What is The Better Parent Academy?

The Better Parent Academy is an online parenting education platform founded by Dr Anna Cohen, a Senior Clinical Psychologist (AHPRA PSY1176554) with over 30 years of clinical experience. It offers a comprehensive Master Course ($1,997 AUD) and three mini courses teaching the trademarked Regulated Parenting Model, an evidence-based framework for managing common parenting challenges from toddlerhood through the teen years.

What is the Regulated Parenting Model?

The Regulated Parenting Model is a trademarked parenting framework developed by Dr Anna Cohen based on 30+ years of clinical psychology experience working with children and families. It is an evidence-based approach that focuses on emotional regulation, behavioural management and healthy parent-child communication.

Who is Dr Anna Cohen?

Dr Anna Cohen is a Senior Clinical Psychologist registered with AHPRA (PSY1176554) with qualifications including Doc.Clin.Psych, M.Clin.Psych and B.Psych(Hons). She has over 30 years of clinical experience specialising in child and adolescent mental health, is the founder of Kids and Co Clinical Psychology (6 locations across Sydney and the Gold Coast), author of 4 best-selling parenting books, and creator of the trademarked Regulated Parenting Model.

How much does The Better Parent Academy cost?

The Better Parent Academy Master Course costs $1,997 AUD (payment plan available). It includes 23 video lessons across 4 modules plus 2 bonus masterclasses. Three standalone mini courses are also available at lower price points. All courses are self-paced with lifetime access.

Is The Better Parent Academy a psychology service?

No. The Better Parent Academy is an online parenting education platform, not a clinical psychology service. While the courses are created by Dr Anna Cohen (a registered clinical psychologist), the Academy provides educational content and parenting strategies, not therapy or clinical treatment. For clinical psychology services, visit kidsandco.com.au or annacohenandco.com.au.

What parenting books has Dr Anna Cohen written?

Dr Anna Cohen has published four parenting books: Skilful Parent Happy Child (2023), Taming Teens (2019), Parenting Made Easy The Early Years (2015) and Parenting Made Easy The Middle Years (2013). All are published by Hybrid Publishers and available at Amazon AU, Booktopia, Dymocks and other Australian bookstores.

What age group are the parenting courses designed for?

The Better Parent Academy Master Course covers parenting strategies for children from birth through to 18 years old, making it suitable for parents at any stage.

How is The Better Parent Academy different from Triple P or other parenting programs?

The Better Parent Academy is built on Dr Anna Cohen's proprietary Regulated Parenting Model, developed from 30+ years of hands-on clinical psychology experience treating thousands of children and families. Unlike Triple P, BPA is designed by a practising clinical psychologist who actively works with families daily across 6 clinic locations.

Why do I keep yelling at my kids even when I know it doesn't work?

Yelling is a stress response. When your nervous system perceives your child's behaviour as a threat (to your authority, your schedule, your patience), your brain activates the same fight-or-flight system that evolved to protect you from physical danger. You yell because your body is dysregulated, not because you are a bad parent. The solution is learning to recognise and interrupt that stress response before it reaches your voice.

Does yelling at children cause long-term damage?

Research published in the Journal of Child Development shows that chronic yelling (daily or near-daily) is associated with increased anxiety, lower self-esteem, and behavioural problems in children. Occasional raised voices during genuine frustration are normal and do not cause lasting harm, provided the relationship is generally warm and you repair after the incident.

What should I do instead of yelling when my child misbehaves?

Pause and take a slow breath before responding. Lower your voice deliberately. State the boundary once, clearly and calmly: 'We do not throw food. If you throw food again, dinner is finished.' Then follow through. A calm, firm tone is more effective than volume because the child's brain can actually process what you are saying.

How long does it take to stop being a yelling parent?

Most parents in the Better Parent Academy Master Course report a noticeable reduction in yelling within 2 to 3 weeks of practising the Regulate First framework. Full habit change typically takes 6 to 8 weeks. The goal is not perfection. It is reducing the frequency, catching yourself earlier, and repairing when you do slip.

Can I repair the relationship after yelling at my child?

Yes, and repair is one of the most powerful things you can model. After you have both calmed down, get to their level and say something like: 'I yelled before and I am sorry. I was frustrated, and I did not handle it well. I am working on staying calmer.' This teaches children that mistakes are fixable and that taking responsibility matters.

Is the Regulated Parenting Model suitable for parents who yell a lot?

The Regulated Parenting Model was built specifically for this. The first phase, Regulate First, focuses entirely on the parent's own nervous system. It teaches you to notice your escalation signals, interrupt the yelling impulse, and respond from a grounded state. Parents who yell frequently are often the ones who benefit most, because the model addresses the root cause rather than just telling you to 'be calm.'

