For Parents & Caregivers
Learning and Support for Families and Loved Ones
We’re guessing you’ve heard the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” If you’re willing, we’re ready to become a part of your village.
EVERYONE WHO IS WILLING TO LEARN IS WELCOME HERE.
Ensemble Learning is a non-judgmental space. Bring your worries and a willingness to be witnessed. Turn up the compassionate dial in your heart and be ready to hold the vulnerable shares from others in the community. Allow your curiosity and an open mind to take the lead, expanding your capacity for knowledge.
Wondering where to start?
Explore our ways to learn, connect, and grow ⇣
Resource Library
Explore our curated selection of resources for you to engage with your child, foster connection, and learn together.
This step-by-step guide to creating a portable Cool Down Kit is filled with sensory tools that help children regulate their emotions and energy. We include instructions for 6 customizable DIY items like calming glitter jars, mindfulness crafts, and sensory jewelry.
What’s Inside
Clear, parent-friendly explanation of what a Cool Down Kit is
Guidance on introducing and using the kit with children
A list of sensory items to include
Step-by-step craft instructions (with materials lists)
Benefits of each tool explained in accessible language
Ways This Helps Connection
Encourages self-soothing and emotional awareness
Strengthens a child’s sense of agency in handling big feelings
Promotes calming, focus, and attention
Provides parents and caregivers with practical strategies for co-regulation
Keeps tools organized and accessible when they’re needed most
Why You’ll Love It
This resource transforms everyday materials into meaningful tools for connection and calm. It makes emotional regulation feel approachable for children and supportive for parents, with activities that are as fun as they are functional. Plus, the kit grows with your child—offering flexible options they can return to again and again.
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Sometimes the simplest shifts make the biggest difference. This handout shares the core “rules of thumb” from Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), offering parents, caregivers, and professionals practical guiding principles to strengthen relationships with children.
What’s Included
The “Big Six” CPRT principles (like focus on the donut, not the hole and be a thermostat, not a thermometer)
Examples of how these rules foster trust, safety, and connection
Guidelines for responding instead of reacting in challenging moments
Relational reminders to balance empathy, limits, and encouragement
Quick tips that make everyday parenting feel more manageable
Ways This Helps Connection
Encourages more harmony and fewer meltdowns by focusing on needs beneath behaviors
Builds a child’s self-esteem through validation, encouragement, and presence
Supports caregivers in setting limits with warmth and consistency
Creates new opportunities for connection in everyday interactions
Why You’ll Love It
These rules of thumb offer bite-sized wisdom you can carry into daily life. They remind us that parenting doesn’t have to be perfect—it’s about presence, repair, and the little ways we show children they matter most.
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Children feel most loved and secure when we slow down and give them our full attention. This guide offers parents, caregivers, and professionals practical ways to create meaningful quality time and special play sessions—moments that build trust, joy, and lifelong memories.
What’s Included
Key principles of child-led play and quality time
“Be With” Attitudes for fostering presence, empathy, and delight
Do’s and don’ts for special play that deepen connection
Adaptations for toddlers, adolescents, and different developmental stages
Extensive lists of toys, activities, and creative ideas for special play
Printable appointment cards to schedule and protect special play time
Ways This Helps Connection
Strengthens the parent–child relationship through shared joy and trust
Builds a child’s confidence, self-worth, and responsibility by feeling valued and understood
Encourages self-expression and emotional intelligence through play
Helps families establish routines that prioritize bonding and reduce stress
Why You’ll Love It
This guide makes it easy to bring more play, joy, and presence into your home or practice. With clear guidance and activity ideas, you’ll feel confident carving out special time that leaves children feeling seen, cherished, and deeply connected.
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Listening well is one of the most powerful gifts we can give children. This handout introduces the why and how of reflective listening for parents, caregivers, and professionals, helping you create an environment of mutual understanding, care, and connection.
What’s Included
Clear explanation of reflective listening and its benefits
Research-based insights on validation, empathy, and trust-building
“Be With” Attitudes to guide meaningful connection
Practical tips and memorable “rules of thumb” (like focus on the donut, not the hole!)
Creative ways to acknowledge children’s feelings with words, writing, art, and play
Real-life scenarios with sample responses + space to practice your own
Ways This Helps Connection
Strengthens your bond with children by helping them feel heard and understood
Models empathy and emotional language children can carry into relationships
Offers simple, ready-to-use strategies that work in both home and clinical settings
Builds confidence in responding to big feelings with presence and care
Why You’ll Love It
This guide was created to support you in slowing down, connecting, and truly hearing the children in your life. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or therapist, these practices invite more ease and joy into everyday interactions
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Children thrive when they feel a sense of control and independence. This guide introduces the practice of offering choices in everyday moments, showing parents, caregivers, and professionals how choice-giving can reduce conflict, build confidence, and strengthen trust.
