Free resource

Neufeld’s Traffic Circle Model of Frustration

A 23-minute presentation by Dr. Neufeld followed by a webinar panel discussion with Tamara Strijack and Dr. Deborah MacNamara.

Frustration is one of our most profound and powerful emotions, and probably one of the least understood as well. There is no way of making sense of our children, ourselves, or the history of civilization for that matter, without making sense of this primal and perplexing emotion.

We get frustrated when something doesn’t work for us. For many of us, that is not an insignificant part of life. Frustration not only has a foundational role in serving our problem solving brain but its handling is undoubtedly the critical challenge in becoming truly civilized. Understanding the frustration traffic circle has been transformative for countless parents, teachers, and therapists in helping their charges as well as for themselves.

Even though the story of frustration could take volumes for a complete telling, Dr. Neufeld does an amazing job of putting the puzzle pieces together in a digest form and in a way that can lead to deep and lasting change.  For those who find they want more, a longer version of the story of frustration can be found in the Neufeld Institute course on Making Sense of Agression,

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This resource is freely offered to you as part of our commitment to making sense of children accessible to all who care for them. The Neufeld Institute is a Canadian non-profit society and charitable organization, and much of what we create is sustained by those who value our work.

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