I help parents develop a connected and collaborative relationship with their children that builds on connection instead of punishment and discipline.

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It's often hard to know where to look for help when you're struggling as a parent. Parent Coaching is specifically designed to walk you through a process that gives you the confidence to know you're moving in the right direction with your children.

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If you're curious about Parent Coaching, I encourage you to keep reading. I've put together some of the common questions I get about the process along with their answers to help you get more information.

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What is Parent Coaching?

Parent coaching is a process in which a parent or childcare provider is given support, education, and strategies around the developmental or emotional needs of their child. This can address behavioral issues or developmental delays and concerns. A parent coach partners with the parents to assist in identifying goals and a plan to achieve those goals. 
 

Why Parent Coaching?

Because even at its best, parenting is incredibly difficult. Near impossible at its worst!

 

No parent starts off knowing what to do. Without conscious effort, our parenting methods can create conflict instead of connection. The authoritarian way most of us have been taught to parent, creates conflict and frustration, endless power struggles and leaves us with broken and distance relationships with our children.

 

So often I hear from parents how hard it is to connect with their children, whether they are young, elementary school-aged, or teens and high schoolers. They feel defeated and ill-equipped to support them through the ups and downs of growing up. Other parents bring their children in for therapeutic services and quickly realize they don't have the support for themselves. 

 

This is where I come in. I am certified as a Parent Coach through the Jai Institute for Parenting, a global organization that teaches parents how to have conscious, connected relationships with their children. I also am a parent to two boys, ages 17 and 15. I can attest first-hand that parenting is not for the faint of heart. But it can also be the source of our deepest joy.

 

Is this the same as therapy?

Not quite. Therapy and coaching share a lot of similarities in that they help you get to a better place than when you began. However, therapy is meant to treat mental illness or other significant emotional and relational concerns, while coaching helps you elevate performance in a certain area. 

 

Parenting concerns can certainly fall into the therapy category – nothing can cause emotional distress faster than watching your child struggle. This is often because of our own story and how we were parented. If these types of issues need to be addressed, my training and credentials as a therapist would allow me to continue working with you to alleviate the distress. Whether it be as a parent, or as a therapy client, I’ve got you.
 

What do the sessions look like?

Based on The Peaceful Parenting Program from Jai Institute for Parenting, you will be led through a 12-week program complete with reading and videos to complete during sessions. The amount of time spent completing the assignment tops out at two hours per week. The content that comes up in your assignments will be discussed in session to use as a guide to troubleshoot for the kinds of change you want to see. 

 

What exactly does the Peaceful Parenting Program cover?

Together we will cover topics such as:

• Understanding child development to have healthy expectations of your kids

• Tackling brain, nervous system, and attachment science to raise awareness and the ability to look for our child’s needs beneath their behavior

• Learn how to have empowered conversations instead of ones that leave everyone shut down, angry or defensive

• Explore anger and create a trusting relationship with this difficult yet misunderstood emotion

• Unlock playfulness and joy in your parenting journey

 

The program is built to help you understand your own parenting history, clarify how you would like to raise your children and identify what barriers might be holding you back. You will learn the principles of The Peaceful Parenting Process that will give you greater confidence as a parent. This will lead to more connection and cooperation with your children without the use of yelling, threatening or harsh punishment. 
 

I have read all the books. How is this program any different?

Parenting books are fantastic, and I reference a few of them for additional reading if it’s helpful. But if you’re like me, it’s so frustrating to read something and be filled with hope that this new strategy will help, only to find it doesn’t. Now what?

 

Now, you bring it to your session and together we unpack it. You have me to help you connect the dots from where you are to what you are hoping to see change. I can’t promise I can make it all connect, but what I can assure you is together, we will figure out what is best for you as you parent your child. 
 

How often do we meet?

The program runs for 12 weeks. Once you’ve completed the course, we can continue to meet regularly or on an as-needed basis.
 

How long is a session?

Sessions run 50-55 minutes.
 

What is your fee?

I charge $135 per session. 
 

Do you work with children?

I do not. However, if you are needing additional therapeutic services for your child, I have a wonderful network of providers that I can recommend.
 

Will you work with a couple?

It certainly is an option and would be a wonderful opportunity for a family. Schedule a consult call, and we can discuss if this option is a good fit for your family.
 

What if this doesn’t work?

That is possible. Children, much like any other adult or individual, don't like to be controlled, told what to do, or are struggling with deeply individual issues. Having a child struggle with no relief in sight is devastating and exhausting. It can push parents to the breaking point. I have felt it. I have seen it.

 

Let me let you in on a little secret, though. Your child’s biggest protective factor and greatest predictor of successful outcomes later in life is you.

 

Not where you go on vacation, or what kind of car they drive when they’re 16; not how you teach them to be polite and obedient, or pick up their clothes off the bathroom floor. The key factor that matters most to them living a happy life is the gift of you. And what’s even crazier is that is all they want. 

 

I have the unique experience of being a trauma-trained therapist, and seeing the other side of this equation. I work with adult women who experienced trauma and are re-parenting themselves as part of their journey. What I hear over and over from them is how deeply they wished their parents could have been there for them, emotionally. To just show up, and be themselves. Imperfect, but present. Our kids now are no different. 

 

So while I can’t promise you your child will suddenly be different as a result of this process, and parenting will be the easiest journey you’ve ever embarked on, what I can promise you is you will be different. You will have more confidence, you will be more connected to them and yourself, and you will have the tools to hang with them when they are struggling, because that’s all they need. They are not a problem to be fixed; they are simply struggling. Who doesn’t want someone to just be with us when we struggle?
 

How can I work with you?

If you are interested in working with me, you would first reach out and let me know you’re interested. Next, we would get a complementary 20-minute virtual call on the calendar where we would meet, discuss what your needs may be and if I would be able to help.  From the moment you reach out, confidentiality begins, so even if you decide we wouldn’t be a good fit, your story will remain confidential.