Emily Edlynn
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Emily Edlynn
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Biography
Emily Edlynn, PhD is a clinical psychologist, international speaker, and award-winning author of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout and Raise Competent, Confident Children. She brings 20 years of clinical expertise and a mission to help families replace pressure and guilt with balance, confidence, and connection.
Emily has written for Parents.com, serves on their Medical Review Board, and co-hosts the popular Psychologists Off the Clock podcast. Her work appears in The Washington Post, NPR, NBC News Daily, Good Housekeeping, Psychology Today, Motherly, Scary Mommy, and more.
Emily has spoken for independent and public schools, nonprofit and advocacy groups, and academic medical centers. She appeared on the Institute of Art and Ideas panel The Great Rewiring of Childhood, debating The Anxious Generation author Jonathan Haidt. Her talks consistently earn high engagement and enthusiastic feedback from both parents and organizers. She is known for her warm, relatable style and her ability to translate research into compassionate, practical tools parents can use immediately.
Speech Topics
Parent Smarter, Not Harder: The Science of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting
Modern parenting is overloaded by stress and unrealistic expectations. In this signature keynote, Dr. Emily Edlynn helps parents break the cycle using research-backed strategies that reduce burnout while raising confident, capable kids. Parents learn how to find the “just-right” balance of structure and freedom that fosters intrinsic motivation, healthier communication, and calmer home dynamics.
Audience Takeaways:
- Why parenting feels harder than ever — and how to reduce overwhelm
- The “Goldilocks” model of autonomy-supportive parenting
- Practical tools that decrease power struggles and increase cooperation
- Strategies that build autonomy, competence, and relatedness
- A sustainable path to more confident children and less stressed parents
Raising Motivated, Self-Sufficient Learners: A Science-Based Approach for Schools & Families
Children thrive in environments that support autonomy, competence, and connection. This educator-focused talk translates the science of motivation and self-determination into actionable practices for classrooms and school communities. Audiences learn how adult responses — at home and at school — shape resilience, engagement, and emotional well-being.
Audience Takeaways:
- The link between autonomy-supportive environments and academic success
- Why many students struggle with distress tolerance — and how to help
- Tools to improve motivation, responsibility, and follow-through
- How to strengthen communication and rapport with students
- Strategies for fostering belonging and independence
Parenting in the Age of Anxiety, Tech & Overwhelm: A More Sustainable Path Forward
Today’s parents are navigating unprecedented stress — from cultural pressure and tech concerns to mental health challenges. This talk unpacks the forces shaping modern family life and offers a sustainable, science-backed alternative to intensive or controlling parenting. Parents learn how autonomy-supportive tools reduce conflict, worry, and burnout while supporting healthier child development.
Audience Takeaways:
- Why modern parenting intensifies anxiety — and how to step out of the pressure
- How controlling patterns increase stress for parents and kids
- Tools for calmer homes and healthier communication
- Strategies for building resilience and self-reliance in children
- A redefined, science-grounded vision of “good parenting”
Parenting Without Burnout: Supporting Working Parents Through Science & Sustainability (Corporate & ERG Keynote)
Working parents face a unique intersection of professional demands and family pressures, often leading to chronic overload and burnout. This corporate-focused keynote reframes autonomy-supportive parenting as a tool for improving both home life and workplace well-being. Emily offers practical, sustainable strategies that help caregivers reduce stress, create calmer routines, and empower children to take on more responsibility — all of which strengthen focus, energy, and resilience at work.
Audience Takeaways:
- Why working parents today are stretched so thin — and how to break the cycle
- A sustainable framework for reducing burnout at home
- Tools for smoother routines, reduced conflict, and more cooperation
- Mindset and language shifts that help parents do less
- How supporting children’s autonomy enhances adult well-being and performance
- Actionable ways organizations and ERGs can better support working families
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