Your Emotionally Reactive Child Needs Empathy — Not Punishment

Your Emotionally Reactive Child Needs Empathy — Not Punishment

Empathy is the emotional glue that binds all relationships. I’ve never had an adult client come into my office and say, “My parents took too much time to truly listen to me. That really messed up my childhood.” When children refuse and resist, responding with empathy feels unnatural. After all, defiant children are argumentative. They have a short fuse. They are emotionally reactive. They resent parental directives and defy them boldly. Over tim…