Putting the fun back into parenting.

Parent counselling, coaching and courses from a trauma informed lens, for parents who would like less stress and more peace, connection and fun with their kids. Online, in your home, or in person in Melbourne.

We cannot control our kids’ choices, but we can powerfully control ourselves and allow our kids to learn from their mistakes.

Support for parents and families

Online, at home or face to face, specific for your family’s needs.

Parent Counselling & Coaching

Helping you become a confident and strong parent leader. Sessions can cover family of origin, the parent worry cycle, tolerating distress and setting healthy boundaries.

In-Home Family Therapy

Relaxed one-on-one conversations with your children in a familiar environment, so they feel seen, heard, safe and understood. Christine then works with you on what she noticed.

River of Hope Parenting Program

An 8 week online course for parents who feel anxious, stressed or overwhelmed, and would like to become strong, loving parent leaders.

Calming the Chaos

A 6 week online course to understand your stress, bring calm to triggered moments and set healthy boundaries, through a trauma informed lens.

Also available: Transformation Packages, Decode Your Attachment Style, and support for families on the NDIS.

Connection with your child sends the message:

I see you.

I hear you.

I am with you, and on your side.

Common challenges parents bring:

Meltdowns
Sibling rivalry
Defiance
Anxiety
School refusal
Bedtime battles
Screen time
Rudeness and disrespect
Chaotic mornings
Bullying
Physical outbursts
Teenage conflict

About Christine Battams

Christine Battams is a counsellor and parent coach with a Master’s in Community Counselling and over 28 years’ experience teaching kids and supporting families.

She created the River of Hope program, and shares her own parenting journey openly, so parents know they are not alone.

Parenting used to feel powerless and puzzling. But now I am less anxious, more in control and our home has never had so much love, joy, and peace.

Cecylia, River of Hope parent

Parent Counselling & Coaching Sessions

1 hour or 2 hour sessions can be booked
Your sessions can be weekly, fortnightly or monthly, daytime or evening, at a time convenient to you
All sessions are confidential
You will build core strength, capacity and skills, personally and as a parent
Your story will be heard with no judgement
There will be an emphasis on you feeling safe, understood and known
Counselling can be online in the comfort of your own home, or in person
Additional resources can be introduced as optional reading or listening

$150

60–70 minute session

$170

75–90 minute session

Costs

Parents and carers on the NDIS can use their funding.

In person sessions are held in Blackburn or Ringwood, depending on availability, or in the comfort of your own home.

Payments can be made by Direct Bank Transfer. Prices include GST.

What parents say

I have read many parenting books which have a lot of strategies. It was great but it made me feel incompetent as a parent. Christine helps to clear the mental fog. She taught me to connect with myself first. With that, my ability to adjust expectations and nurture unconditional love has flourished. My family is more harmonious and happy.

Hartono family, Mooroolbark

Our three young granddaughters live interstate, so we only get to spend time with them a couple of times a year. Even in that limited time the tools really do work. Giving the girls choices, like “would you like to leave the park now or in 5 minutes?”, has strengthened our relationship and they feel loved, valued and respected.

Linda Mainwaring, Lilydale (grandparent)

I have learnt so much and it has made a huge change to the way I parent. My kids are thinking more, taking more responsibility and contributing to our family without being nagged. Christine will break down the steps for you and give you real life scenarios and strategies.

Joanna, Montrose

I have 6 children, all of whom have been through a really tough divorce. Each child requires their own type of parenting, which Christine was more than happy to navigate with me. I highly, highly, highly recommend Teaching Kids for Life for any parent needing an extra push or a new approach to tricky moments.

Mark, Melbourne

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Sun King 
 17 January 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have 6 children, all of whom have been through a really tough divorce. Christine has shown nothing if not the most professionally presented structure to dealing with the ups and downs I've faced with the kids.

Each child requires their own type of parenting, which Chrisine was more than happy to navigate with me.

On a personal note, she's also helped me through my own traumas and responses. I maintain a persistent client and will do so for a long while to come. Christine helped me approach everything from new angles and listened to me with intent to assist.

I highly, highly, highly recommend Teaching Kids For Life for ANY parent needing an extra push or a new approach to tricky moments.

