Emotion-Savvy Parenting: A Shame-Free Guide to Navigating Emotional Storms and Deepening Connection

by Alissa Jerud

Overview

Intense emotions – whether your own or your child’s – can make it incredibly difficult to be the parent you want to be. This book is designed to help you become a more emotionally agile parent so you can better navigate whatever emotional storms you inevitably encounter.

Emotion-Savvy Parenting is an empowering, science-informed guide for breaking free of the hold that unwanted emotions so often have over parents. With compassion and wit, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Alissa Jerud draws on decades of research to present a refreshing, theory-driven approach that encourages parents to focus on changing the only behaviors they truly have control over: their own. Rooted in highly effective, cognitive-behavioral strategies and a respectful, relationship-centered stance, her ART (Accept, Regulate, and Tolerate) framework enables parents to relate more skillfully to challenging emotions, model invaluable lessons, connect more deeply with their kids, and enjoy parenting more.

Packed with real-life examples and step-by-step techniques, this book supports parents of infants to teens in creating a more harmonious home by becoming their ideal, most emotionally adept selves. It also serves as a valuable resource for educators and mental health professionals seeking to help lighten the heavy load of parenthood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032544946
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/09/2025
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alissa Jerud, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in evidence-based treatments for anxiety and emotion regulation difficulties, including those that come with parenting.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part 1: The Most Challenging Job in the World 1. Everyone Makes Mistakes: Welcome to the Imperfect Parenting Club 2. Feeling Frazzled and Disconnected? It Doesn't Have to Be This Way Part 2: The ART (Accept, Regulate, Tolerate) and Science of Emotions 3. Acceptance: The Catalyst of Change 4. Emotion Regulation: The Key to Keeping an Even Keel 5. Distress Tolerance: The Secret to Surviving Emotional Storms Part 3: Applying the ART (Accept, Regulate, Tolerate) and Science of Emotions in Our Messy, Everyday Lives 6. When the Weather Is Sunny and Calm: Prioritize Connection Through Acceptance and Curiosity 7. When the Weather Is Stormy and Treacherous: Accept, Respond Contingently, and Move Strategically Until the Storm Passes 8. When We've Lost Our Bearings and Gone Astray: Overcoming Obstacles and Learning From Mistakes

Editorial Reviews

"Emotion-Savvy Parenting is an inspiring, paradigm-shifting book for traversing the beautifully rocky road of parenting. Rooted in science, full of wisdom, and entertaining throughout, Dr. Alissa Jerud has packed this book with powerful skills and memorable anecdotes to help parents manage their own emotions, thus radically transforming their parenting journeys for the better."

Eve Rodsky, New York Times best-selling author of Fair Play

"It’s one thing to say you don’t want unruly emotions in the driver's seat during the most challenging moments of parenting life, but it’s hard to know where to begin. This book provides the roadmap. With engaging personal and clinical stories, practical tips, and a clear science-backed framework, Dr. Alissa Jerud equips parents to more confidently and enjoyably navigate the emotional tumults of parenting."

Yael Schonbrun, PhD, author of Work, Parent, Thrive

"Emotion-Savvy Parenting is a nonjudgmental, indispensable guide to peaceful, enjoyable parenting. Through research, relatable anecdotes, and her own professional experience, Dr. Alissa Jerud empowers parents to focus on controlling their own (rather than their children’s) behavior. This must-read book provides all the practical, science-backed tools caregivers need to stay calm, loving, caring, and respectful—even in the midst of the most chaotic, emotionally charged moments."

Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC, school counselor, and author of Middle School Matters and Middle School Superpowers

"Emotion-Savvy Parenting provides wise advice on how to be a better parent in today's chaotic world. Reading it, I couldn't help wishing this book had been written 20 years ago, when I started my journey as a parent. Powerful, practical, and a must-read for all adults who strive to positively impact children's lives."

Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD, founder of Happiness Studies Academy and New York Times bestselling author of Happier

"As a clinical psychologist who specializes in helping mothers cope with the many stresses of parenting, I couldn’t wait to read Dr. Alissa Jerud’s new book, Emotion-Savvy Parenting. Dr. Jerud’s book highlights such an important premise: that parents need to focus less on changing their children’s emotional responses (an impossible task, we can all agree) and focus instead on learning to manage their own. With warmth and candor, Dr. Jerud shares research-supported, user-friendly tools that parents can employ in the moment to help them cope more effectively with their frustration, respond to their children with more patience, and yes, even enjoy parenting more. I am so excited to recommend this book to my patients!"

Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Mom Brain

'Whatever the size of the emotional storms in your child, your family or yourself, Dr. Jerud can help you skillfully navigate these by focusing on changing what's yours to control and accepting what isn't."

Christopher Willard, PsyD, clinical psychologist and author of Growing Up Mindful and Raising Resilience

"Dr. Alissa Jerud has broken new ground by weaving together her own personal experiences as a parent with a refreshingly clear set of instructions to give parents validation along with evidence-based tools to tackle the most common challenges of modern parenthood. Emotion-Savvy Parenting invites parents to first delve into our own experiences and vulnerabilities without falling into tactics that focus exclusively on “fixing” our kiddos. Dr. Jerud’s approach is validating and compassionate and should be required reading for all parents and parents-to-be who would like a game plan to bring a more balanced approach to the wild ride of parenting!"

Dan Singley, PhD, licensed psychologist and founding director of The Center for Men’s Excellence

"In her new book, Dr. Alissa Jerud compassionately convinces parents to confront the frustrating, humbling - and simultaneously liberating - reality that learning to manage our own emotions is the key to weathering and calming our children’s emotional storms. As the mom of 11 and 13 year old boys, I started using her practical strategies immediately, including last night when teen emotions ran high. Dr. Jerud is in the trenches with us, and her book is a must-read no matter the age of your child!"

Lori Mihalich-Levin, JD, CEO of Mindful Return and author of Back to Work After Baby

From the Publisher