Parenting

Dr. Edwards specializes in attachment and positive parent-child relationships. She is certified in parent child interaction therapy, a highly effective evidence-based treatment for families of children with challenging behavior problems. She also works with parents to help them understand their child’s temperaments and unique personality, educate on child development, and empower them to become the best parent they choose to be.

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.

As a previous special education teacher and school counselor, my understanding of children in the family system is unique. I have helped a variety of challenging children find ways of becoming more effective in a multitude of environments. I have experience being a facilitator for Love and Logic techniques, conducting the parenting program at a substance abuse residential facility, and 5 years of experience with the local DHR, as a vendor providing in-home services to parents.

Are you a parent of young kiddos or teens? Are you reparenting yourself? Both?! There's so much to explore when it comes to parenting and intergenerational trauma. Your parents' parenting styles impacted the course of your life and influenced your triggers and reactions. You may see these patterns repeat when you speak to yourself and your kids. Processing your childhood experiences provides insight into what you learned was normal and expected. You get to choose what you want to keep or change.

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You want what's best for your kids. You can’t provide a child a life where they will never be dysregulated, so how does one respond when they’re upset and/or overwhelmed? Together we will create a framework that will help you provide the unique support that works for you and your kiddo.

I help parents in understanding where their own history and perspective merges with that of their child. In doing so, we can create a more harmonious environment for the family. I also work with parents whom parenting has been challenging, and who need individual work on processing their own needs and space for their own mental health. I also work with couples who need assistance in combining parenting strategies, communication differences, and creating a solid parenting unit.

Working with parents is a passion of mine! Being a parent is hard. Transitions and developmental changes, among many factors, can lead to conflict, discipline challenges, emotional outbursts, and family disconnection. If you are struggling to navigate the complicated world of parenting, I can be a guide. I will use a developmental lens and work in partnership with you. Together we can explore problems and find solutions that make sense within your family values, culture, and context.

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.

As a parent myself, I want to help you make sense of this amazing but challenging experience. Parenting our own children often brings to the surface elements of our own childhood that we have not resolved. I am here to provide a space to make sense of your own childhood and the way it comes through in your parenting as you shape your own children. I have completed numerous professional trainings in this area and it would be a privilege to support your parenting journey.

I am a parent myself, and know how rewarding and challenging the life of a parent can be. I integrate my own experience as a parent, and my experience as a school counselor and therapist for children and teens to help parents better understand their kid's behavior and to communicate with them effectively. I have helped many parents work through their own childhood wounds affecting how they parent (and feel about being a parent!), learn effective communication skills, and find joy in parenting.

Challenges with parenting often increase couple conflict, so I work to support parent couples in connecting and remembering who they were before becoming parents. We will create a space where your differing approaches to parenting are heard and understood, while also learning about effective parenting methods from research which will both strengthen your relationship and improve your child's behavior.

I intentionally studied to be a parent for decades before finally giving it a try -- and I learned that there's nothing like the real thing to truly prepare you. In addition to my own parenting experience, my undergraduate degree in Human Development & Family Studies enabled me to help other parents find ways to meet both their own needs and those of their children. My work has ranged from teaching Parent Education classes to helping children and parents in the realm of foster care and adoption, providing guidance and support for parents struggling on a financial edge or in the shadows of poverty, illness, and addiction. I've served the emotional wellness needs of people who struggled to become parents, parents grieving lost children, and parents letting go of young adult children. It is a crazy loving business, parenting -- and my respect for those engaged in it is profound.

Parenting in a global pandemic is an epic challenge no one could have prepared for. There are so many pressures as a parent to provide emotionally, financially, and logistically for your children. Coming from an Interpersonal Neurobiology lens, I utilize an attachment approach to help you understand, gain insight, and move forward from your particular parenting challenges. I also specialize in supporting parents who have children with mental health and chronic physical health conditions.

As a parent myself and having worked with parents for over 14 years, I know first hand how challenging caring for others while trying to take care of yourself can be. Life can throw you curve balls and they often occur when we are already depleted. I am a strong believer that parents need to take care of themselves and their needs to be better for their children, and want to provide a space for that.

There is no manual for bringing life to this planet (although plenty of books have been authored). Even if there were, each baby, toddler, child, teen and adult child is different. Your experience of becoming a parent and traveling through each stage is uniquely yours. Maybe your child has experienced medical issues you were not prepared for. Maybe your child displays behaviors you don't understand. Maybe parenting isn't going the way you imagined it to go. I am here to offer support.

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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.

I enjoy working with families through all of life’s ups and downs. I believe in meeting families where they are at, and working together to create a plan for mental and emotional wellness for the whole family. I have experience helping families support children exploring their gender identity and expression.

Parenting is a delicate balance of nurturing independence while providing guidance and support. It involves fostering a safe and loving environment where children can explore, learn, and develop autonomy. Effective communication, empathy, and setting boundaries are the key to cultivating resilience, compassion, and a strong sense of self-esteem in the child. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial as parents navigate the changing needs of their children through different stages of development.