The Art of Parenting
(while being human)
If there is one thing I am sure of, it is that I have an endless capacity to love.
The richness of healthy human-connection is a core need that has been scientifically and biologically researched. Like air and sustenance, I believe we all should have ample access to form, and maintain, healthy relationships.
What I have developed, and continue to refine, is a BOLD possibility for individuals, couples, and families.
I was diagnosed with ADHD in the 80s which meant that as a female, I had (have) a textbook severe diagnosis. After each of my daughters received various neurodiverse labels, I felt called to start what I call, a radical experiment of parenting the children I have, instead of the ones I thought I’d have. I try not to be the parent I wanted when I was a kid and I’m certainly not the kind of mother I thought I’d be. I’m still in the process of finding ways to be my full-authentic-self, while parenting all of their individual full-authentic-selves. The goal for our family is to include all of the unique ways our brains work instead of training them or managing them or getting rid of them.
My work focuses on helping families relate to one another in a way that fosters a d. I use my bachelors in elementary education to understand and teach children who are in kindergarten through 8th grade. Combined with my international personal training certification, I use physical fitness to leverage movement with my clients which keeps kids engaged. The conversational skills, the curious and genuine questioning, and the trauma informed training I acquired in my three year Authentic Relating This also allows the body to be used as a portal to emotional conversations for the adults I work with.
I deliver in-the-moment relational coaching that invites connection & change.
Sessions with me come in various formats. For children, a coach is someone they are usually familiar with. A sports coach is a grownup who helps a child refine their skills, working a hockey coach may lead to being a better hockey player. I help kids play games like “the go to school game” or the “respect your siblings game”, and my favorite “the how to talk to your parents about something hard game”. Playing the “be a good human and contribute to being a close-knit family game” is subjective and illusive. I invite you to explore what that looks like for your individual family.
I aim to help couples feel seen and heard by one another, make space for parents to gain the psycho-education needed to best raise the child(ren) they have, and give everyone a safe space to exist.
Coaching or Therapy?
Coaching
A lot of people call themselves a coach. Its an extremely broad term and its and unregulated job title. To date, there is no government recognized supervisory board that overseas the credentialing process, if any. Please refer to the qualifications page to read about my specific credentials as well as the ways I maintain my integrity and ensure you are receiving ethical care.
Coaches focus on helping their clients reach specific goals, change or learn new skills, and improve performance. As many athletes have attested, coaches have a heavy impact on personal and professional growth.
Coaching includes sharing life lessons, the collective experiences a coach has contributes to the client’s growth and understanding. In my experience, showing my clients that I too am human, often leads to them feeling more seen, heard, and understood.
Therapy
The job title therapist is earned through formal education, typically a master’s degree (M.A.) or higher. Therapists are usually licensed in the state(s) they practice in due to the professional laws and codes of ethics.
Similar to physical-healthcare professionals such as doctors, therapists are considered to be clinicians. As such, their licensing process requires a practicum prior to graduation followed by a required number of supervised post graduate hours. In some states, this is over 3,000 clinical hours, none of which are done in private practice.
Therapists have letters that follow their name indicating their credentials; some examples are LMFT, LCSW, LMHC, LPCC. These mental healthcare professionals focus on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma.
I have the utmost respect for therapists, but if you are looking for one, unfortunately that is not me.