Virtual Parenting Programs & Memberships: Why they're great + How they fall short

Hi there! I'm Danielle. I help defeated parents find validation, support + proven techniques to parent their strong-willed kids with composure, connection, confidence + cooperation through a 4 month group coaching program based on the Wholehearted Framework I’ve developed over years of working with families 1:1.

As a parent, you have more resources than ever before. It’s incredible that we have the ability to connect across states and oceans, we have access to the latest research at our fingertips, and we can have AI generated summaries of our questions at a moment’s notice. However, as we know with most good things- too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. How do you sort through it all?

When you know you need help, where do you start?

On the Failing Motherhood podcast in April, we're discussing each parenting resource:

EPISODE 1: April 15th, 2025

v. Parenting Content

v. Self-Paced Parenting Course or Book

v. In-person Parenting Class

EPISODE 2: April 22, 2025

v. Occupational Therapy

v. PCIT

v. Child Therapist / Psychologist

EPISODE 3: April 29th, 2025

v. Marriage Counseling or Personal Therapy

v. One-off or 1:1 Parenting Coaching

v. Virtual Parenting Program or Membership

For each, we break down the time/place and family that that resource is BEST for, compare/contrast the unique Pros and Cons of utilizing that support vs. another, and ultimately for some, the way they fall short.

v. Virtual Parenting Program or Membership

(Ex: Parent Effectiveness Training or Good Inside)

Virtual Parenting Programs are taught by trainers certified in the methodology, with repeatable curriculum, taught over 8-12 weeks, 2-3 hours at a time.

All of the programs listed below were developed between 1970 and 1981.

Virtual memberships - filled with access to workshops with a large virtual community/group aspect are included in this section, bit but aspects I mentioned about in-person parenting classes as well as online courses could apply here as well.

Non exhaustive list of Virtual Parenting Programs:

• Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) by Dr. Thomas Gordon 

• Nonviolent Communication (N.V.C.)

• Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (S.T.E.P.)

• Active Parenting

• Triple P (Positive Parenting Program)

• How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk

• Positive Discipline

• Love and Logic

• Dare to Discipline

   

  (I disagree most with the last 2)

I’m certified as a parent educator in Positive Discipline.

BEST FOR -

• Intro to basic concepts at the convenience of your own home. Expect the same level of life-changing results you get from random professional development seminars in the corporate world, like speakers at conferences.
•  Shares great information that can give lightbulb realizations
• bite-sized lessons that are easy to digest
• Most of the programs offer healthy philosophy, new ways to communicate that translate as important life skills across the board, and good perspective, especially if you're learning ALONGSIDE your spouse

 Parents who end up needing MORE realize...

•  "Best practices" only get you so far.  Strong-willed kids feel like the exception to every rule. When I discuss situations with clients we get into the weeds with a lot of nuance and individualization. A methodology that widespread simply can't speak to the same level of nuance. The curriculum doesn't appear to cover the parent's triggers, coping methods for patience, or solving for the child's use of attention and control.  When they see things working for others but not at their house, they get even more defeated.

• The world is a VERY different place in 2025 v. 1970 or 1980. Which, believe it or not is 45-55 years ago! Parents in 2025 need nuance with regards to using technology as a tool, acknowledgment of the weight of stress on parents shoulders, the lack of village, both parents working, and/or impact of neurodivergence and the strides we’ve made in understanding it over the last 10+ years.

• In the case with Good Inside, it still doesn't have the level of depth they're craving. Workshops offer bite-sized lessons, easy to digest, but still hard to implement and individualize.  They are not learning about THEIR child and THEIR triggers. There isn't someone telling them what NOT to say or how to tweak what they’ve tried so it’ll actually breakthrough. Ultimately, they stay stuck, with more reasons to beat themselves up and feel like they're failing.

Read more about these resources: click the links below-

Considering Marriage Counseling or Therapy instead?

Or doing one-off or 1:1 Parenting Coaching?

I work with families experiencing same symptoms you’d go to those resources for -

• wanting to learn and grow as a parent

• struggles to regulate your own emotions, stop yelling, have more patience

• learn the skills you were never taught so you can teach your child

• wanting to improve morale, culture of your home, relationships like marriage and sibling dynamics so everyone feels more peace and love

• most importantly- your experience of parenting - feeling exhausted, defeated, resentful, disengaging, losing hope.

What about a group coaching program?

Group coaching programs combine a committed, safe environment, the fostering of relationships with like-minded people who get it, and the vulnerability they bring forth to create TRANSFORMATIONS. Think business masterminds, support groups for sobriety, fitness challenges- you achieve much more together than you ever would on your own!

WHO IT'S BEST FOR:

✅ Accelerated progress for the parent who needs MORE than random content, books or a course

✅ They know they need INDIVIDUALIZED support, not generalized info.

✅ Their time is PRECIOUS + you need to learn on-the-go.

✅ Their partner is an ENGAGED parent + wants to get their questions answered too; the majority of stress in the relationship is related to parenting.

✅ They crave connection + community, wanting to be KNOWN + HEARD.

✅ They value working with a mentor who's BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

✅ They are willing to put the work in when it's actually proven to WORK!

✅ They seek to surround themselves with uplifting + powerful conversations with other COMMITTED, cycle-breaking parents

My program, Wholeheartedly CALM, specifically is BEST FOR…

• Worrying Warrior parents, "It is what it is" parents, and "Just tell me what to do" parents (described in detail in my free masterclass- CALM + CONFIDENT)

• The majority of behavior challenges happen at home.  The child has high highs & low lows, strong opinions, and struggle with regulation.  Their parents want to learn to work WITH the way they’re wired.

• A parent is neurodivergent (EX: diagnosed ADHD or gifted as a child) and they wonder if their child will be too (but they're too young to tell or it's all developmentally appropriate right now) OR their child has been diagnosed with ADHD or is on the spectrum

• The majority of stress in their marriage is related to parenting

• They want to transform their relationship with their strong-willed child into the teen years & beyond
• They want to go from dreading pickup to feeling like besties, from 10 meltdowns a week down to 2, strengthen their personal confidence, family’s resilience, and their marriage along the way. 

PROS OF THE PROGRAM:

• No wait-list - apply, schedule call - enroll with immediate access or within next few weeks depending on schedule.

• No commute

• No direct child involvement

• No pressure to medicate or label

• Stress management first

• Comprehensive & Immersive

• Digest and DO it, not just think about it

• Teaches specific strategies for your exact goals, struggles, and strongest-willed child

• Is designed to maximize your time + effort through digestible, repeatable micro-modules

• Equips your partner alongside you the whole way - RARE & critical

• Stress management first, then skills to manage behaviors & strengthen mindset, unlocking connection you always wanted all along

• Able to customize and adapt journey by accessing needed bonuses at anytime, asking most pertinent questions first

• Includes only critical game-changers, not a bunch of backstories, theories or generalized info

• Back-to-back weeks create momentum and accountability, making it more likely you complete it and can ride on the curtails of other’s momentum and hope on the hard days or weeks

• Crowd sources invaluable insight, validation, and support from a tight-knit small group

• Provides unlimited individualized solutions and community like no other

It's the last resource you'll ever need.

NEXT STEP:

Watch the FREE masterclass with your partner-

Calm + Confident - Master the Kind and Firm approach your strong-willed child needs without crushing their spirit or walking on eggshells at parentingwholeheartedly.com then APPLY.