Jen Hanson-Peterson, M.A., is a social-emotional learning specialist, educator, and certified organisational coach. She partners with school leaders, teachers, and parents to translate complex developmental psychology and neuroscience into practical, human-centred tools that work under pressure.
Children thrive when the adults in their lives are grounded. When children or adolescents experience emotional distress, conventional behavioural charts and disciplinary strategies often fail to address the underlying root cause.
Adult self-awareness is the foundation of co-regulation. Whether leading a school executive team, managing a diverse classroom, or navigating emotional friction at the family dinner table, adults cannot teach emotional regulation if they cannot access it themselves.
Building adult capability creates systemic change. Equipping parents, teachers, and school leaders with practical self-awareness, stress management tools, and emotional agility naturally fosters an environment of psychological safety where young people can flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.
Jen brings more than fifteen years of cross-sector experience bridging academic clinical research with real-world implementation:
Global Educator Capability: Over eight years as a Senior Trainer at Geelong Grammar School’s Institute of Positive Education, Jen trained and mentored more than 6,000 educators across Australia and internationally in the evidence-based application of wellbeing science.
National Curriculum Strategy: Co-developed the national wellbeing framework and implementation guide for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Education, shaping pastoral and wellbeing delivery across more than 600 government schools.
Empirical Research Rigour: Served as Research Project Coordinator at Monash University, coordinating three large-scale Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of family and parenting interventions.
International Thought Leadership: Co-authored a foundational chapter in the Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning (Guilford Press) and contributed research reporting for landmark publications by CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning).
Tuning in to Kids®, Tuning in to Teens®, & Tuning in to Students®: Accredited through the Mindful Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health at the University of Melbourne, Jen uses the 5-step emotion coaching model to build emotional competence and resolve conflict across classrooms and homes.
iEQ9 Integrative Enneagram: As an accredited individual and team practitioner, Jen uses this adaptive psychometric framework with school leadership teams and professionals to decode underlying stress patterns, blind spots, and communication styles.
Organisational Coaching: Grounded in Level 1 Certification through the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL), Jen works with educational leaders to strengthen team trust, navigate challenging conversations, and protect staff from burnout.
Strengths-Based Development: Accredited through Cappfinity to administer and facilitate Strengths Profile debriefs, helping individuals and teams unlock sustainable energy and collaborative performance.
Master of Arts in Human Development, Learning & Culture (Specialising in SEL) — The University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology — Roosevelt University
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40122)
Accredited Facilitator: Tuning in to Students®, Tuning in to Kids®, and Tuning in to Teens® — The University of Melbourne
Level 1 Certified Organisational Coach — Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL)
Certified Practitioner: iEQ9 Integrative Enneagram (Individual & Team Dynamics) — Integrative Enneagram Solutions
Accredited Practitioner: Strengths Profile — Cappfinity
Whether you are looking to run professional development for your teaching staff, align your school leadership team, or navigate your child's emotional world with confidence, ThriveWise provides grounded, research-backed support.