Services - Aware Parenting Support
Aware Parenting - a game-changer for families like ours.
What is Aware Parenting?
Founded by Dr. Aletha Solter, a respected Swiss-American developmental psychologist, speaker, consultant and author, Aware Parenting is grounded in the latest child development research. It offers a holistic approach that nurtures healthy attachment, builds emotional resilience through natural healing processes and encourages willingness and cooperation through a relationship-based democratic, approach without the use of rewards and punishments.
Is this attachment style parenting? Or another form of gentle/conscious parenting?
Yes and no. As a family, we were already committed to attachment-style parenting, but struggled to work out how we were meant to get our own needs met amongst it all. Exhaustion and resentment started to build. Aware Parenting provided the answers to the piece that we were missing - where do we, as the parents fit in here? How do we also get our needs met? It was a total game-changer for us. It has helped us to connect with ourselves, each other and our children more deeply, to foster secure attachment, to heal our own past hurts and begin navigating how to reparent ourselves. It's provided the tools to navigate tricky parenting challenges and heal stress and trauma, to guide us in creating and holding boundaries, gaining cooperation and genuine willingness from our kids, engage in play and create more fun and lightness in our family.
What are we hoping for?
To raise children who are empathetic, intrinsically motivated, and emotionally resilient - without the need for rebellion or suppressing their feelings as they grow older. AND, we are also human. We will not get this right all of the time, and that's actually a super important part of this process - of learning about ourselves, of repairing our relationships when we do or act in ways that we don't enjoy and of growing a sense of self-compassion.
Where does Aware Parenting support come in?
Just knowing this approach isn't enough - we need deep support to be able to parent in this way, especially if it is very different to how we were raised. As one of just two certified Aware Parenting coaches in Aotearoa, NZ, I'm here to share these powerful tools with you, and give you a space to feel heard and held so that you can continue to show up for your kids in the ways that you want to as often as you can. We can't give what we don't receive. I want you to feel deeply supported in your parenting and to grow the connection you have - not only with your children, but also with yourself. You are so worthy of being supported. We are not supposed to parent in isolation.
Aware Parenting Support Circle, One on One Support & Podcasts
There's 3 different ways to access Aware Parenting support with me in the short and long-term:
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Join the Aware Parenting Support Circle - you want a community around you that are also parenting in this way, you want to learn more about the approach and how it practically looks through the lived experience of others.
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Have one on one session(s) - you'd like to delve deeper into your parenting journey, perhaps explore the way your birth is showing up for you and your little ones or you want more individualised support
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Listen to the podcasts - you'd like to get a feel for my style and what it might like to be to work with me
Read more below...
The Aware Parenting Support Circle
The Aware Parenting Support Circle is here to:
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Create a community of support both on and offline for parents like you practising Aware Parenting
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Provide a deep, safe and connected space for sharing and listening - in this space you can express how parenting really is for you without fear of judgement.
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Provide Aware Parenting guidance, support and suggestions - empowering you to navigate those tricky parenting moments in the long-term and as your child/ren grow.
What will this support look like?
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Monthly Deep-Dive Zoom Sessions (Feb-Sep 2025)
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Rich 1.5-hour zoom gatherings every second Wednesday at midday
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A safe space to share, learn, and feel truly heard
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Practical tools for those tricky parenting moments
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Recordings available (because, life!)
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Our Ongoing Village Support
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A private FB community where you can be authentic about your journey
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Monthly Q&As where we dive into what's coming up for you
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A guide on listening partnerships and how to find one that works for you
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The opportunity to connect with other parents in your region for real-life cuppas
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All of this offers 8 months of community building, connection, deep listening and Aware Parenting practical tools and support.
What topics will we journey through?
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Getting clear on why we're choosing this beautiful, challenging path
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An intro into Aware Parenting and building the foundations for secure attachment
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Our journey as parents - reparenting ourselves, listening partnerships and support
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Healing from stress and trauma: inbuilt healing mechanisms, listening to feelings and control patterns
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Democratic discipline: boundaries, loving limits and natural consequences
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Attachment play
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Rupture, repair, trust and healing
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Practical tools, stories and scenarios so you can implement Aware Parenting in your family
What are the online gathering dates?: (Wednesdays, from 12pm-1:30pm in 2025).
