The Psychology of Peaceful Parenting with Dr. Justin Coulson: Episode 226

In this episode of The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, my guest is Dr. Justin Coulson, an Australian parenting expert and father of 6 who has his PhD in psychology and is the author of 10 books on parenting and the co-host of the Happy Families podcast with his wife, Kylie. We discuss the psychology behind peaceful parenting, including how self-determination theory explains kids’ challenging behavior. Dr. Justin also shared his three E’s of discipline.

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We talk about:

• 1:45 – Introduction to Dr. Justin Coulson and his personal parenting turning pointHow struggles with anger and discipline led him to rethink everything and study psychology.
• 08:20 – Learning to regulate ourselves, practicing repair, and growing over time.
• 15:50 – Why peaceful parenting starts with the parent’s self-awareness and regulation.
• 19:50 – Understanding behavior through compassion and curiosity.
• 20:50 – The HALTS frameworkHow hunger, anger, loneliness, tiredness, and stress impact children’s behavior.
• 23:00 – Self-determination theory and parenting
• 33:00 – The 3 E’s of Effective Discipline
• 41:50 – How to use the 3 E’s in everyday parenting moments.Real-life examples: screens, sibling conflict & collaboration
• 49:00 – Building trust and the “goodwill bank” with kidsWhy collaborative parenting pays off when tough limits are needed.
• 53:30 – Advice to his younger parenting self: “soft eyes”A powerful reflection on kindness, connection, and showing up with compassion.
• 56:30 – Where to find Dr. Justin CoulsonHis podcast, books, and upcoming work on boys and healthy masculinity.

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Download the episode transcript HERE

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