What age do most Australian kids get their first phone?

According to the Australian eSafety Commissioner, around 80% of Australian children have their own smartphone by age 13. Many receive their first device between ages 10 and 12, often at the transition to high school. However, having a phone and being ready for a phone are two different things. Readiness depends on the child's emotional maturity, not their age or what their friends have.

Should I give my child a phone before high school?

There is rarely a compelling reason to give a child unrestricted smartphone access before high school. If you need to reach your child for safety or logistics, a basic phone without internet access or social media serves that purpose without the risks. The research consistently shows that earlier smartphone access correlates with higher rates of anxiety, sleep disruption, and exposure to harmful content.

What are the risks of giving a child a smartphone too early?

The primary risks include disrupted sleep (blue light and notification cycles), exposure to age-inappropriate content, cyberbullying, social comparison through social media, reduced face-to-face social skill development, and attention fragmentation. For children under 12, whose prefrontal cortex is still developing rapidly, these risks are amplified because they lack the cognitive capacity to self-regulate their usage.

How do I say no to my child when all their friends have phones?

Acknowledge the social pressure honestly: 'I know it feels unfair that some of your friends have phones and you do not. That is a real feeling and I understand it.' Then explain your reasoning simply: 'Our family's rule is that phones come with responsibilities, and we will get there together when we are both ready.' Do not dismiss their frustration. Validate the emotion while holding the boundary.

What rules should I set when I do give my child a phone?

Start with a written family agreement that covers: no phone in the bedroom overnight (charge it in the kitchen), agreed screen-free times (meals, homework, the hour before bed), all passwords shared with parents, no downloading apps without permission, regular check-ins about what they are seeing and who they are talking to, and a clear consequence if rules are broken (phone is returned for a set period, not permanently).

Does the Australian government have guidelines on children and phones?

Yes. The Australian eSafety Commissioner provides age-specific guidance through eSafety.gov.au, including resources on setting up parental controls, managing screen time, and responding to cyberbullying. Several Australian states have also introduced or are considering phone bans in schools. The federal government's Online Safety Act 2021 provides additional protections for children online.

Why do I feel guilty when I set boundaries with my child?

Guilt is one of the most common emotions parents report when they start holding firmer limits. It often comes from a fear that saying no will damage the relationship or cause your child emotional harm. The truth is the opposite: children who grow up without clear boundaries feel less secure, not more. Your guilt is a sign that you care deeply, not a sign that you are doing something wrong.

What is the difference between a boundary and a punishment?

A boundary is a pre-stated limit with a known consequence, delivered calmly. 'If you throw the toy, the toy goes away for the rest of today.' A punishment is reactive, often delivered in anger, and disproportionate to the behaviour. 'That is it, no toys for a week!' Boundaries teach. Punishments control. The child's experience of each is fundamentally different: boundaries feel safe (even when the child is upset), while punishments feel threatening.

How do I set boundaries without being too strict or too permissive?

The middle ground is authoritative parenting: warm and responsive, but with clear expectations and consistent follow-through. You can be loving and firm at the same time. Start with fewer rules that you enforce consistently, rather than many rules that you enforce inconsistently. A child who knows that the three family rules always apply feels more secure than a child who has twenty rules that shift depending on the parent's mood.

My child cries and screams when I set a boundary. Should I give in?

No. Crying, screaming, and protest are normal responses to a limit, especially for young children. This does not mean the boundary is harmful. It means the child is experiencing a feeling they do not yet know how to manage. Stay calm, acknowledge the emotion ('I can see you are really upset about this'), and hold the boundary. Over time, the protests reduce because the child learns that the limit is consistent and survivable.

At what age should I start setting boundaries with my child?

From infancy. Boundaries look different at every developmental stage. For a baby, it might be a consistent bedtime routine. For a toddler, it is 'we do not hit.' For a school-age child, it is expectations around homework, screen time, and how we speak to each other. For a teenager, it is curfews, responsibilities, and mutual respect. The earlier you start, the more natural boundaries feel to the child.

How can I get my partner on the same page about boundaries?

Consistency between parents is one of the strongest predictors of effective boundary-setting. Have the conversation privately, not in front of the child. Agree on your three to five non-negotiable family rules and commit to backing each other up. You do not need to agree on everything, but the core boundaries must be consistent. If one parent undermines the other, the child learns to play you against each other, which is stressful for everyone.

Who created the Regulated Parenting Model?

