Fionnuala Hoffmann - Berlin, Germany
Parent and Classroom Trainer.
Co-Founder of the German Positive Discipline Association (PDaD)
I work with parents and educators to support the development of respectful, responsible and connection-based relationships with children through practical, evidence-informed approaches rooted in Adlerian psychology and adult learning principles.
My path into this field began in 2016, when I attended a Positive Discipline workshop as a parent. At the time, I was struggling to manage daily family life with my three sons—caught between inconsistency, frustration and ineffective communication. The experience marked a turning point in both my personal and professional life.
As I began applying Positive Discipline tools in everyday situations, I experienced a fundamental shift in how I understood behaviour, responsibility and relationship-building. The changes in my family life were immediate and lasting, and this experience led me to leave my teaching role to train professionally in this approach.
Today, I am the International Advisor for Germany for the Positive Discipline Association and co-founder of the German network of Positive Discipline educators. I was responsible for the German translation and publication of Positive Discipline in 2024.
My work is grounded in Adlerian psychology and informed by ongoing training in counselling, facilitation and trauma-informed educational approaches. I am interested in how adults learn to change relational patterns and how this impacts children’s development and wellbeing.
Education
2019 - 2022
Certified Positive Discipline Trainer (CPDT) - for parent and classroom educators. University of Washington, Seattle, USA
(Acquired classroom hours across all elementary grade levels at JFK School, Berlin)
2003 - International House Budapest,Hungary
Certificate in Teaching English to speakers of other languages (CELTA) University Of Cambridge, ESOL Examinations
1989 - BA Degree in Applied Psychology - University College Cork, Ireland
Selection of further professional development training here