Parent Workshops

Holding It All: A Fireside Conversation on Caregiver Stress. You’re Not Failing—You’re Carrying a Lot

With Jess Swanson, BCBA

This workshop offers caregivers a rare opportunity to pause and be met with understanding. Guided by Jess Swanson a BCBA who is also a parent of a child with autism, this fireside-style conversation blends professional knowledge with lived experience to explore caregiver stress with honesty and compassion.

Together, we’ll normalize the emotional load caregivers carry, share practical ways to build support, and create space for reflection and connection. This is not a lecture—it’s a shared conversation designed to help families feel seen, supported, and less alone in their caregiving journey.

You’ve Got This: Navigating Your Child’s Medical Care with Confidence

With Courtney Dubois, Child Life Specialist

You’ve Got This! Join Avocado Health for a lively, practical hour on Zoom that will help you navigate your child’s medical care with calm and clarity. We’ll walk through what to ask at appointments, how to read care plans and medication instructions, when to choose urgent care vs. ER, and tips for clearer conversations with pediatricians. Expect real-life examples, quick checklists you can use right away, and a few simple hacks that make appointments less stressful.

Bring your questions and your trickiest scenarios — we’ll save time for an upbeat Q&A so you can get advice tailored to your family. You’ll leave with a downloadable checklist, confidence-ready phrases to use with providers, and a handful of small steps that add up to big peace of mind. Hosted on Zoom by Avocado Health — come ready to learn, laugh a little, and walk away feeling prepared.

Medical Visits Made Easier: Preparing Kids for Routine & Surprise Care

With Adina Levitan, Child Life Specialist

Join us for a practical, parent-focused workshop with Child Life Specialist, Adina Levitan, designed to equip caregivers with tools to help children feel safe, informed, and emotionally supported before, during, and after medical visits. The session covers age-appropriate ways to talk about doctors, vaccines, and procedures; techniques to reduce anxiety and sensory overwhelm; and simple preparation routines that build predictability and trust.

Parents also learn how to respond to unexpected or urgent care situations, advocate for their child’s needs, and use play, language, and regulation strategies to foster resilience and cooperation. The goal is to transform medical encounters including Annual Physicals and Dental Check-ups from stressful events into manageable, confidence-building experiences for both children and caregivers.

You’re Not Failing — You’re Just Adjusting: The Honest Truth About Life After Baby

With Jennifer Williams, Perinatal Mental Health Specialist

Becoming a parent can be joyful and incredibly hard — often at the same time. This workshop creates a safe, judgment-free space to talk about the parts of new parenthood that don’t always get said out loud.

We’ll explore what’s normal after birth (and what’s not), why comparison can make everything feel worse, and how sleep deprivation, anxiety, and identity shifts can impact your mood, your marriage, and how you see yourself as a parent.

When Big Emotions Show Up: A Toddler Guide for Calm, Confident Parenting”

With Cory Todd, Child Life Specialist

Toddlers feel big emotions—and they don’t yet have the skills to manage them. In this practical, reassuring workshop led by a Child Life Specialist, parents will learn why tantrums, defiance, hitting, biting, and meltdowns happen, and what to do in the moment without yelling or power struggles. We’ll explore simple, developmentally appropriate strategies to set clear boundaries, support emotional regulation, and help your child feel safe while learning healthier ways to express big feelings. Parents will leave with tools they can use immediately—and more confidence navigating tough toddler moments with calm and connection.

Big Feelings, Calm Moments: Helping Kids Understand and Regulate Emotions

With Sarah Sweat

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