The Regulated Parenting Model was created by Dr Anna Cohen, a Senior Clinical Psychologist (AHPRA PSY1176554, Doc.Clin.Psych) with over 30 years of experience. Dr Cohen developed the model through her work at Kids & Co Clinical Psychology (6 locations across Sydney) and refined it through thousands of clinical cases. The model is trademarked and forms the foundation of the Better Parent Academy online courses.

How is the Regulated Parenting Model different from Triple P?

Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) is an evidence-based system that focuses primarily on specific parenting strategies and behaviour management techniques. The Regulated Parenting Model shares the evidence base but begins at a different starting point: the parent's own nervous system. Where Triple P gives you tools to manage your child's behaviour, the RPM asks you to regulate yourself first, build connection second, and only then apply behavioural strategies. Both are effective. The RPM is particularly helpful for parents who know what they should do but cannot do it in the heat of the moment.

What age group is the Regulated Parenting Model designed for?

The model applies to parents of children at every developmental stage, from infancy through adolescence. The specific techniques differ by age (you do not set the same boundaries with a two-year-old as you do with a fifteen-year-old), but the three-phase framework of Regulate First, Connection, and Consolidation is universal. Dr Cohen's books cover different age ranges: Parenting Made Easy: The Early Years for young children, Skilful Parent Happy Child for primary-age children, and Taming Teens for adolescents.

Is the Regulated Parenting Model evidence-based?

Yes. The model draws on established research in developmental psychology, neuroscience, attachment theory, and polyvagal theory. The principle that parental regulation precedes child regulation is supported by co-regulation research from the fields of interpersonal neurobiology and attachment science. The behavioural strategies in Phase 3 (Consolidation) align with well-established authoritative parenting practices. Dr Cohen has applied and refined the model across over 30 years of clinical practice with thousands of families.

Where can I learn the Regulated Parenting Model?

The Better Parent Academy offers several pathways. The Master Course ($1,997) provides the full model across 23 structured lessons with lifetime access. The Coaching Program ($3,500) adds live group sessions with Dr Cohen and her clinical team for parents who want guided, hands-on practice. There are also focused mini courses on specific topics such as Taming Technology ($397). Dr Cohen's four published books provide additional depth on applying the model at different ages.

Can the Regulated Parenting Model help with children who have ADHD or autism?

The model is used widely with neurodivergent children and their families. The core principle that a regulated parent creates the conditions for a regulated child applies regardless of diagnosis. However, the specific strategies in Phase 3 (Consolidation) may need to be adapted. For example, children with ADHD may need shorter, more concrete boundary statements, and children with autism may benefit from visual supports alongside verbal limits. Dr Cohen's clinical team at Kids & Co specialises in ADHD and autism assessments and can provide tailored guidance.

BETTER PARENT ACADEMY

You've done the course.
Now it's time to live it.

The gap between the parent you intend to be and the parent who shows up when everything falls apart - that gap doesn't close by knowing more. It closes through practice. Real practice. In real moments. With real support.

I'm ready for the next step →

📅 Next intake: COMING SOON • 👥 10 places only • 🏷️ $3,500 AUD

✓

You've worked through the Regulated Parenting Model™.

✓

You understand why you react the way you do.

✓

You have the framework.

And yet - the morning still unravels. The tone still comes out that you didn't plan. The strategies that made sense on a screen are harder to find when your child is escalating and dinner is burning and you haven't slept enough.

That's not a failure of the course. That's the nature of change.

Knowledge is the beginning. Embedding it - in your body, in your responses, in the hard moments - that's the work that comes next.

THE REALITY

You know what calm parenting looks like. Accessing it - in the moment - is a different thing entirely.

You're the parent who thinks carefully. Who has done the work. Who knows, in the quiet moments, exactly how you want to show up.

And yet there are still moments that catch you. The shutdown that you recognise halfway through but can't seem to stop. The tone of voice that comes out of nowhere. The guilt that moves in afterwards - familiar, heavy - followed by the intention to do it differently next time.

Next time comes. And it's still hard.

This isn't about trying harder. You're already trying. This is about building something in your nervous system that trying alone can't build.

The Regulated Parenting Model™ gives you the map. But reading a map and navigating unfamiliar terrain are two different skills. The terrain of parenting - especially in the moments that matter most - requires something that content alone can't give you.

It requires practice. Repetition. Being witnessed in the moment you're still getting wrong, by someone who can help you understand why - and what to do differently.

That's what the Academy is built for.

Ready to move from understanding the framework to living it?

Learn More About The Academy →

WHAT BECOMES POSSIBLE

What the Academy is designed to help you build.

Twelve weeks. Ten live sessions. A small group of parents doing the same work alongside you.

