’t tell you what you think they tell you
  • The importance of play

Module 4:

Brain and Body

  • Sleep: the role it plays in brain development & how to get more of it for your baby and you
  • Setting the stage for a healthy relationship with food from birth
  • Baby gear: what you do and don't need

Module 5:

Sleep, Feeding & Baby Gear

  • Discipline vs. Guiding: How to actually get your child to cooperate
  • Fostering intrinsic motivation
  • Taking care of yourself

Module 6:

Family Harmony and Cooperation: Finding the Calm

  • Identifying your values
  • Aligning your values with others
  • Understanding the different parenting styles

Module 2:

Finding Your Authentic Parenting Voice

Module 1:

The postpartum period

By the end of this module you will anticipate the changes that the whole family will experience (you, baby, partner) so that you're feeling in control and grounded in the process. We will cover the ins and outs of the postpartum period, AKA the "fourth trimester" so you can develop an understanding of the changes that happen in your brain and body that impact your shifting identity.

You will learn how to prepare for those changes so they feel like growth rather than disruptions. In this module we will also cover the changes your child will experience in this period, and how understanding and anticipating these changes will help you to respond to them skillfully, calmly, and in a way that increases connection and security for your child.
By the end of this module, you will feel rooted in your parenting values and know how to trust and use your authentic parenting voice. You will understand how your own family history and lived experience come together to inform the parent you want to be.

You will also understand the factors that can get in the way of you showing up as that authentic parent. Things like trauma, fear, intense floods of emotions, perceived expectations of others — and how to untangle yourself from those weights so you can parent intentionally and in connection with your child.

Module 2:

Finding Your Authentic Parenting Voice

By the end of this module, you will have a deeper understanding of the ways your own upbringing and life experiences shape not only who you are but how you parent.

You will learn ways to break cycles and make conscious and intentional choices in building an authentic and attuned relationship with your child.

You will learn to respond to your child, rather than react to your own emotional triggers.

Module 3:

Parenting & Communication

By the end of this module, you will know exactly what is happening in your child's brain and body when they are upset, so that you can respond from a place of calm and confidence rather than crisis and frustration. You will learn how to co-regulate with your child so that you can actually help move them through distress more quickly, while also building their resilience and setting them up for greater emotional health.

You will also learn how to support your child's milestone development by finding the balance between support and autonomy so you can relax as they move through development. Finally, you will learn how to foster independent play and how to leverage it to support creative problem solving, social-emotional learning, emotion regulation, and intrinsic motivation.

Module 4:

Brain and Body

By the end of this module, you will feel confident in your ability to set the stage for your child to have a healthy relationship with food and with sleep. You will learn how to respond to your child's less obvious sleep cues and to understand the psychology behind sleep so you and your baby can get more of it.

You will also learn how to streamline your baby gear and toys, so you can create a home and play environment that is highly conducive to play while also feeling like your home is a calm and relaxing space free of mountains of baby stuff.

Module 5:

Sleep, Feeding & Baby Gear

By the end of this module, you will have confidence in your authority and voice as a parent to guide your child towards cooperation and participation in family tasks. You will learn how to set boundaries without having to yell or threaten, how to foster empathy, patience, and other prosocial behaviors in your child.

You'll also learn how to boost your child's emotion regulation, intrinsic motivation, and resilience. Plus, how to value your own self care and self compassion, so that you can show up for your child with your own cup full.

Module 6:

Family Harmony and Cooperation: Finding the Calm

How you'll learn inside 

The Authentic Parent

6 Video Deep Dives

You'll learn the foundational insights into your child’s development, the parent-child relationship, and how to understand the root cause of various parenting challenges so you can respond with confidence and a customized plan.

($582 value!)

Interactive Workbooks

Carefully crafted reflective exercises, recommended reading list, and interactive workbook will allow you to apply these strategies to your own child and put what you learn into practice immediately.

($102 value!)