Mark.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Nhi Tran 
 7 July 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My husband and I took the Love and Logic course with Christine two years ago, and it was truly transformative for our family. Christine’s warmth and empathy, coupled with her practical strategies, restored our confidence as parents. Now that our kids are teenagers, we've encountered new challenges.

When our younger son started high school, we also moved houses, which brought a lot of frustration for him and led to frequent meltdowns. Computer games became a significant problem and there were constant arguments among our kids, which turned our previously calm household into a chaotic one. This left us all emotionally exhausted and stressed. Desperate for help, I tried reaching out to a psychologist but received no response. Christine immediately came to mind.

Christine took the time to listen to our struggles and understand what our family was going through. After booking a session with her, I felt a profound sense of relief knowing we were getting the support we needed. Christine visited us and spent three hours with our family—one hour with each of our sons and another hour with my husband and me. Both of our boys quickly warmed up to her. They felt heard and understood as she empathetically listened and helped them work through their issues, coming up with realistic solutions together.

When Christine spoke with my husband and me, she shared her observations and insights from her time with our boys. Her perspective was incredibly valuable, revealing more than we had been able to uncover on our own. Together, we focused on our most pressing problems, and Christine provided us with practical strategies to address them. Over the next few weeks, we gradually introduced these changes, involving our kids in the process.

While we're still working through our challenges, we've become a closer family, learning to communicate our emotions more openly and finding more opportunities to connect. Screen time is now more manageable, and our kids understand their responsibilities as family members. The time we spent with Christine was invaluable—it was exactly what we needed to reset and move forward. We felt supported before, during, and after our consultation, with follow-up meetings that helped us refine our approach. I truly believe we couldn't have achieved this progress without Christine's help. Her customized consultation process has been incredibly effective for our family.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amber Smith 
 27 June 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My husband and I were struggling with our 10 year old son and his behaviour. Everything we tried would never work, our house was becoming very unsettled and stressful.
Christine came highly recommended to us and she has been an absolute life saver.
We had several sessions with her to help us understand where our son was at and what we needed to say and do to put in positive boundaries.
She had just over an hour session with our son, she came out knowing more about where he was at than we ever could have. We were shocked but so relieved to know how he was feeling inside, we could then use Christine’s strategies to help reconnect with him.
She reminded us about self love and care which was so important for our own sanity. Our experience with Christine has brought peace and calm back into our house it is amazing! Something we will be so grateful for. For any families going through challenging times with their kids behavior I can’t recommend her high enough.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Wang Susanna 
 11 April 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Christine offers excellent parenting courses that I highly recommend. Her “Teaching Kids for Life” programs are a must for parents looking to equip themselves with invaluable insights and practical advice. Her personalized counselling and coaching sessions provide great value. Her online program, Crossing the River, is designed to equip parents with essential tools at their own pace. For those looking for in-person sessions, her Love and Logic courses are perfect for fostering positive relationships with kids while maintaining boundaries. Christine’s dedication empowers parents to thrive, and her courses, like “Calming the Chaos,” deliver lasting results.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Cecylia Kee 
 23 June 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I used to be an alumni of Helicopter Mum Anonymous. But after I met Christine I’ve experienced a huge amount of understanding and transformation. My default response to my children’s disobedience was explosive anger, frequent frustration, unchecked anxiety, unnecessary bribery and the like…

But I have learnt from Christine that only a calm parent can positively role-model, teach and influence their children. By remembering to take care of myself so I can manage my own emotions, offering my children choices and appropriate consequences has given all of us the time and space to learn and grow in resilience and responsibilities.

Parenting used to feel powerless and puzzling. But now I am less anxious, more in control and our home has never had so much love, joy, and peace.

Thank you for sharing so much wisdom from the Love & Logic course and your River of Hope program. Thank you for being so open and vulnerable with your own parenting journey. And thank you for parting the clouds of confusion to show me that clarity and calmness is possible even for a former helicopter mum.

Discovery Call with Christine

Are you wondering if Christine is the right fit for you and your family? Schedule a 30-minute discovery call to talk through your parenting or relational challenges.

You’ll have the chance to ask questions and gain insights that bring clarity, connection and growth to your family.