Parenting

I love helping parents learn how to play and interact with their children. I specialize in working with children under 10 who have behavioral issues. I have almost a decade of experience working with children who have experienced abuse. I was a foster parent and I understand the difficulties that come with creating a family in a non-traditional way. I have been trained in Circle of Security, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and Triple P parenting.

Parenting is the hardest role that we can never adequately prepare for. I've spent the last 7 years working with parents/families to help them understand how they got to where they are so they can build the skills to venture down a better path. I teach from an attachment/peaceful parenting perspective as I feel that much of "mainstream" parenting leads to disconnect, emotional dysfunction and covert violence. We tend to repeat what we know until we know better.

"Have kids", they said. "It'll be fun", they said. "It's the miracle of life!", they said. Yet, you find yourself deeply discouraged, exhausted... always, and frustrated beyond what you thought was humanly conceivable. What if there's another way you haven't tried yet that actually works. The bad news? It's hard. The good news? It ACTUALLY WORKS and IT'S WORTH IT! Talk with me and let's make parenting less punishing, more practical, and really enjoyable!

As a parent of 3 children I am a forever learning to navigate the joys of parenthood. I have a passion for equipping parents using strategies such as Love and Logic. While teaching parents skills and tools to add to their parenting toolbox, I often find myself learning from their examples and experience.

Parenting is an unparalleled character development experience. I like the saying, "You are as happy as your saddest child." When our children struggle, we feel it on a deep visceral level. This is a good thing. It means you care about parenting. My journey to helping parents began in 1990, when I helped start a parenting group. I started and ran parenting groups for single parents, ran them for a number of churches, and for a school district. I have also raised two neurodiverse children.

The only you are taught to parent is the way you have been parented. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like you’re doing a good enough job. I worked for over two years doing Intensive In-Home Therapy, partnering with parents and families to cope with behaviors from trauma, depression, and anxiety and helped improve the overall climate in houses. I know you can parent intentionally, compassionately, and courageously breaking the cycle that has been passed down.

The child who comes into my office with the "problem" is typically just a piece of the bigger picture. Let's face it, parenting in 2022 is extremely difficult. Depression and anxiety have skyrocketed in the years since the introduction of social media. If we want our kids to change, usually the parents will have to make some changes as well.

I’m all about helping people become an assertive confident parent to help their child grow into a happy adult.

A decade of experience supporting new, effective parenting techniques, increased family structure, helpful boundaries, positive reinforcement techniques, and developing and maintaining a consistent, emotionally-secure attachment between children and caregivers/parents. I especially enjoy working with families going through transitions, and supporting you to find a new structure to fit your new and changing needs - including separation/divorce, blended family needs, etc.

My approach to parenting challenges will vary based on the issue, but is largely rooted in understanding the client's relational patterns, attachments, and triggers; exploring cultural and familial pressures; and soothing the nervous system in times of stress. Parenting issues and barriers I specialize in: the client's own history of trauma, raising a child with ASD/ADHD or other sensitivity challenges, co-parenting or divorce, and performance-centered parenting approaches.

Parenting is hard. It’s also fulfilling, transcendent, hilarious and fun. But in spite of those incredible peaks, it is also a crucible that can bring us down to valleys of desperation that can overwhelm our lives. I believe that a parent’s emotional state is the ground from which our children grow. My goal is to help you strengthen your connection to your kids by reconnecting with yourself.

I am certified in Circle of Security Parenting and Trust Based Relational Intervention. I can help you learn ways to connect with your child, to get your child to follow directions without power struggles and to see where your past experiences may be impacting your parenting and how to make changes so you’re present and intentional with your parenting choices.

I repeatedly hear my clients who are parents (especially those who are parents of young children), that they often feel unsupported and left behind. I often help parents find their way through parental burnout, balance parenting obligations with demanding work schedules, and find a sense of peace amongst the anxiety and uncertainty that can accompany raising children.

Parenting can be an extremely taxing experience resulting in stress and conflict. When parents are struggling it can be because they need help with how to respond to certain behaviors a child is exhibiting and/or because their own wounds are being triggered by their child's behavior. Therefore, my approach in working with parents is a combination of coaching and a blend of therapeutic modalities to uncover the deeper layers of what is impacting the parent-child dynamic.

With my experience as a school-based counselor, I have a unique vantage point in supporting parents during the transition their kids make into adolescence. I often hear, "I just don't recognize my child anymore." I can work with parents to better understand adolescent behavior and how to reconnect with your child during these years. I may also offer parenting support groups for parents to meet others who may be experiencing similar struggles.

This is the hardest job EVER! It's hard to see clear when we are exhausted, stressed, and emotionally attached. It is helpful to have someone who is experienced and objective provide guidance and suggestions. I'm your teammate and want to see you and your child thrive and be successful. I know there are dark days when you may feel like a failure, have no idea what to do, and feel hopeless. You are not alone! There is always a way to turn things around but sometimes we need a little help!

I am most passionate about working with parents, those involved in the child welfare system, and youth who have experienced trauma.

Raising our children carries an immense weight of responsibility, with far-reaching implications for their future. As parents, we play a pivotal role in shaping their identities and influencing their interactions with the world. I firmly hold the belief that children require a nurturing environment where they can authentically express themselves within healthy boundaries. By fostering a secure attachment during their early years, we empower them to grow into independent, self-assured adults.

I taught court-ordered Parenting Education for those who have lost custody of their children. And, I've raised two humans of my own.

Attachment Parenting Positive Psychology Consistency, care & communication