Peaceful Parenting: Understanding Behavior and Building Better Mental Health with Dr. Nancy Buck

What if the key to better parenting and stronger mental health isn't controlling behavior, but understanding what drives it?

In this episode of the Mile High Success Podcast, host Nick Elder sits down with Dr. Nancy Buck, a developmental psychologist, author, and expert in Choice Theory Psychology.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Buck has helped parents, teachers, and families find better ways to understand behavior. Her approach, called Peaceful Parenting, helps adults move away from punishment, threats, and rewards. Instead, she teaches parents how to help children make better choices.

Dr. Buck shares how her journey began as a young nursing student when she discovered the work of psychologist Dr. William Glasser. His ideas changed the way she understood human behavior and helped shape her career.

During their conversation, Nick and Nancy explore five basic human needs: safety, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. Nancy explains how meeting these needs can help people build and maintain good mental health.

She also shares a simple question that can change how parents respond when children misbehave.

Instead of asking, "Why did you do that?" try asking, "What do you want that you're trying to get?"

This small change can open the door to better communication, stronger relationships, and more peaceful homes.

Nick and Nancy also discuss why fun matters at every age, how parents can teach children self-control, and why understanding the purpose behind behavior is so important.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, leader, or someone who wants to improve your mental health, this episode offers practical ideas you can use in everyday life.

About Dr. Nancy Buck

Dr. Nancy Buck is a developmental psychologist, author of five parenting books, and longtime educator in Choice Theory Psychology.

She is the founder of Peaceful Parenting, Inc., and has spent decades helping families and educators understand children's needs and behavior.

Today, she also focuses on helping people grow good mental health by understanding and meeting their basic human needs.

Nancy shares her insights through her website and her Substack newsletter, Growing Good Family and Mental Health, where she publishes new articles every Thursday and Sunday.