The Center for Connection

09/24/2025

We want to acknowledge that yesterday’s comments regarding the alleged link between Tylenol and autism are confusing, misleading, and harmful for those in the autistic community and their families.

We support an individual’s autonomy to make decisions about their pregnancy in consultation with a trusted physician, drawing on the best available, research-based evidence.

At the same time, we stand firmly with the autistic community. As a neuroaffirming organization, we honor and celebrate autistic individuals and their families, and we reject messages that stigmatize, blame, or pathologize neurological differences. Our commitment is to support our community with compassion, care, and accurate resources, while staying attentive to issues that affect the families we serve.

If you have questions about medical decisions, please talk with your healthcare provider. If you are looking for understanding, support, and connection, we are here—and we encourage you to also reach out to an autistic friend, neighbor, or a pregnant loved one who may have been impacted by this conversation. Now is the time to stand together, listen with empathy, and respond with care. 💙

09/13/2025

Be sure to sign up for this FREE event scheduled on Tuesday, September 23rd! Sponsored by Young and Healthy - Pasadena, this parenting support workshop is specially designed for those impacted by the Eaton fire. Let's come together as a community to strengthen resilience, nurture connection, and provide steady support to our kids, even when life feels overwhelming. Spaces are limited so register today to save your seat:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-showing-up-el-poder-de-estar-presente-tickets-1542563451809

Join me on September 23, 2025, for a free community event focused on building resilience—in our children, ourselves, and each other. Everyone is welcome!

This special parent support talk is tailored for families impacted by the Eaton fires and made possible through a generous grant from Pasadena’s own Young & Healthy—one of my favorite organizations in the world.

About this talk:

Life is busy, and parenting can be full of questions, challenges, and emotional moments. Whether you’re navigating grief, mental health concerns, or everyday behavior struggles, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to be perfect.

In this warm and engaging talk, Dr. Tina Bryson will offer simple, research-backed strategies to help you support your child in any moment. She’ll introduce the power of helping kids feel the “Four S’s”: Safe, Seen, Soothed, and Secure—a framework that can guide you not just in difficult times, but every day.

Through relatable stories, humor, and practical tips, Dr. Bryson will help you build resilience in your child, strengthen your connection, and offer a steady presence—even when parenting feels hard.

✨ This event is completely free.
🗓 September 23, 2025
📍 Pasadena, California

🔗 Click the link below to learn more and register.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-showing-up-tickets-1542563451809

09/12/2025

Feeling incredibly grateful for this week’s presentation on “Whole-Brain Integration in Trans and Nonbinary Youth” from Caroline Carter, PsyD, and Noelle Wittliff, LMFT. 🙏✨

This enlightening session (based on ideas from their forthcoming book 📗) helped our interdisciplinary team explore how early experiences—especially in relationships—shape a child’s developing sense of identity. 💡💖

Caroline and Noelle shared powerful clinical reflections, tools, and strategies that illuminated how experiences like gender dysphoria and minority stress can disrupt integration—and how attuned, brain-based support can foster healing and coherence. 🧠💫

This training was part of our monthly team development series, led by CFC Founder, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson. 🌱 If you caught last month’s blog, you’ll recall her inspiring reminder that “connection is protection”—and that includes connection to self. 🌟

Check out our website for key takeaways that can help both clinicians and caregivers. And be sure to follow and for more insights and inspiration! ❤️

🔗 www.thecenterforconnection.org/blog

08/28/2025

🎤 Spotlight on Connection!
At The Center for Connection, our work doesn’t stop at the therapy room—we’re out in the community sharing knowledge, building bridges, and supporting organizations with expert-led presentations and trainings. ✨

Whether it’s a podcast, panel, or professional training, our team of passionate clinicians brings insight and inspiration to every stage and screen.

📚 Curious about how to bring a CFC speaker to your organization? Or want to see what trainings are coming up next? Keep reading—there’s so much more to explore. ⬇️

https://www.thecenterforconnection.org/cfc-speaking1

08/26/2025

🚨 We’re Hiring! 🚨
Are you a therapist passionate about working with young children and their families? We’re looking for an Early Childhood & School-Age Mental Health Therapist to join our interdisciplinary team here at The Center for Connection! 💛

🧠 You’ll be part of a collaborative, welcoming, and brain-based environment led by Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, NYT best-selling author of THE WHOLE-BRAIN CHILD and NO-DRAMA DISCIPLINE.

✨ Perks include:
✔️ Competitive pay
✔️ Beautiful, personalized office space in Pasadena
✔️ Ongoing training & mentorship from Dr. Bryson + our diverse team
✔️ CE funds + materials stipend
✔️ Medical, disability & life insurance
✔️ Clinical supervision, if needed

📍Licensed in CA? Or pre-licensed with a year of experience? We’d love to hear from you.

🗓️ Apply by this Friday, August 29, 2025
📲 More info + apply at our link in bio or via our website: thecenterforconnection.org/jobs

08/25/2025

What do you get when your monthly team meeting is led by a New York Times best-selling author? ✨

At CFC, our founder Dr. Tina Payne Bryson brings brain science, heart, and hands-on learning to help our team grow together and deepen our work.

