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.

TAMING TEENS - MINI COURSE

When the parent you want to be feels just out of reach

You know how you want to respond to your teenager. In the moments that matter most, something else takes over. This course is built for exactly that gap.

Self-paced

Lifetime access

On-demand

Start Taming Teens - $397 AUD

Educational resource • Not a substitute for individual therapy or clinical treatment

THE MOMENT MANY PARENTS RECOGNISE

You ask something simple.
Set a boundary.
Try to connect.

And the whole atmosphere shifts.

The eye roll. The shutdown. The argument that arrives faster than you could respond to it.

You react in a way you didn't intend.

Afterwards comes the guilt. The exhaustion. The same quiet question:

“Why does this keep happening like this?”

Parenting Adolescence with Greater Calm & Connection

IS THIS FOR YOU?

You love your teenager.
You’re also exhausted.

If the arguments feel relentless, if you find yourself repeating the same things and nothing lands, or if the closeness you used to share feels harder to reach - you are not failing.

And adolescence does not have to feel this way.

You sometimes react in ways you later wish had gone differently
You know what you want to do - but in the moment, something else takes over
You've tried different approaches and still find yourself in the same place
You miss the connection you used to have and want to rebuild it
You want to respond with calm and clarity - and you need a real framework to do it

Explore The Course

WHY THESE MOMENTS FEEL SO HARD TO CHANGE

If this feels familiar, you are not alone in that experience.

When teenagers become emotionally activated, it can be genuinely difficult for parents to stay regulated in the same moment.

Not because of a lack of understanding but because stress responses are fast, automatic, and relational.

So even when you know what you would prefer to do, the moment itself takes over. And the cycle repeats.

The challenge is rarely intention.

It is access - access to clarity and steadiness in the moments that matter most.

That is something that can be built.

WHAT I OBSERVE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

“What most parents are missing is not information about teenagers. It is a repeatable, structured way to stay regulated in the specific moments that used to derail everything. Once they have that, the whole dynamic begins to shift.”

— Dr Anna Cohen, Clinical Psychologist

START Taming Your Teens

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PATTERN CONTINUES

Every day inside the same cycle is a day you don't have to stay there.

For many families, tension with a teenager builds gradually. It starts as occasional conflict and over time can quietly become the default tone of the home.

What parents often tell me later

The arguments become more familiar. The distance feels more normal. Teenagers get older.

The window for building the kind of relationship you both actually want doesn't close - but it does narrow.

Most parents who reach out for support wish they had done so earlier.

You don't have to stay there. And you don't have to wait until it gets worse.

THE REGULATED PARENTING MODEL™

A structured framework for the moments that used to feel impossible.

The Regulated Parenting Model™ is a practical, evidence-informed approach designed to support parents in the emotionally charged moments of adolescence.

Notice escalation patterns earlier

Recognise what is happening sooner - in your teenager and in yourself - so there is more space to respond intentionally.

Understand the cycle in real time

See beneath the behaviour and identify the emotional and developmental patterns shaping the interaction.

Stay steadier during hard moments

Build greater awareness of your own responses and access practical tools when emotions begin to rise.

Reduce reactivity over time

Not perfectly. Not every time. But often enough that the relationship begins to feel genuinely different.

Parenting does not need to feel this reactive forever.

Start Taming Teens - $397 AUD

Self-paced • Lifetime Access • Educational Resource

THE FOUNDATION

Three values that change everything

Most parenting frameworks give you rules. This one gives you a shared language - three simple agreements that almost every teenager will immediately sign up to, which then underpin every boundary conversation you'll ever need.

Be respectful

The foundation of every boundary conversation and a value your teen can genuinely own.

Keep safe

From alcohol and drugs to screen use, every hard conversation comes back to this one shared value.

Stay in touch

The thread of connection that keeps your relationship strong through every stage of adolescence.

Enrol In Taming Teens - $397 AUD

Instant access • Lifetime access • Self-paced

WHAT'S INSIDE THE COURSE

A bag of practical tools - for real family life.

This course gives you a structured, practical framework you can reach for in the real moments that matter. Not abstract ideas to think about afterwards. Something to actually use.

Understanding adolescence

Why teen behaviour so often reflects development, not defiance and why nine out of ten teenagers don't face serious problems when parents understand what's actually driving their behaviour.

Emotional attunement

How to read your teenager's emotional weather and adjust your own energy to meet them where they are. How to listen without fixing, judging, or lecturing and why that changes everything.

The three core values

Be respectful. Keep safe. Stay in touch. How three simple agreements become the anchor for every boundary conversation and keep the lines of communication open for life.

Consultative parenting in practice

The shift from directing your teenager to supporting them to think for themselves. Practical scripts, defusing techniques, and clearer communication that reduces the reactive cycle over time.

Connection, independence and self-care

How to stay meaningfully connected as your teenager pulls away and why your own self-care is not a luxury. It is the foundation of everything else in this course.

Enrol In Taming Teens - $397 AUD

WHAT STARTS TO SHIFT OVER TIME

This is not about doing everything perfectly or changing everything overnight.

It is about small, steady shifts in how the hard moments are met. Every family is different, and change unfolds at its own pace but even small shifts in how these interactions are handled can begin to influence the overall emotional tone at home.

WHAT I CONSISTENTLY OBSERVE IN PRACTICE

“The turning point is rarely dramatic. It is a parent who begins to respond differently in one or two specific moments and over time, that changes the whole dynamic.”