The Academy is designed to help you move from knowing the Regulated Parenting Model™ to actually living it - in the moments that have always been hardest.

Many parents who complete the Academy find they are better able to:

Stay inside their window of tolerance when their child escalates
Catch themselves earlier in the escalation cycle
Access the ACE framework in real moments, not just calm ones
Set limits without the conversation falling apart
Repair more quickly after a hard moment
Feel steadier - in themselves, and in the relationship

The Academy is designed to support you to:

Embed the Regulated Parenting Model™ through live, coached practice
Work through your specific situation - not a generic scenario
Build real accountability between sessions
Feel less alone in the hard parts of parenting
Leave with a personalised Regulated Parenting Plan
Have a community of parents who understand what you're navigating

Results will vary. Every parent, every child, every family is different. The Academy is an educational program - not a clinical service - and outcomes depend on your engagement, practice, and individual circumstances.

WHAT IT IS

The Better Parent Academy

A 12-week live group coaching program. 10 sessions. Maximum 10 parents per intake.

The Academy is not a course. There is no new content to consume. It is a live, structured coaching environment where you bring your real situations - your actual child, your actual home - and we work through them together.

Every session is delivered via Zoom. Every session is recorded. The group is capped at ten because ten is the number at which every parent can be genuinely seen and coached - not just taught.

THE THREE PHASES

Regulate First

Weeks 1–4

Before any strategy can land consistently, it needs a regulated nervous system to land in. Phase 1 focuses entirely on you - your triggers, your window of tolerance, and the in-the-moment tools that help you stay steady when things escalate.

Connection

Weeks 5–8

With regulation as your foundation, Phase 2 turns to the relationship. ACE Communication, labelled acknowledgement, one-on-one time, family expectations, and clear instruction-giving - practised live, not just explained.

Consolidation

Weeks 9–12

Choices, consequences, and limit-setting - now that you have the relational foundation to make them land. The program closes with your personal Regulated Parenting Plan: your map for what comes next.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

What's included

✓

10 live Zoom sessions

75–90 minutes each, fortnightly, with deliberate practice gaps built in between

✓

Live hot seat coaching

Two sessions dedicated to real, current situations - coached live in front of the group

✓

Private community access

Connect with your cohort between sessions for peer support and accountability

✓

Session recordings

Every session recorded and available within 24 hours

✓

The Better Parent Workbook

Session-by-session companion with reflection prompts, exercises, and tools

✓

Your Regulated Parenting Plan

A personalised document built across the program - yours to keep and return to

IS THIS FOR YOU?

This is for you if:

You've completed the Better Parent Master Course and you understand the framework - but you want support actually embedding it in your real life.
You're ready to do the inner work, not collect more information.
You want live coaching on your actual situation - not a generic version of it.
You're willing to commit to ten sessions and practise between them.
You want a small community of parents doing the same work - so this feels less lonely.
You're playing the long game. You know this takes time and you're ready for that.

This is not the right fit if:

You haven't completed the Better Parent Master Course - the Academy builds directly on that foundation and assumes familiarity with the Regulated Parenting Model™.
You're looking for someone to tell you exactly what to do in every situation. The Academy is a coaching environment - it will help you find your own answers, not prescribe them.
You're not in a position to commit consistently over twelve weeks right now.
You're seeking clinical treatment or therapy for yourself or your child. The Academy is an educational program - if clinical support is what's needed, please speak with your GP or a registered health professional.

Clinical Psychologist
• Author • Mother of Two

I keep the group to ten because ten is the number at which I can genuinely see and coach every parent in the room - not just teach to a crowd.

ABOUT DR ANNA COHEN

I'm Dr. Anna Cohen.

Clinical Psychologist · Author of four books · Mother of two

Twenty-five years of clinical experience. Four published books on parenting. And two children who have taught me more than any research paper ever could.

I didn't build the Regulated Parenting Model™ because I had the answers. I built it because I needed it.

Because what the research consistently showed me and what I desperately needed as a parent turned out to be exactly the same thing - a clear, practical framework for the moments when everything falls apart.

The Master Course gives you that framework. The Academy is where I get to work with you directly - live, in a small group - on the specific moments that are still hard. That's the part of this work I find most meaningful.

I've been coaching parents in group settings since 1996. The Academy brings together everything I know - clinically and personally - into a format that I believe creates the conditions for real, lasting change.

Questions parents often ask before joining

Common questions

I did the course - do I really need the Academy?

The course gives you the Regulated Parenting Model™ and the understanding to go with it. The Academy is where you embed it - through live practice, real coaching on your actual situation, and the accountability of a small group who are doing the same work alongside you. Many parents find the shift happens not when they learn something new, but when they practise what they already know, consistently, with support. If you're still cycling through the same patterns despite understanding the framework, the Academy may be the missing piece.