This month’s training? A powerful game-based experience that had us thinking deeply about development, stress, and support.

Get a behind-the-scenes peek on the blog! ⬇️

https://www.thecenterforconnection.org/blog

(And thanks to for the great quote!!)

08/12/2025

Join me on September 23, 2025, for a free community event focused on building resilience—in our children, ourselves, and each other. Everyone is welcome!

This special parent support talk is tailored for families impacted by the Eaton fires and made possible through a generous grant from Pasadena’s own Young & Healthy—one of my favorite organizations in the world.

About this talk:

Life is busy, and parenting can be full of questions, challenges, and emotional moments. Whether you’re navigating grief, mental health concerns, or everyday behavior struggles, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to be perfect.

In this warm and engaging talk, Dr. Tina Bryson will offer simple, research-backed strategies to help you support your child in any moment. She’ll introduce the power of helping kids feel the “Four S’s”: Safe, Seen, Soothed, and Secure—a framework that can guide you not just in difficult times, but every day.

Through relatable stories, humor, and practical tips, Dr. Bryson will help you build resilience in your child, strengthen your connection, and offer a steady presence—even when parenting feels hard.

✨ This event is completely free.
🗓 September 23, 2025
📍 Pasadena, California

🔗 Click the link below to learn more and register.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-showing-up-tickets-1542563451809

08/12/2025

🚨 We’re Hiring! 🚨

Are you a compassionate, collaborative therapist who’s passionate about working with kids and families? Want to join an interdisciplinary dream team founded by 📚Whole-Brain Child 📘co-author, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson? 👩‍⚕️🧠

The Center for Connection is looking for a full-time, Early Childhood & School-Aged Mental Health Therapist at our flagship Pasadena location! 🧸🌱✨

You’ll get to:
✅ Work with an amazing team of therapists and specialists
✅ Collaborate across disciplines (OTs, SLPs, Ed Therapists & more!)
✅ Receive ongoing support, training, and supervision
✅ Help children (ages 0-12) thrive through a neurorelational lens

The ideal candidate will hold an MA, MS, PsyD, or PhD in Social Work, Clinical Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or similar discipline and be fully licensed within their profession in the state of California.

📅 Apply soon! Our application window closes August 29th!

🔗 Learn more + apply: www.thecenterforconnection.org/jobs

Know someone who could be a great fit? Help us spread the word by tagging them in the comments or sharing this post. 💛

07/04/2025

📣📣We’re thrilled to announce a new group starting up this August, Crit Happens! 🧙

Facilitated by trained Therapeutic Game Master Katie Mukai, PhD, sessions will offer opportunities to try new strategies, identities, and approaches to common challenges while honoring diverse ways of seeing the world.

🤩 Help us get the word out about this amazing in-person therapeutic group for adults ages 18-25.

🗓️We’ll meet on Tuesdays (beginning August 12) and participants will have a chance to build social connections and problem solving competencies in a safe, supportive environment, all while embarking on a fun Dungeons & Dragon (D&D) campaign! No D&D experience needed! 😉✨

Swipe right for more details or visit our website:

thecenterforconnection.org/events/crit-happens

04/30/2025

There's a wonderful event happening tonight! It's FREE and all are welcome. Click the link to learn more!

Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids with Dr. Tina Payne-Bryson PhD and Georgie Wisen-Vincent LMFT

04/23/2025

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are and continue to be important, interdependent components of everyday life at the Center for Connection (CFC). Our goal is to promote connection among individuals and groups, and to also celebrate differences—all while honoring curiosity, equity, flexibility, playfulness, stability, and transparency.

We are and will continue to be committed to fostering a culture where everyone who visits the CFC feels safe, valued, supported, and inspired to achieve individual and shared goals.

This includes providing opportunity and access for all people across differences of race, age, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, migratory status, disability/ability, political affiliation, veteran status and socioeconomic background.

It is our firm belief that the more inclusive we are, the better we can serve our community, encouraging both meaningful linkage and healthy differentiation.

04/01/2025

Such a great interview from CFC Founder Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-that-builds-skills-and-bonds-us-with-dr-tina/id1030050704?i=1000700833967

I'm thrilled to share that the wonderful Janet Lansbury hosted me for another podcast interview! We talked about concepts from my latest book, “The Way of Play” (co-authored with play therapist Georgie Wisen-Vincent) and specifically, how playing with our kids in a receptive manner for even just a few minutes each day helps us to better understand them, while also encouraging their development of social skills, emotional regulation, resilience, and self-confidence!

Click below to listen. My hope is that you'll learn how to make connecting through play easy, natural, and fun as well as richly effective for learning and bonding.

Let me know what you think in the comments and stay tuned for more play-related posts coming soon!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-that-builds-skills-and-bonds-us-with-dr-tina/id1030050704?i=1000700833967

"The temptation can be to take over the play or be too instructive or didactic, to think we need to teach all kinds of lessons. But what's really powerful, as we follow our child's lead, is to be able to dive into their world."