Deborah Woods

Being a mom can be one of the hardest things you'll ever do. Or it can be a delight and a joy. Hi! Welcome to adventurous moms seeking insight and inspiration.

Empathy + Limits = LOVE. I've spent more than 15,000 hours playing with kids. I've worked with hundreds of kids and their moms, dads, and grandparents in the last 37+ years. If you’re looking for a proven professional to guide you through childhood challenges that stand in the way of your child’s happiness, you’ve come to the right place. Professional support from someone who’s been there.

05/18/2025

You’ve done everything “right.”
The charts. The routines. The calm voice. The consequences.
But your child is still melting down—or shutting down—and nothing seems to work.

If you’ve ever wondered,
“What am I missing?”
you are not alone.

This 5-slide post offers a new perspective.
Not a fix—but a first step toward understanding what’s really going on.

💛 This isn’t everything. It’s the beginning of something better.

➡️ Swipe through the images to see the shift.

📍 Want to take the next step?
Learn more about the PEACE Process Mini Course—a 75-minute introduction to a new way of seeing and supporting your child.

https://deborah-woods-ncc.teachable.com/p/introducing-5-simple-and-powerful-steps-to-unlock-peace-with-kids

05/13/2025

Today is a day of double joy—and deep reflection.

It’s my son’s birthday and his wedding anniversary.

One day. Two milestones. A lifetime of love between them.

As his mom, I remember the feel of his tiny hand in mine… the long nights, the questions, the wonder, the worry. The fierce love that made me brave enough to keep showing up—even when I didn’t always know how.

As a child counselor, I now sit with other moms in the thick of those same raw, beautiful, stretching years. I know what it’s like to love a child with your whole being and still wonder if you’re doing it right. I know what it’s like to look into little eyes filled with big feelings and not always know what to say or do.

What I didn’t know when I became a mother was how much he would shape me.
Not just into a better mom…
But into a better therapist.
More attuned.
More human.
More full of grace—for myself and for every mom I’ve had the honor to walk beside.

So today, as I celebrate his life and the life he’s building, I also pause to honor the sacred journey of motherhood—the one that continues to teach me how to love, how to listen, and how to lead others toward healing.

To all the moms I work with:
I see you.
I believe in you.
And I’m walking this road, too.

💛

05/11/2025

🌷 Happy Mother’s Day from Deborah Woods, NCC 🌷
Licensed Professional Counselor | Playtime Power | Brave Empathy

Today, we honor the mothers who show up in a million small, unseen ways:

💛 The mom who kneels on the playroom floor, learning to speak her child’s language of blocks and crayons.

💛 The mom who wonders if she’s getting it right—but keeps showing up anyway.

💛 The mom who’s healing her own childhood wounds while raising a child with tenderness and hope.

💛 The mom who chose love in the form of hard decisions, painful boundaries, or quiet sacrifice.

💛 The mother-figures, grandmothers, stepmoms, foster moms, aunties, and those who mother with the strength of their presence and the depth of their care.

If no one has told you lately:
🌼 You are seen.
🌼 You are shaping something sacred.
🌼 You are the safe place your child comes home to—again and again.

At Playtime Power, we believe in the profound strength of a mother’s love. And we’re here to walk alongside you with tools, understanding, and a whole lot of heart.

💕 Wishing you rest, joy, and the quiet assurance that you are doing deeply important work.

Happy Mother’s Day.

05/10/2025

🌿 Myth 5:
"Teaching Emotions Is About Having All the Right Answers."

Truth:
Teaching emotions is about staying in the conversation — even when there are no easy answers.
It’s about modeling that it’s okay to feel confused, messy, overwhelmed — and that love doesn’t disappear when things get hard.

🌈 Gentle wisdom:
"My steadiness teaches more than my solutions ever could."

05/09/2025

🌿 Myth 4:
"Good Parents Always Know Exactly What Their Child Is Feeling."

Truth:
You don't have to be a mind reader.
You just have to be a curious, kind witness.
Sometimes it’s enough to say, "I wonder if you’re feeling sad," or "It seems like something feels hard right now." suggest an image
It’s the wondering and the being-with that matter most.

💛 Gentle encouragement:
"Perfect guesses aren't the goal.
Presence is."

