"There is no higher calling in life than raising the children God has entrusted in your care," says Dr. James Dobson. He is so right. The challenge of raising an emotionally disturbed child has its agonies and its ecstasies. We call it hugging the porcupine. Baby porcupines have to have touch and love and their mother must find a way to do it safely. Parenting these children is very different from parenting normal children. The star charts and smiley face charts have proven worse than useless. When people ask me what I do for a living, I often reply I work with abused parents! These children CAN heal! When we stand together, we can make a powerful difference! You are not alone. There are many of us finding ways to hug our porcupines to health. The parenting techniques I use have proven very successful with children with:

Reactive Attachment Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) & ADHD*
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Tourette Syndrome*
Bipolar Disorder*
Overindulgence
Character Disturbance*
PTSD
* in conjunction with appropriate medication

Specialized Parenting Tools

When Love is Not Enough; a guide to parenting children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

117 page guide to parenting children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and other emotional disturbances. This book, by Nancy L. Thomas, has a clear focused plan for parenting disturbed children back to health. It is filled with specialized parenting tools for parents looking for answers. If you want to make a difference in the life of a child, this method will do it. Part one of the book includes understanding RAD, its causes and high risk warning signs.

Part two has the solutions, including one dozen dynamic parenting techniques put together in a workable plan with lots of how to’s. Some things parents are saying - "Your book has been the first hopeful reading that I have come across.

"I loved the practical suggestions. Thank you for writing such an encouraging book for us parents out in the cold". Anne M., Renton, WA

"The parenting techniques are working and at the very least I am in charge of my home again. And I have hope. Thanks." Tracy P., Corvallis, MT

Mastering Steps

Mastering Steps to Reach Children When Love is Not Enough. Solutions for: RAD, ADD, ODD, ADHD, PTSD, Depression, Overindulgence, Bipolar Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Tourettes Syndrome, Attachment Disorder. Would you like to have a home filled with love and laughter? Has being a parent made you feel crazy? This is the answer you’ve been waiting for! In a way that only she can do, Nancy Thomas takes you on a laugh filled journey to heal the heart of a challenging child. This collection is power packed with unique and insightful ideas to meet the challenge! This 8 DVD set and manual are custom designed to encourage and empower parents and professionals working with hurting children. This collection is all wrapped up in a message of hope that can change your life forever!

Building Brilliant Brains through Bonding

This information will knock your socks off! This 60 minute video by Nancy Thomas brings laughs and understanding to a weighty subject. We can make a powerful difference helping our wounded children when we understand their brains! Shows PROOF that they can heal!

Healing Trust

This CD set has many hours of listening that can be enjoyed at home or as you drive (for busy parents). Laugh along with Nancy Thomas as she explains Reactive Attach- ment Disorder (RAD) and the twelve powerful parenting techniques she has used successfully for many years to guide disturbed children toward emotional health and happiness. Many parents have shared with us that they enjoy listening to these cds over and over to renew hope, gain more encouragement and fine tune the specialized parenting skills to help their child.

List of Therapists by State

Our list of therapists by state have been recommended by parents that have had success with their disturbed child. We appreciate these parents taking the time to do this to help others. The therapists recommended here have earned their stars with their skills helping families they are not necessarily listed at the opinion of Nancy Thomas or Families by Design. We recommend you contact and decide for yourselves who the best therapist would be for your child.

Recommend a Therapist (Therapist Referral Form)

To be on our list of parent approved attachment therapists, this Therapist Referral Form must be filled out by a parent of a child diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder who has worked with the therapist.

If you prefer you may download a copy, print it out and mail it in. Therapists  - you may print out copies and give them to your clients to fill out and return to Nancy Thomas Parenting.

HELP US FIND THE GREAT THERAPISTS!

By spending a few minutes to answer these twenty questions you can help other parents be able to access effective help for their child. All identifying information will be kept confidential. Recommended Attachment Therapists will receive a star from each parent’s recommendation.