Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be

by Robyn Koslowitz

"I want to parent differently than the way I was parented; I know what not to do, but I'm not so sure about what I should do."

Every good parent wants to create relationships with their children that are filled with joy, connection, and healthy attachment. Yet well-meaning but traumatized parents--those who suffered as children or who are dealing with traumatic events as adults--tend to see the world from a survival point of view. If that's you, you might suspect that your own trauma is negatively influencing your parenting behaviors. Where can you turn for support and wisdom?

Post-Traumatic Parenting goes far beyond the fad social-media trends like "gentle" and "responsive" parenting to provide a clear, easy-to-follow, and substantive guide, offering both what to do and why it works, so traumatized parents can create the kind of relationship they want with their children of any age. In this book, you'll learn how to properly adjust your techniques and strategies, act in accordance with your defined parenting values, and, best of all, create your own survival strategies and flip them into your parenting superpower.

Experienced, renowned traumatic parenting expert, workshop leader, speaker, and founder of the Center for Psychological Growth, a large children's therapeutic practice in New Jersey, child psychologist Dr. Robyn Koslowitz directly explains exactly how every post-traumatic parent can reverse the damage from their own traumas and forge a strong, healthy relationship with their children. Finally, you can find true joy in the day-to-day of parenting. It's time to recognize that post-traumatic parenting is a deep, authentic, powerful healing journey. It features easy-to-follow instructions, along with simple tools, to help you effectively parent your children, no matter what happened in the past. Let Post-Traumatic Parenting help you break the cycle, enjoy the journey, and create healthy, joyful, dynamic, lasting relationships with your children. It is a singular guide to becoming the parent you always wanted to be.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Family

248 pages, Hardcover

Published July 1, 2025

Reviews

[Sally Maslansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down..

As a therapist,an essential read. With this seeming epidemic of adult children estranging themselves from their parents - I wish those parents had read this. It so clearly maps out the work of parenting that must begin with making sense of their own lives - attachment theory tells us that is an essential process to raise children who thrive, not just survive. This is an important work that belongs on every therapist’s shelf who works with parents, children & familles! Thank you Robyn Koslowitz!

[Annie Reads The World · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for NetGalley for providing this ARC.

I went into this book as someone who doesn't have children yet, but is planning to have them in a couple of years. This felt like the right time to read this book. Now that I've read it, I actually don't think this was quite the right time for me to read it, so I'll be rereading it down the line.

Despite me not being in the right headspace for this book right now, I did find it very easy and quick to read and I think it gave some great advice. It includes lots of bullet points and illustrations so it's a pretty quick read, but you'll definitely be left with things to think about.

I really appreciate that this book exists and I will be returning to it.

[Kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a new mother & a survivor of multi-generational abuse & trauma. I will be on a continuous journey, attempting to figure out what my parenting 'style' will be, as I also navigate trying to re-parent myself.

While it is an easy read, it is also incredibly hard to get through due to the nature of the material. I am thankful that a resource like this exists & may reference for years to come.

Thank you to NetGalley & Broadleaf Books for the eARC.

Publication Date: July 1, 2025

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I’m not a parent, there were so many things that resonated with me. I think it’s a great resource for people with ptsd/c-ptsd that either want to be parents or are parents and seeking guidance. If I were to become a parent, I’d purchase this book to study it in greater detail. There were many thoughtful exercises and journal prompts.
I felt like it was truly eye opening and Im deeply appreciative and thankful to receive an ARC from NetGalley and Broadleaf Books.