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Expert Profile

Dr Justin Coulson

Dr Justin Coulson PhD CSP

Dr Justin Coulson PhD CSP

Dr Justin Coulson is one of Australia’s most respected and popular parenting authors and speakers. He is sought after for his expertise in family life, relationships, and wellbeing and resilience; and he is the founder of ‘Happy Families’.

Dr Coulson earned his PhD in Positive Psychology. He holds an Honorary Fellowship at the University of Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education in the Centre for Positive Psychology, and he is a Senior Associate at the Positive Psychology Institute.

Dr Coulson has written five books, and is a three-time bestselling author. He is an occasional columnist for the New York Times and appears regularly in all of Australia’s major news outlets for television, radio, and print. He’s a TEDx speaker and has worked with many of Australia’s biggest brands including the Commonwealth Bank, Intel Security, ANZ, IHG, and many, many more. He has also served as a consultant to the Australian Government’s Raising Children Network, and the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner, Life Education and others.

Justin not only brings credibility and experience. He is at the coalface of family life. He and his wife Kylie are the parents of six daughters, all of whom have successfully mastered sleeping all night in their own beds, using the bathroom unassisted, eating most of the food on their plates most of the time, and always speaking kindly to one another no matter the circumstances. (Well, maybe there’s still some work to do on that last one.) Justin and his family live in Brisbane, Queensland.

Articles by Dr Justin Coulson PhD CSP

Mother holding baby son

Tantrums: A roadmap to keeping your cool

In this article Dr Justin Coulson, author and one of Australia's most popular parenting experts, explores common mistakes we make when attempting to help our children navigate big emotions and suggests three easy strategies to stay calm under pressure.

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Young girl being consoled by her father

3 reasons why children have big feelings

Dr Justin Coulson is a three-time bestselling author, a TEDx speaker, and one of Australia's most popular relationships and parenting experts. In this article he explains why our little ones have big feelings and the developmental realities.

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A boy and mother hold hands

10 tips to get your children to listen

Feeling like you are talking to a wall? Dr Justin Coulson, author of 7 books on raising happy families and host on Channel 9’s “Parental Guidance”, explains why that is and gives 10 expert tips on how to connect and get your children to listen to you.

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Little girl sleeping in her mother's arms

7 tips for those tough parenting days

Some days are tough. Being a parent stretches us. We wish we could hand the children over to grandma (or kindy) and hide under the blanket watching Netflix. Popular parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson looks at ways to handle those difficult parenting days.

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Adult man holding baby boy

Parenting mistakes: How to eat humble pie

Anyone who has raised a child knows parenting perfection is false. Humble pie doesn’t taste great, but it’s very good for our relationships with our little ones. Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia's most popular parenting experts, suggests 5 steps.

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Little girl puts her socked foot on the table at a restaurant

Pufferfish parents: How to stop using threats

We puff ourselves up. We put on our angry face. We use our loud voice. And we threaten our children with dire consequences. One of Australia's most popular parenting experts Dr Justin Coulson looks at nine ways to stop using threats with your children.

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Mum gives a hug to her young son

Helping children face their fears

Life can be random. Because nothing really makes sense, our children are built to require security and predictability. Popular parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson looks at ways to reduce pressure and help children face their fears with confidence.

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Tired mother with upset daughter

How to not yell at your children

Studies have shown that when parents yell as their go-to method of discipline, there is an increase in behavioural problems, stress, anxiety, and depression. Dr Justin Coulson looks at how we respond to a challenging child in a constructive way.

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Little boy in pyjamas

The secret to making mornings magic

Mornings can be tricky. There’s not much time and lots to do. We're often tired and stressed. By helping our children manage their own mornings, more gets done with less effort. Plus children experience a boost to their confidence and self-esteem.

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A young family with two toddler children outdoors by the river

5 ways to build wellbeing in children

For resilient, well-adjusted, happy children, our connections must be strong. We can have happy children if we let them play on an iPad all day or eat ice cream for breakfast, but Dr Justin Coulson outlines five ways to build true wellbeing in children.

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