Our Approach

Healing relationships require idealization, empathy and belonging.

Our Approach

Our approach helps adults help children. The strongest variable in reducing anger and violence as well as increasing self-regulation is the child-adult relationship. For the relationship to assist in behavioral and emotional growth, it must have three key ingredients:

  • Healthy idealization (an adult to admire)

  • Empathy

  • A sense of belonging

We teach adults how to develop these important aspects of their relationships with children.

To inquire about training opportunities and consultation services, email us at: info@kettererconsultants.com

Accolades for our Approach

“Reducing Anger and Violence in Schools: An Evidence-Based Approach is a marvelous translation of self psychology into useful, meaningful, and practical tools for educators and others in their work with kids… This is really a major milestone.”

-Richard Geist, Ed.D,  Harvard Medical School

“Reducing Anger and Violence in Schools: An Evidence-Based Approach is an essential resource for teachers, therapists, and school counselors. I highly recommend this manual for anyone working with children.”

-Anna Stothart, Psy.D. Lesley University

“Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, Dr. Ketterer makes complex ideas easy to understand and use. His model is subtlety, profound.”

-Nathan Haskell, Psy.D. Norwich University

"I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Dr. Ketterer for the past six years.　 As a building principal I have witnessed him work with students, families, and teachers with great success.　 His methods and approach through relationship building has guided my practice and proven to be successful in many schools.　 This text, which was Dr. Ketterer’s first edition many years ago, served as a model for our staff to use as a tier one approach that benefits all students.　 It is my hope to bring Dr. Ketterer’s most recent edition to my new district as the Superintendent of Rivendell Interstate School District."　　

-Barrett Williams, Superintendent, Rivendell Interstate School District

"This very readable and pragmatic book for helping children restore their self-esteem and trust in relationships is a welcome alternative to the use of psychiatric medications for emotional disturbances in children. Dr. Ketterer makes accessible the concepts and skills in this book, and he demonstrates precisely how these improve, and even save, children’s lives. This book is an invaluable guide to reaching and helping the apparently unreachable child who simply wants to be seen and known as a valid human being by a trustworthy adult who is truly paying attention."


-Polly Young-Eisendrath, PhD; Author, The Self-Esteem Trap and Love Between Equals

“Reducing Anger and Violence in Schools: An Evidence-Based Approach provides a framework for understanding the social, emotional needs of students who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. It teaches teachers how to empathetically reach traumatized students and develop the positive relationships that all children need. When students develop a positive relationship with their teacher and genuinely feel a sense of belonging, then all schools become safer."

Deborah Matthews, special education director, White River Valley Supervisory Union