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12 February / 12 March / 9 April / 12 May / 11 June / 9 July / 13 August / 10 September
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(Dates and timing of the calls may be subject to change).
Who is it for?
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You are caring for a child/ren mainly aged between 0-7 years old.
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Whether you're just dipping your toes into Aware Parenting or you've been at it for years, you're so welcome here.
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You want a sense of community and village-like support around you - a safe space to be authentic and honest about how parenting is for you, challenges arising, things you’re unsure about and things you want to celebrate. ALL of you is welcome. There is no right or wrong way to be or feel or parent.
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You want to feel deeply heard, supported and held during your parenting journey.
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You want some practical tools and strategies for those tricky parenting moments.
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Aware Parenting is perhaps different from how you were raised and you need support in reparenting yourself or navigating what comes up for you in parenting.
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You may want to explore how your child/ren’s birth might be showing up in your parenting - for you and your little one (I offer one-on-one birth debriefing support as well).
Investment in your Parenting Journey:
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Individual Journey: NZD $789 (or 8 monthly payments of $103.55)
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Couples Journey: NZD $999 (or 8 monthly payments of $131.15)
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Friend Journey: NZD $1,299 (or 8 monthly payments of $170.50) (First monthly payment secures your spot)
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If you’d like to register and save your spot, you can book here.
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If you would like to access the payment plan, please send me an email.
Early bird special:
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Register before January 2025, and receive a bonus half hour listening session with me in January to kick start your year.
You are doing the most important work in the world - raising the next generation. And you deserve all the support in doing so. This isn't just another thing to add to your to-do list - it's creating your village, your safe space, your community of like-minded people. Whether things feel mostly okay or completely overwhelming right now, you are worthy of support. Full stop. Together, we can navigate this parenting journey with more tools, more understanding, and way more support than going it alone.
Aware Parenting One on One Support
Aware Parenting One on One Support options:
In our sessions together you will experience:
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Deep listening - a chance to really express how parenting is for you, without fear of judgement. An opportunity to bring your whole self, where ALL of you is welcome.
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Compassion and empathy - for your journey and your challenges.
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Insight, tools and strategies - from an Aware Parenting perspective to move through challenges within you or with your children.
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Ongoing care and support - a sense of journeying through parenting with me by your side, rather than alone and in isolation.
Investment:
All sessions are 1 hour each.
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One (1) session - NZD$120
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Three (3) sessions - NZD$342 (5% saving on sessions)
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Five (5) sessions - NZD$558 (7% saving on sessions)
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Ten (10) sessions - NZD$1,104 (8% saving on sessions)
Payment Plans
Payment plans are available for all parenting support packages, please discuss this with me.
Free, no obligation 15 minute chat
Let's book in a free 15 minute chat to see if this is the right approach for you and your family.
Podcasts
To get a feel for my style and the way I like to support parents, here are a few, free and accessible podcasts that I have been interviewed on:
Aware Parenting Stories Podcast: Episode 96: Birth Debriefing with Kirsty Fernandes
Aware Parenting Stories Podcast: Episode 44: Trusting the process with Kirsty Fernandes
"Kirsty is an absolute gem who took the time to really listen to my wife’s story and then to both our views. With the information gathered from us, Kirsty had a lot of knowledge to share with and such a gentle approach to helping us find the keys to achieve the goals we are so wanting for our little girls and how we raise them. We highly recommend if you needing advice and a gentle approach Kirsty is the way to go."
- Ricky, Father of 3
We also saw Kirsty for some Aware Parenting support...her values and ours were perfectly aligned and we felt and still feel so supported." - Terri, Māmā of 3
"...Kirsty was also incredibly helpful as we transitioned to a family of four. With her support, we felt confident to make the changes we needed. She was very thorough and attentive, taking time to listen to all of our concerns.Kirsty has a very calm presence and as a bonus, I felt nurtured myself as we chose to do a birth debrief session. Thank you Kirsty."
- Carmel, Wonderful Māmā of 2 who accessed parenting support which included a birth debrief.