What’s Included
Clear explanation of why choices matter in a child’s development
Research-based benefits of choice-giving (empowerment, responsibility, reduced power struggles)
Practical tips for planning ahead and structuring choices that work
Memorable rules of thumb (like be a thermostat, not a thermometer)
Real-life scenarios with ready-to-use examples + space to practice your own
Ways This Helps Connection
Supports children in developing decision-making skills and responsibility
Reduces daily power struggles, helping preserve the parent–child relationship
Builds self-esteem through opportunities to feel capable and in control
Strengthens bonds by showing respect for a child’s preferences and individuality
Why You’ll Love It
This guide makes everyday parenting smoother while helping children grow into confident, capable decision-makers. By practicing choice-giving, you’ll not only reduce stress in your home or classroom—you’ll also deepen your connection with the children in your care.
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Limits, when set with empathy and consistency, help children feel safe, secure, and cared for. This guide introduces the ACT method—Acknowledge, Communicate, Target—giving parents, caregivers, and professionals a clear strategy and script for setting limits in ways that preserve connection while maintaining boundaries.
What’s Included
A step-by-step explanation of the ACT Method (Acknowledge, Communicate, Target)
Guidance on why limits matter for safety, security, and self-control
Practical “rules of thumb” for setting limits calmly and effectively
Real-life scenarios with sample limit-setting scripts
Space to practice applying the ACT method to your own situations
Ways This Helps Connection
Provides children with a sense of safety and predictability
Builds self-control and responsibility by letting children experience consequences
Preserves the caregiver–child relationship even in moments of correction
Helps caregivers feel more confident setting firm, calm, and consistent boundaries
Why You’ll Love It
This guide turns limit setting from a power struggle into a connection-building practice. With the ACT method in your toolbox, you’ll feel prepared to handle challenges in a way that supports both your child’s growth and your relationship together.
Quick tip: If you’re interested in taking your limit setting to the next level, you can also get our Advanced Limit Setting Guide by clicking the button below!
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Once you’ve learned the basics of setting limits with empathy, the next step is using choices as consequences. This guide helps parents, caregivers, and professionals put advanced limit setting into practice, offering children real responsibility while keeping boundaries clear.
What’s Included
Explanation of why choices work as natural consequences
Key guidelines for choice-giving (calm tone, clear options, consistent follow-through)
Step-by-step examples of giving choices for common challenges (homework, bedtime, chores, sharing, screen time)
Practice scenarios with space to create your own
Relational reminders to calm children first and avoid power struggles
Ways This Helps Connection
Strengthens a child’s sense of control and accountability
Preserves the caregiver–child relationship by avoiding battles and shame
Teaches children that they have freedom to choose their outcomes, within safe limits
Supports self-control, resilience, and responsibility in everyday life
Why You’ll Love It
This guide empowers you to move from basic limit setting to a more advanced, choice-based approach that invites children to step into responsibility. You’ll feel more confident navigating tough moments without power struggles—and your child will feel respected and capable.
Quick tip: If you want to go back to the basics of limit setting first, you can also add our introductory Limit Setting Guide by clicking the button below!
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
In this comprehensive guide for families and caregivers, we’ll explore how essential regulation is for child development and the strategies we can use both with co-regulation and encouraging self-regulation to raise emotionally attuned, resilient children.
What’s Inside
Clear explanation of co-regulation and why it matters
Strategies for supporting children through each stage of development
Practical sensory-based co-regulation activities
The “Arc of the Tantrum” with guidance for each phase
Tools for teaching and modeling self-regulation
Caregiver self-care practices to sustain your own well-being
Interactive tools like cool-down kit guidance and the “engine plate” for emotional check-ins
Ways This Helps Connection
Builds stronger caregiver-child relationships through co-regulation
Supports children in expressing big feelings safely
Encourages shared calming practices that deepen trust
Models healthy emotional skills children can mirror
Reinforces the caregiver’s role as a secure base in moments of stress
Why You’ll Love It
This guide bridges science and everyday parenting with warmth and clarity. It equips you with concrete tools—like sensory strategies, repair practices, and mindful breaks—that feel doable in daily life. You’ll gain confidence in supporting your child’s regulation while also remembering to care for yourself, knowing that your calm presence is the greatest gift you can offer.
The guide is 22 pages and backed with evidence-based information collected by three licensed mental health professionals who work with families.
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Children grow their strongest roots of confidence when they are encouraged for who they are and how they try—not just for what they achieve. This guide helps parents, caregivers, and professionals understand the powerful difference between encouragement and praise, while offering practical ways to build authentic self-esteem in children.
