What if your "good" childhood still left emotional scars that impact your parenting? Emotional intelligence parenting requires us to confront our own histories, even when they seem picture-perfect on the surface. In today's episode, I speak with Stephanie Pinto, author of "From Chaos to Connection," who shares her remarkable story of how her body literally shut down through fainting episodes because she couldn't process certain emotions.

We’ll discuss how well-meaning parents can unintentionally create emotional voids by teaching children to suppress "unacceptable" feelings. Stephanie will explain how naming emotions gives children crucial language for their inner experiences and demonstrates what true co-regulation looks like with concrete examples from her own family. You'll hear about emotion wheels, the polyvagal theory, and simple techniques to help children express big feelings safely. Most touchingly, Stephanie reveals how her personal struggles became her greatest strength as a parent.

So if you've ever felt overwhelmed by your child's emotions or wondered why certain situations trigger extreme reactions in yourself, this conversation offers hope and steps forward.

1. What is emotional intelligence parenting?
2. How can trauma exist even in what we consider "good" childhoods?
3. What happens in our bodies when we don't process emotions properly?
4. Why is naming our emotions such a powerful tool for both adults and children?
5. How can parents stay present with a child's big emotions without shutting them down?
6. What does co-regulation look like in practice with an overwhelmed child?
7. Why might our bodies "take us out" when emotions become too overwhelming?
8. How can we turn our own struggles with emotional regulation into strengths as parents?

Connect with me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel Post Traumatic Parenting.

For full show notes and more resources visit www.drrobynkoslowitz.com/2025/06/10/emotional-intell…-stephanie-pinto