I'm not sure I have time for twelve weeks.

Sessions are fortnightly - two commitments per month, not four. We've built deliberate practice gaps between sessions specifically to give you time to integrate. If you can protect one 75-minute session every two weeks and fifteen minutes of daily practice, the time commitment is manageable for most parents. The question worth sitting with is: what is the cost of not making time for this?

I'm worried about sharing in a group.

You're never required to share anything you don't want to share. The group agreements are clear, confidentiality is taken seriously, and many parents find that watching others be coached is just as valuable as speaking themselves. The group becomes a resource - but on your terms, at your own pace.

Is this a clinical program?

No. The Better Parent Academy is an educational coaching program, not a clinical service. It is not therapy and does not constitute a practitioner-client relationship. If you or your child are experiencing mental health difficulties that require clinical support, I'd encourage you to speak with your GP or a registered health professional. The Academy is for parents who are functioning well and want to grow - not for those who need clinical intervention.

What if I miss a session?

All sessions are recorded and available within 24 hours. Life happens - we've built flexibility in. What we ask is that you protect as many live sessions as possible, because the coaching and group dynamic is where most of the meaningful work happens. Watching a recording is valuable; being present is better.

Is $3,500 worth it?

That's a question only you can answer. What I can tell you is what's included - ten live sessions, live coaching on your real situation, a small dedicated community, the workbook, recordings, and your Regulated Parenting Plan. Beyond that, the value depends on what consistent change in how you parent means for your family. I'd rather you make that assessment honestly than make a decision driven by urgency.

THE OFFER

Everything included in the Better Parent Academy.

✓

10 live Zoom sessions
75–90 minutes each, fortnightly across 12 weeks

✓

Two dedicated hot seat coaching sessions
Your real situation, coached live

✓

Private community access
Peer support and accountability between sessions

✓

All session recordings
Delivered within 24 hours

✓

The Better Parent Workbook
Session-by-session companion with reflections and tools

✓

Your personal Regulated Parenting Plan
Built during the program, yours to keep

INVESTMENT

Better Parent Academy

$3,500 AUD

One payment · All 10 sessions · Everything included

JOIN THE WAITLIST →

Payment plan available — contact us to discuss.

Next intake: Coming Soon

Places are limited to 10 parents per intake. When the group is full, the waitlist opens for the following intake.

YOUR NEXT STEP

You don't have to keep doing it the hard way.

You've already done something that most parents never do. You looked honestly at how you're showing up. You built a framework. You started practising.

The Academy is the next step - not because the course wasn't enough, but because you're ready to take what you know into a live, supported environment where it can become part of how you actually operate. Not just what you know.

The parents who benefit most from the Academy are the ones who are honest with themselves: that knowing and doing are different, and that doing consistently - especially under pressure - is still the thing they want to build.

If that's you - I'd love to have you in this group.

Parenting can feel different. And when it does - everything at home starts to shift. This is your next step.

I'm ready. Reserve my place in the Academy →

Questions? Email: [email protected] - I read and reply personally.

Disclaimer

The advice I provide to parents (who attend my online courses, my coaching sessions, speaking, interviews, watch my YouTube videos and read articles and posts on social media platforms) is drawn from my training as a clinical psychologist, my extensive reading in the field, my own parenting experience, and my many years observing and coaching parents, children and young people. I hope that my advice is helpful and inspirational to parents and inspires them in their parenting journey. The following disclaimer reminds advice-seekers that this website is non-clinical and solely educational in nature, that this does not constitute a therapist/client relationship and that individual parents are responsible for the use they make of all advice in this website, my newsletters, or courses. – Dr Anna Cohen.

You've done the course. Now it's time to live it.

You've worked through the Regulated Parenting Model™.

You understand why you react the way you do.

You have the framework.

You know what calm parenting looks like. Accessing it - in the moment - is a different thing entirely.

What the Academy is designed to help you build.

Many parents who complete the Academy find they are better able to:

The Academy is designed to support you to:

The Better Parent Academy

Regulate First

Connection

Consolidation

What's included

10 live Zoom sessions

Live hot seat coaching

Private community access

Session recordings

The Better Parent Workbook

Your Regulated Parenting Plan

This is for you if:

This is for you if:

This is not the right fit if:

I'm Dr. Anna Cohen.

Common questions

Everything included in the Better Parent Academy.

Better Parent Academy

You don't have to keep doing it the hard way.

Disclaimer

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You've done the course.
Now it's time to live it.