- Dr Anna Cohen, Clinical Psychologist

Greater awareness

Begin to notice charged moments earlier rather than feeling caught inside them.

Clearer communication

Respond with more steadiness and clarity in stressful family moments.

More connection

Build emotional safety and warmth within the boundaries, not despite them.

More steadiness

Feel more grounded in the parenting moments that used to feel the hardest.

Start Taming Teens Today

IS THIS MINI COURSE RIGHT FOR YOU?

A practical starting point for parents of adolescents.

THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF...

You sometimes react in ways you later wish were different
You want to feel more steady in emotionally challenging moments
You're interested in understanding the patterns beneath your teenager's behaviour
You value connection and long-term relationship with your teenager
You're open to learning and reflecting over time

THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR YOU IF...

You are looking for clinical treatment or individual therapy
You want rigid scripts for every parenting situation
You are expecting guaranteed or immediate outcomes
You are looking for quick-fix behaviour control strategies

This is an educational and reflective parenting framework designed to support greater awareness, steadiness, and intentional responses over time.

Start Taming Teens - $397 AUD

Meet Dr Anna Cohen

Supporting parents through awareness, reflection, and intentional connection

Clinical Psychologist · Parenting Educator · Author of 4 books - Mother of 2

With over 25 years of clinical experience working with parents, teenagers and families, I developed the Regulated Parenting Model™ to support parents in the moments that feel emotionally overwhelming, reactive, or difficult to navigate.

I'm the author of four published books on parenting - including Taming Teens and a mother of two. I don't just study these moments from the outside. I live them from the inside. And I built this framework because what the research showed me and what I desperately needed as a parent turned out to be exactly the same thing.

This course brings together everything I know - clinically and personally - into a practical, approachable framework you can use in the real moments that test every parent of a teenager.

LIFETIME ACCESS - WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS

This course is there whenever you need it.

Adolescence is not one stage. It is a series of them and what works at thirteen may need revisiting at sixteen.

Lifetime access means you can return to this course when your teenager hits a new developmental phase, when old patterns resurface, when things slide back after a period of progress, or when a second child reaches adolescence.

You are not buying a course to get through once. You are building a framework that stays with you across the whole journey.

INCLUDED FOREVER

Return whenever a new stage or challenge arises
Revisit specific modules when you need a reminder in the moment
Use for a second child as they move into adolescence
No expiry - it is there for as long as you need it

THE BETTER PARENT ACADEMY™

Where Taming Teens fits in the bigger picture

The mini courses focus on specific parenting challenges. The Regulated Parenting Model™ provides the foundation. Together they create a practical framework you can apply across family life.

RPM™

$87 AUD

The 3-key foundation and starting point for understanding the Regulated Parenting Model™.

Explore foundation →

You Are Here

Taming Teens

$397 AUD

The framework applied directly to adolescence, conflict, connection and communication.

Enrol now →

Taming Tech

$397 AUD

The framework applied to screen-related conflict, boundaries and technology use.

Explore course →

Taming Worries

$397 AUD

The framework applied to childhood anxiety, worries and emotional reassurance cycles.

Explore course →

Master Course

Small Changes. Big Impact.

The complete Regulated Parenting Model™ applied across the full range of parenting challenges and developmental stages.

Learn more →

The parent you want to be - calm, steady, connected - is not a different version of you.

It is the version of you that has a clear framework for the moments that used to feel impossible.

That version is closer than you think.

And every day inside the same cycle is a day you don't have to stay there.

START TODAY

Parenting does not need to feel this reactive forever.

Taming Teens is designed to help you move from reactive moments into more aware, intentional parenting responses - one moment at a time. Not perfect parenting. Just more of the parenting you actually want to do.

$397 AUD

One payment • No subscription

Lifetime access • Instant start • Self-paced

Enrol in Taming Teens

Secure checkout • Instant access • Privacy Policy

This course is educational in nature and does not replace individual therapy or clinical treatment. The advice provided is drawn from Dr Anna Cohen's training as a clinical psychologist, her extensive reading in the field, her own parenting experience, and her many years observing and coaching parents, children and young people. This does not constitute a therapist/client relationship. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of all advice in this course.

When the parent you want to be feels just out of reach

You ask something simple. Set a boundary. Try to connect.

You love your teenager. You’re also exhausted.

If this feels familiar, you are not alone in that experience.

Every day inside the same cycle is a day you don't have to stay there.

What parents often tell me later

A structured framework for the moments that used to feel impossible.

Notice escalation patterns earlier

Understand the cycle in real time

Stay steadier during hard moments

Reduce reactivity over time

Three values that change everything

Be respectful

Keep safe

Stay in touch

A bag of practical tools - for real family life.

Understanding adolescence

Emotional attunement

The three core values

Consultative parenting in practice

Connection, independence and self-care

This is not about doing everything perfectly or changing everything overnight.

Greater awareness

Clearer communication

More connection

More steadiness

A practical starting point for parents of adolescents.

THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF...

THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR YOU IF...

Supporting parents through awareness, reflection, and intentional connection

This course is there whenever you need it.

Where Taming Teens fits in the bigger picture

RPM™

Taming Teens

Taming Tech

Taming Worries

Master Course

The parent you want to be - calm, steady, connected - is not a different version of you.

It is the version of you that has a clear framework for the moments that used to feel impossible.

That version is closer than you think.

Parenting does not need to feel this reactive forever.

Join Our Free Trial

You ask something simple.
Set a boundary.
Try to connect.

You love your teenager.
You’re also exhausted.