Brittaney Ratzlaff, LCSWA Clinical Parenting Coach

08/02/2025

If you’ve got kids like mine you’ve likely heard a groan or two about the start of school sneaking up on us.

Here the thing: the way we think has a huge impact on how we feel and negative thoughts trap us in distorted ways of thinking.

So how can we help our kids flip the script? 💭🤔
Challenge negative thoughts and change the narrative! The first step is having open conversations about what’s really at play and helping our kids find the confidence to do hard things!

07/24/2025

There are ❌ NO ❌ perfect parents! We all mess up and make mistakes and that doesn’t make you a bad parent! What’s most important when we make mistakes with our kids is repair.

Try this ‼️

Next time you make a mistake with your child try vulnerability. Come back to them and let them know you made a mistake, that you’ll do better, and see how that changes things! Not only does it diffuse the situation your modeling how to make a mistake and take responsibility, a skill that will take them through life!

Good parents feel bad when they…⁣⁣
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* Yell⁣⁣
* Ridicule⁣⁣
* Say something hurtful⁣⁣
* Harshly punish⁣⁣
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So if you’re feeling guilty about one of those things today, just know that’s a sign that you care about and love your child. It’s also a sign that you know this is not the kind of parent you want to be. It’s ok to feel remorse for a choice that didn’t feel right in the end.⁣⁣
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So many of your questions about how to hold space for your child and yourself are answered in my latest book 👇⁣⁣
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Finding Your Calm: Responsive Parents Guide to Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation⁣⁣
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Link in bio or on the Website: responsiveparentinginspirations.com⁣
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07/22/2025

Child, abuse prevention is something near and dear to my heart! Reducing poverty reduces the chances of child maltreatment and if you care about protecting kids then the numbers really don’t lie on why social welfare programs are vital to child wellness!

https://pcaga.gsu.edu/2025/06/16/prevention-policy-in-action/

07/19/2025

Each and every child is incredible, special, and unique! There’s NO bad kids!! ❌❌❌

07/11/2025

I’m building a new therapy space for kids and families, designed to feel safe, calming, and fun! 🌈

If anyone would like to support me every item on this list helps make sessions more engaging, supportive, and meaningful! Your support brings comfort, creativity, and a little extra brightness to the lives of kids who need it most. Thank you! 💛

07/08/2025

Need some help keeping it positive? Contact today to learn about Triple P Positive Parenting and how it can help you and your family! 🥳🥳

06/08/2025

Teens need independence but how do we balance independence with discipline and guidance?

Try leaning into curiosity instead of control!

Not only does this help parents manage our own emotions in the moment it helps our kids build the brain power to problem solve and figure their next steps out without fighting and nagging!

If you are a parent in need of a hand 🖐️ reach out today to explore the options to bring joy back into parenting!

05/31/2025

I want to share my absolute favorite Triple P technique that can work for all ages (even adults, looking at you supervisors 😉) called “Ask Say Do” that’s an evidenced based, proven strategy to help our kids learn more new skills and gain independence!

Ask 🗣️ Say 💬 Do 👣
Ask the youth what they remember about the first step of the process, if they can answer have them take that step, if they can’t you can say the next step and guide them to through that step if needed, finally go through the steps repeating each ask, say, do step along the way giving as little or as much support as they need ❤️

Get quick tips from accredited Positive Parenting Program librarians on various topics that promote child development and managing childhood behaviors in a c...

05/23/2025

It’s 5pm. You walk through the door, completely spent, and there’s your kid, beaming with joy, ready to play.

You’re exhausted, but you also know that even 10 minutes of quality time can literally shape your child’s brain for healthy attachment, emotional regulation, and lifelong connection. So you dig deep… and you go horizontal.

I present to you, horizontal parenting!
Creative, low-energy ways to bond with your young children.

🌟 First-Person Motorcycle Ride: Throw on a YouTube POV motorcycle video and become the bike: your kid sits on you and steers your legs. Bonus points for sound effects!

🌟 Hair Salon Makeover: Bust out brushes, clips, and accessories while your little stylist works their magic on you, blissfully lying down.

🌟 Doctor Time: Let them be the doctor while you’re the patient in need of a blanket, a checkup, and a good rest.

🌟 Backyard I Spy: Spread out a blanket in the yard or living room and play “I Spy”.

Got a favorite horizontal parenting trick? Let other parents know in the comments!

05/18/2025

Hi, I’m Brittaney Ratzlaff, and I’m so glad you’re here!

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate with over a decade of experience walking alongside children, families, and communities through some of life’s most difficult moments. My work is rooted in compassion, connection, and a deep belief in people’s capacity to grow and heal.

I specialize in trauma-informed care, child welfare, parenting support, and helping families find strength and stability in the face of stress or change. Whether I’m supporting a caregiver, helping a child navigate big emotions, or guiding a family through the systems around them. I show up with empathy, respect, and practical tools that empower long-term growth and change.

I earned my BSW and MSW from East Carolina University and am certified in both Mental Health First Aid and Triple P Levels 3,4, and 5 (Positive Parenting Program). My professional background includes everything from hands-on child welfare work to leading prevention programs and building collaborative community partnerships.

If you’re looking for someone who will meet you where you are with kindness, insight, and a commitment to real, meaningful progress, I’d love to connect!

05/03/2025

It’s Foster Care Appreciation Month! I’m so thankful for all the families who choose the hard path of foster care day in and out. My family chose this difficult path for four years and while foster care is painstakingly hard… whew, the victories!

Watching a child feel secure for the first time, seeing their eyes widen as they feel sand and step their foot into the ocean for the first time, a curled up pr***en asleep on you and feeling safe for the first time, mending stuffed animals for broken hearts and seeing happiness sneak in… I can’t begin to tell you the fulfilling parts about changing a child’s life and how they outweigh any negative there ever could be!

Our kids deserve loving homes, will that be you?? I’d love to answer any questions you have about fostering and get you started on the path to changing a child’s life!

Foster parent numbers have decreased at a steady decline since Covid… kids sleeping in the offices at DSS. This is a national crisis! If you’ve ever thought about fostering now’s the time to get it going! 💙💙💙