Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive

by Daniel J. Siegel

Movement toward security for these individuals would likely involve the activation or development of these underutilized brain mechanisms. In these individuals, experiences are to be encouraged that can access the various dimensions of right-hemisphere functioning, including nonverbal communication, awareness of the body, appreciation of emotional states in oneself and others, autobiographical recollection, and attuning to and aligning with others’ mental states. Providing the supportive encouragement for the gradual activation of these emotional and interpersonal processes may help the individual to learn to tolerate vulnerability and intimacy with trusted others. Such experiential learning could then help transform the individual’s state of mind with respect to attachment toward security.