Parent Coaching
"There is in every child at every stage a new miracle of vigorous unfolding." Erik Erikson
Do you ever wish your child came with a parenting manual?
While being a parent is one of the most rewarding jobs, it’s also the toughest. There are a multitude of challenges and questions that arise, as well as endless decisions to make.
I learned from my own experience that there’s no reason to do it alone and reinvent the wheel. With the right guidance and Parent Coaching you can feel supported to make the right choices during the most basic and complex situations that arise.
I’m here to help!
One of my favorite things to do is work with parents at different stages of parenthood as a Parent Coach. I work really well with new parents, parents of elementary age children, and parents of adolescents.
What is the difference between Parent Coaching and therapy?
Parent Coaching looks at a specific parenting concern or struggle and together we develop practical solutions and ideas. It is generally a more short term, solution oriented approach than traditional psychotherapy. Parents find coaching highly supportive knowing that help is just a phone call away when a new parenting struggle arises.
What issues can I help you with?
In my 16 years as a therapist , I’ve worked with parents dealing with a wide variety of issues. Here are some examples of challenges I specialize in:
- I would like to establish a routine for my baby but have no idea how
- My child is not adjusting well to his/her new sibling
- Our morning routine is killing me
- My child is so defiant
- Why won't my child talk to me
- My child is having a lot of peer conflict
- My kids are always fighting
- My child doesn't want to leave my side
- My child’s sleep has regressed and I am exhausted
- My child has started using social media and I am terrified
- I feel like aliens have abducted my adolescent
- I don’t know how to discipline my child
- I am looking for the best school environment for my child
You name it, I’ve probably seen a family with the issue.
When we meet, we will discuss the specific challenge you’re dealing with and together we will custom tailor a plan specific to your situation. One of the things that I really enjoy is helping parents feel confident in the choices they make with their children. While we are fortunate to live in a time and place where they are many resources and books for parents, the information and choices can be overwhelming.
My goal is to help parents navigate these choices from a relaxed and fully knowledgeable perspective.
Besides being a therapist, I’m also the mom of two school aged children, so I have been there and I get how difficult many of these struggles can be. I try to blend both my personal and professional experience in my work with parents and I think this helps me offer a unique perspective to my clients.
While some parents have children with normal development issues, I also have an extensive training and expertise with parents who have children dealing with more serious issues.
Some of the signs you might look for in your child include:
- Feeling very sad or withdrawn for two or more weeks
- Seriously trying to harm or kill yourself or making plans to do so
- Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing
- Involved in multiple fights, using a weapon, or wanting badly to hurt others
- Severe, out- of-control behavior that can hurt yourself or others
- Not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to make yourself lose weight
- Intensive worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
- Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still that puts you in physical danger or causes school failure
- Repeated use of drugs or alcohol
- Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Drastic changes in your behavior or personality
Your child might have already been diagnosed with one of the following disorders:
autism, adhd, depression, anxiety, sensory processing issues, psychotic disorders
If you’re like most parents I work with you’re probably wondering, “How am I going to cope and how do I help my child?”
“How do I explain this to their siblings, family and friends?” .
The most common struggle parents face when dealing with these types of issues is deciding what type of treatment is best for their child.
Do they need group therapy, individual, medication, etc?
The decisions can seem overwhelming. Parent Coaching offers an effective and helpful solution in these situations. Regardless, of the severity of the situation, I’m committed to providing you with the support, information, and empowerment you need to get through this difficult time and feel more confident as a parent!
While you might need just a few sessions to address a specific concern or need ongoing work with a more difficult parenting concern, I’m here to support your parenting journey.