Upcoming Programs

Breaking Barriers in
Parent/Adolescent Relationships:
An Experiential Class about the science of human connection

About the Program

This 6-week online seminar is presented by The Narrative Method’s founder, Shari Foos, award-winning Marriage and Family Psychotherapist, for parents who want to develop the communication and coping skills that lead to a deeper understanding of themselves and better relationships with their adolescents.

Impactful material, rooted in the science of human connection is enhanced through informative and inspiring videos, creative writing to prompts, small group discussions and relational exercises. It is a rare opportunity to be witnessed and witness others without criticism or intrusiveness. Parents share their stories and experience in a safe and supportive environment that develops the same skills they will use with their teens. With greater self-knowledge and the willingness to listen to your children in new ways, you can rebuild the trust you once had and develop a stronger foundational bond than ever before.

What to Expect

Six 90-minute sessions with Shari Foos MA, MFT, MS and Jennifer Buchanan
Learning the skills to create meaningful connections through effective communication

Self-soothing techniques to enhance your own and your child’s tolerance and coping skills

Renewed acceptance of yourself and better understanding of the feelings and beliefs that obstruct loving communication

The empathic listening and witnessing skills that develop a more curious and open-minded approach

6 Sundays · Online

September 14th – October 19th

4:00 – 5:30 PM PST

Price: $375

*Registration closes September 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM PST*

Your Facilitators

Shari Foos

Shari Foos is the founder of The Narrative Method, an award-winning nonprofit organization that addresses the crisis of loneliness by connecting people through their stories and creative expression. Founded in 2012, TNM offers numerous free online groups open; programs serving students and educators, veterans and other underserved communities, as well as classes for parents of youth in crises and in-depth explorations of The Narrative Method.

In addition to founding The Narrative Method and serving as its primary visionary and lead facilitator, Shari Foos is a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in California and New York. She earned an MS in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University (2012) and her MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles (1997) where she is an adjunct professor. In 1997, Shari founded BRIDGE at Antioch, a free humanities program for low-income adults. She is the recipient of the New Directions for Veterans Community Hero Award (2015) and the Antioch University Lifetime Achievement Award (2016). Shari also serves on the board of the City Kids Foundation and has served as a judge for Gold Humanism in Medicine since 2014. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Shari was a television writer, punk-rock singer, and the creator of cutting-edge gatherings and events.

As a sought-after expert on the subjects of relationships, loneliness and meaningful connection, Shari’s writing and commentary have appeared in multiple online and print publications and podcasts, including Real Simple, Huffington Post, Women’s Health, KBLA, Fatherly, Thrive Global, Shondaland, The LA Weekly, Sparks & Honey Culture Briefings, Body Green, Sondership, and Bustle.

Jennifer Buchanan

Jen Buchanan, M.S. Ed., joined TNM to work on curriculum development and facilitator training, bringing with her thirty years of experience in many levels of teen education.

While Jen has worn many hats, she is currently teaching in a unique educational program called Middle College. Students in the program apply in their sophomore year and if selected, spend their junior and senior years exclusively on a community college campus where half their schedule is comprised of high school courses and half their schedule is actual college classes. All students in the program graduate with at least one and a half years of their lower division requirements for a four-year institution completed. Jen teaches the junior American Literature course in the program, advises all seniors on the college applications process, and additionally schedules her caseload of students for their college classes and completes all documentation and letters of recommendation as counselor for the freshman application process for colleges.

Jen has also served as a new teacher mentor, a department chair, a literacy specialist, a staff development presenter, and a swimming coach. Jen is additionally certified as a Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator in schools.