WELCOME TO
POSITIVELY PARENTING
Parenting. Better. Together.
WELCOME!
We are so glad you're here!
Positively Parenting was created to provide parents and caregivers with foundational information they need to make informed choices for their children. "Babies don't come with a manual" may feel like a common, lighthearted joke – but it is a frighteningly accurate realization for most new parents!
Here you will find information – based in the science and art of psychology; supported by many years of experience – to help you make the best parenting choices for your family. Babies still may not come with a manual, but you don't have to do it alone!
Meet JoAnna
JoAnna Wu holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in Trauma Studies. Due to her insatiable curiosity JoAnna is also seeking additional training in Sport and Performance Psychology while researching PhD programs to apply to.
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JoAnna began her career in education as Assistant Director of a Montessori Preschool outside of Philadelphia before quickly being hired as Director for another local preschool, followed by a move to Manhattan where JoAnna stepped in as Educational Director of The Goddard School (UWS). As an administrator JoAnna managed staff, oversaw curriculum implementation and worked closely with many amazing families and teachers! In each of these roles, JoAnna found herself seeking opportunities to work with individual families and children, wanting to do deeper relational work outside of school.
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In 2020, JoAnna took advantage of the pandemic-forced isolation to take graduate classes online in an effort to prepare for her eventual return to academia. While enrolled in a Developmental Psychopathology class at Teachers College (Columbia University) JoAnna posed the question, if psychologists and clinicians have decades of research showing the profound life long impact of early childhood experiences, why don't all caregivers know this? Why aren't we putting more effort into making resources, supports and education available to all caregivers?
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Raising successful children has become increasingly focused on meeting high academic demands at younger and younger ages, but instead developing the foundational skills for emotional regulation, empathy, flexible thinking and effective communication.
