A Parenting Revolution Rooted in the South Bay

Bryana Kappadakunnel’s new book, Parent Yourself First, offers parents tools to break generational cycles, foster resilience, and build stronger family bonds.

Bryana Kappadakunnel interacts with a baby during her South Bay Mommy and Me class in 2019.

The room is alive with the sounds of babies squealing, parents shushing, and the occasional crash of a toy hitting the floor. It’s controlled chaos, the kind anyone with small children knows well. In the center of it all is Bryana Kappadakunnel, licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of South Bay Mommy and Me, speaking calmly yet firmly, her sing-song voice cutting through the din. The moms in her class listen intently, juggling their little ones while absorbing lessons on parenting with empathy and intention. Often described as the South Bay’s Miss Rachel, but for parents, Kappadakunnel has become a trusted guide, offering a transformative path for families to heal childhood wounds while raising confident, compassionate children.

Kappadakunnel’s debut book, Parent Yourself First: Raise Confident, Compassionate Kids by Becoming the Parent You Wish You’d Had, transforms years of professional expertise into a practical and accessible guide for parents. Scheduled for release on Jan. 28, the book provides a pathway to breaking generational cycles, building resilience, and fostering stronger family connections. Based in Redondo Beach, Kappadakunnel draws on her work in private practice and her popular Conscious Mommy social media platform, where nearly 250,000 followers turn to her for insights into parenting with empathy, intentionality, and personal growth.

“Our upbringing impacts how we manage our emotions and connect with our kids,” Kappadakunnel said. “Many parents don’t realize how much their childhood experiences influence their parenting style, often in ways they don’t fully recognize.”

For Kylee Van Dillen, who has been working closely with Kappadakunnel as head of Operations and Outreach since 2019, this perspective resonated deeply. 

Parent Yourself First by Bryana Kappadakunnel hits shelves January 28—your guide to healing and connection as a parent.

“Bry created a space for moms to process not just what was going on in motherhood but also what was happening in their own lives and the world,” Van Dillen said. “It wasn’t just about learning how to care for your baby—it was about understanding the changes happening in your body, your relationships, and your identity as a parent.”

Melissa Jasin, a Redondo Beach mom of two, remembers walking into one of Kappadakunnel’s classes eight years ago after giving birth to her first child, feeling overwhelmed and isolated.

“I didn’t have any mom friends or anyone with kids in my circle when I had my first child,” Jasin said. “Bry wasn’t just about singing songs or talking about bottles; it was real, meaningful content. She fostered such strong bonds among us that I’m still friends with many of the moms I met there eight years later.”

For many parents like Jasin, the connections formed in Kappadakunnel’s classes have been life-changing. Beyond creating a space to share parenting tips, Kappadakunnel fostered a deeper, more introspective approach to parenting—commonly referred to as Gentle Parenting, or as Kappadakunnel calls it, Conscious Parenting.

Van Dillen noted how Kappadakunnel’s teachings go beyond managing children’s behavior and instead focus on the parents’ self-awareness. 

“A lot of parenting books out there help you understand your kids, which is great,” Van Dillen said. “But this book is different. It’s about understanding yourself first—why you have the parenting ideas you do, why certain situations trigger you, and how your own experiences shape your reactions.”

Photo of Bryana Kappadakunnel by The Boho House

“Gentle parenting isn’t easy because it requires you to parent yourself, too,” Jasin said. “You have to look at your own triggers and emotions and decide to show up for your child with compassion.”

Kappadakunnel’s philosophy, which blends practical strategies with emotional depth, is what Michelle Howry, Executive Editor at G.P. Putnam’s Sons, calls a “cycle-breaker’s manual.”

According to Howry, Parent Yourself First provides parents with tools to model empathy, respect, and validation for both themselves and their children.

“What I admire about Bryana’s approach is that it’s both ambitious in its goals but also incredibly accessible and ‘do-able’ for parents who live in the real world,” Howry said. “All of us want practical, actionable ways to interact with our kids.”

Torrance mom Cori Talbot first encountered Kappadakunnel’s teachings during the pandemic, a time when she thought parenting felt especially overwhelming and isolating.

“I was looking for a new village, and Bry’s classes became my lifeline,” Talbot said. “Her teachings aren’t just about parenting tips—they’re about rewiring how we approach challenges, backed by science and child development.”

Talbot attributes Kappadakunnel’s Conscious Mommy group—a dedicated class for parents—as instrumental in helping her identify and address the root causes of her parenting challenges.

“That’s where I discovered my inner child and what she needed,” Talbot said. “Bry helped me understand that my struggles in parenting often stemmed from unresolved issues in myself. It wasn’t about guilt—it was about going inward and recognizing larger patterns.”

The lessons parents take from Kappadakunnel’s classes are often profound in their simplicity. Talbot recalls a moment of doubt when her son ran off during class, seemingly impervious to boundaries.

“I remember thinking, ‘Boundaries won’t work for him,’” she said. “But Bry encouraged me to keep trying, and eventually, it clicked. Her teachings may seem challenging at first, but they work when you practice them consistently.”

Kappadakunnel’s methods emphasize connection over control and are also deeply practical. For Jasin, one of the most transformative tools was learning how to validate her child’s emotions during meltdowns.

“Bry taught me to see my child’s meltdowns as an opportunity to connect, not something to dismiss or punish,” Jasin said. “Once a child feels heard and seen, you can build a trust that lasts a lifetime.”

Though Kappadakunnel’s South Bay Mommy and Me programs closed in 2024 as she shifted her focus to her expanding private practice and book launch, her impact on the community remains profound.

“This community has shaped so much of my work,” Kappadakunnel said. “I love being part of a place that values connection and family.”

Kappadakunnel’s approach to parenting, rooted in resilience and intentionality, is about more than managing tantrums or setting boundaries—it’s about creating a new legacy.

“By healing yourself, you can truly connect with your child and guide them to live an authentic, fulfilling life,” she said.

With Parent Yourself First, Kappadakunnel hopes to share these lessons with families everywhere. For those in the South Bay who have experienced her work firsthand, the book is an extension of the life-changing tools she’s already provided.

“This isn’t fluff—it’s real, digestible content that makes a difference,” Jasin said. “Bry’s book is a gift for parents ready to do the work.”

Kappadakunnel will present her new book at {pages} bookstore on Jan. 29th, at 6:30 p.m. This is a free event, but RSVPs are appreciated. Books will be available for purchase.