05/08/2025

🌿 Myth 3:
"Kids Should Be Able to Regulate Their Own Emotions If We Teach Them Right."

Truth:
Self-regulation begins with co-regulation.

Children borrow our nervous systems until their own are mature enough to handle big feelings.

Needing us doesn’t mean they’re behind — it means they’re growing right on schedule.

🌱 Gentle truth:
"It’s okay if my child needs me to help hold their feelings.
This is not a step backward — it’s how strength is built."

04/24/2025

🌿 Myth 2:
"Talking to Kids About Emotions Is Enough."

Truth:
Words are important — but not the words we typically default to.

Not:

“You’re fine.”

“Calm down.”

“There’s nothing to be upset about.”

Or even, "I understand you're mad but... "

Instead, children need words that notice and name what they’re experiencing:

“You’re feeling really frustrated right now.”

“That was a big disappointment.”

“Something about that didn’t feel fair to you.”

True co-regulation is not about soothing a child out of their emotion.
It’s about walking with them through it — helping them understand what they feel, why it matters, and how to navigate it with growing awareness and strength.

We aren’t there to discipline their emotions or distract them from them.
We’re there to reflect, honor, and support their movement toward emotional mastery.

🪞 Gentle reminder:
“In moments of big emotion, I am not here to erase the feeling.
I am here to help my child understand it, name it, and grow through it.”

04/18/2025

🌿 Myth 1:
"Kids Learn About Feelings by Reading Books About Feelings."

Truth:
Books can introduce emotional words and ideas — but true emotional growth happens in relationship.

Children learn feelings by living them with emotionally attuned adults who notice, name, and nurture their experiences in real time.

🪞 Gentle reflection:
"Today, what emotion did I help my child recognize just by being present with them?"

04/17/2025

“5 Myths About Teaching Kids Emotions (And What Actually Works)”

Helping children grow emotionally is one of the greatest gifts we can offer.

And... there’s a lot of confusion out there about how kids really learn emotional intelligence.

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing 5 common myths — and the gentle, powerful truths that can help you support your child’s emotional growth with confidence, patience, and love. 🌿

Stay tuned!

04/12/2025

Have you tried this yet? Create a doll version of yourself using ChatGPT.

02/01/2025

"I Feel Like No One Listens to Me" – Teaching Kids to Advocate for Themselves

💬 Has your child ever said, “You don’t understand me” or “No one listens to me”? 🗣️

Kids often struggle to express what they need in a way that makes adults listen. But advocacy is a skill that can be taught!

Try teaching your child this simple self-advocacy script:➡️ “I feel __ when __. I need ___.”

Example: “I feel frustrated when I don’t get to finish my sentence. I need a little more time to explain.”

✨ Parent Challenge: The next time your child uses this, pause and give them your full attention.

👇 What’s something your child has struggled to express? Drop it in the comments!

01/31/2025

🌿 Creating a Calm Corner for Self-Regulation 🌿

Just like this cozy woodland rabbit has a safe space filled with soft moss, glowing mushrooms, and gentle lighting, children also need a comforting environment where they can feel secure and regulate their emotions. In my office, I’ve created a special calm room filled with soft pillows, plush stuffed animals, and gentle lighting to help children feel safe, soothed, and supported.

A calm corner provides a child with a judgment-free space to take deep breaths, relax, and reset. Whether it’s in a play therapy setting, at home, or in the classroom, these spaces can be powerful tools for self-regulation and emotional well-being.

💡 Ways to Create a Calm Corner at Home:
✨ Soft Textures – Pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals to provide a sense of comfort.
🌿 Nature-Inspired Elements – Soft lighting, natural colors, or plants to create a peaceful atmosphere.
📚 Self-Regulation Tools – Books, sensory bottles, or fidget toys to help with emotional grounding.
💖 Encouraging Words – A small sign or notes with affirmations like “You are safe” or “Take a deep breath.”

When children have access to a calm, predictable space, they can develop self-regulation skills that help them navigate big emotions in a healthy way.

Does your child have a calm corner at home? What are their favorite ways to feel safe and relaxed? 🌱🐰✨

Address

O'Fallon, MO

Website

http://www.deborahwoods.com/

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