Private Community

Exclusive lifetime access to private, non-facebook group platform forum just for parents in the course so you can connect, share wins, combat isolation, and build a community.

(Priceless!)

"This course is great if you're looking for resources that are science-based, research backed and easy to understand and digest in a supportive way that you can implement right away.”

- Kristina (Mom to a 3 month old) 

Two great ways to join The Authentic Parent...

A one-time payment of

$197

I'm ready to feel confident in parenthood! >>

3 monthly payments of

$75

By the end of this program you will have...

A working knowledge of human development, child psychology,

so you can use your parent-child relationship can be
your secret weapon in parenting

The ability to look inward for guidance on parenting decisions you make 

so you can stop googling, and calmly and confidently respond to any problem that arises

An intimate understanding of your parenting values and how to align them with your partner 

so you can parent as a team.

Trust in yourself and trust in your child

So you can relax, connect, and enjoy the journey!

The Authentic Parent

is a perfect fit for you if...

"I'm a natural worrier and I was feeling anxious during my pregnancy. This course put my mind at ease and helped me feel prepared and like I can handle whatever is to come once my baby arrives!"

You're currently expecting

- Nicole (expecting mama) 

"My daughter was around a year old when I took the course. And there were so many things I wish I had known earlier, but even after a year of parenting, there is so much I still learned and implement in our daily life!"

Your child is between 0-14 months

- Britt (Mom to a 11 month old) 

“Being a mother of two now with a newborn and a toddler, one of the best things I learned was how to really slow down and take my time.

And even as a parent of two who’s always feeling rushed, I am now able to slow down when I’m changing her diaper or changing her clothes. And I have found it’s insanely effective. I can feel her body relax when I’m just going really slowly.

And same with my son when I can feel him starting to get worked up. If I slow my body down and regulate with him, he slows down and calms down.

It seems so simple, but I never really grasped that before. And that really hit home for me.”

You're a second or third time parent

- Margo
(Mom to a newborn and 2-year-old)

Get a sneak peek inside

The Authentic Parent

Want to know what it would be like to be a part of the program? Get a feel for the course by watching a sneak peek of this bonus module and learn the ins and outs of attachment science and how to foster secure attachment bonds from birth through adulthood.

"I thought this course would help me learn about my daughter, I didn't expect it to teach me so much about myself! Dr. Sarah helped me identify why certain behaviors my daughter did triggered me and I was getting frustrated and overwhelmed so often. She gave me coping strategies that have helped me become more patient and understanding with my daughter."

- Liza (Mom to an 13 month old) 

Two great ways to join The Authentic Parent...

A one-time payment of

$197

I'm ready to feel confident in parenthood! >>

3 monthly payments of

$75

Want to get personalized support every single step of the way?

Four times a year, I open enrollment for the Coaching Program.

Get direct access to me for 6 weeks of intimate (no more than 12 families) group coaching calls. On these one hour weekly live calls you'll be able to ask your questions, get personalized guidance and hear what other parents are working on with their own children.

Want to be notified when enrollment for the Coaching Program opens?

The FAQs you're wondering:

We all want to do what is best for our children. 

We want to give them the best start in life, and raise them to be resilient, confident, and healthy. We also want to feel that way ourselves. Parenting can feel hard, confusing, and isolating at times. There’s nothing wrong with you for feeling this way, but it doesn’t have to feel this way. 

More brain development happens in the first year of life than any other year, so our interactions with our children during this brief window can have an exponential impact. 

Being informed and intentional in how we parent in this first year matters.
And I am here to guide you with information that is going to empower you
to feel confident that you know what really is important and what
isn’t so you can parent in a way that feels authentic to you and
sets your child up for success.

I don’t want you to look back in a few years and wonder how
could this have been easier?

I want to help you to enjoy the journey right now. 

Two great ways to join The Authentic Parent...

A one-time payment of

$197

I'm ready to feel confident in parenthood! >>

3 monthly payments of

$75

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