What’s Included
Clear explanation of how encouragement fosters lasting self-worth
Research-based differences between praise and encouragement
Simple rules of thumb (focus on effort and growth, not just outcomes)
A list of encouraging phrases you can use right away
Real-life scenarios to practice shifting from praise to encouragement
Ways This Helps Connection
Supports children in developing internal motivation and resilience
Builds self-esteem rooted in effort, persistence, and authenticity
Helps caregivers feel confident in language that empowers rather than judges
Strengthens relationships through acknowledgment of growth and contribution
Why You’ll Love It
This resource makes it easier to shift everyday language in ways that truly matter for kids. Instead of quick praise, you’ll find yourself nurturing self-worth that sticks—and opening the door to deeper connection and trust.
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Play this fun responsibility-building game and get your family moving with purpose in this cleaning-centered competition.
This resource is free, and signing up will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Go on a journey of travel and play with your child in this imaginary vacation activity and dream up a magical location together.
This resource is free, and signing up will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Gather your family to tell a story and go on a quest of fun and adventure in this treasure hunt activity.
This resource is free, and signing up will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Create a collaborative piece of art and connect together as a family. See what you notice and learn about what you come up with together.
This resource is free, and signing up will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Create a go-to solution for boredom with activities for every mood, commitment, and energy level. Pull activities from the jar again and again on weekends and long summer days to keep things interesting.
This resource is free, and signing up will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!
Live Workshops
IN-PERSON AND HYBRID
Join us at our Austin, TX location or live online at one of our upcoming learning opportunities for families, caregivers, and anyone looking to show up better resourced for the children in their lives. (If you’re not in town or your schedule is tight, scroll down to explore our virtual offerings.)
Parenting teens can be tricky—but you don’t have to navigate conversations about relationships, safety, and boundaries alone! In this session, you’ll learn practical tools to guide your teens toward safe, respectful relationships while building trust and connection along the way.
Learn practical, compassionate strategies to prepare your child for holiday gatherings, ease their overwhelm in different environments, and respond effectively during “crisis moments” to make this season a little less stressful – and a lot more joyful.
Develop a personalized screen time plan and learn strategies for effective dialogue and mutual understanding about media use and its impact on wellbeing.
Self-Paced Workshops
VIRTUAL LEARNING
Explore our collection of curated workshops created to support you with the resources, resilience, and agility you need to show up for your family, your child, and yourself. All backed by evidence-based practices and heartfelt experience of mental health clinicians working with children.
In this free guide and mini-course, learn the ABC method for pinpointing patterns and triggers associated with difficult behaviors and create new ways to relate and create calm with your child.
In this free webinar, learn how grief may present itself at different developmental stages and gain strategies to support your child in navigating consistent and continued grief.
Delve into understanding your child's emotional needs, effectively guiding their behavior, fostering open communication to nurture their self-control and self-esteem.
Explore types of boundaries, their importance, and how to set them in our three-part series of self-guided workshops on healthy boundary setting for greater ease in relationships of all kinds.
Learn practical tips to set screen-free zones, balance digital and physical activities, and foster open communication. Empower your child to make mindful media choices!
Discover practical strategies for setting healthy and respectful limits with children. Explore how limits promote positive behavior, validate emotions, and foster emotional resilience.
Learn how to be a calming presence when emotions run high and develop effective emotional regulation strategies to build trust and connection, even during tough moments.
Explore esteem-building skills and practical tools to promote emotional awareness and support your child's sense of self, helping them feel seen, heard, and understood.
Give children healthy choices that build confidence, responsibility, and emotional growth to reduce power struggles, support self-regulation, and strengthen relationships.
Browse the Bookshelves
Explore our selection of books on everything from parenting to grief to first-day-of-school jitters for you to skill up for yourself or curl up with your nearest and dearest to read.
Bring the Playroom Home
Browse our playroom guide and take home your own toys, items for sensory regulation, board games that have therapeutic value, art supplies, and child-friendly office decor.
YOUR LEARNING IS THEIR HEALING
A percentage of every dollar you spend on behalf of your learning and exploration at the Ensemble Learning Center is donated to our Whole Child. Whole City. initiative, which enables us to offer free counseling sessions to families in Austin who otherwise would not have the financial resources to access needed mental health support.
This resource for kindergarten readiness is set up to equip your child with the tools they need for a successful transition to kindergarten using a guided checklist to assess skills across key areas. Learn what to look out for, what’s developmentally common, and the specific ways you can set them up for success this year.
Signing up for this resource will connect you with our Ensemble Therapy and Learning Center email list. You are free to unsubscribe at any time, though we hope what you find there will be useful to you!