What’s the difference between coaching and therapy?

Parent coaching starts in the present and focuses on the future. It’s a collaborative process that builds on your strengths. Parent coaching is appropriate for parents who are facing challenges, but not crises. Therapy often involves looking into the past and treating trauma or mental health conditions. Therapy tends to be longer-term, while coaching often spans just a few months. Some clients have a therapist and a parent coach. If you’re unsure of whether coaching is a good fit, please contact me for a complementary consultation, and we can discuss your situation in more detail.

There’s so much parenting advice on social media. Isn’t that kind of like coaching?

I agree, there is no shortage of helpful and inspiring parenting content on social media! These thought leaders enrich my parenting, too. Yet, social media doesn’t take the place of coaching. Parenting advice on social media is a soundbite. It’s helpful, but it’s static: pre-packaged and not tailored to you. Coaching is a dynamic, change process. My coaching meets you where you are, gently nudges you to your next destination, and shifts as you grow.

Plus, parenting advice on social media can be so overwhelming. There’s so much to take in, and it’s hard not to feel badly about how you don’t say or do things the way they do. As a coach, I help you find and trust your voice.

Do you encourage parents to adopt a specific method?

No! The beauty of parent coaching is that it’s unique to your family. What works for one family doesn’t work for all families. I will not push a specific method or approach on you or tell you what to do. We will discover together what makes sense for your family and what aligns with your values and goals. You are the expert in your family; I am trained to support your growth.

While the what and how for each client are distinct, I believe there are a few universal underpinnings. Parents want to feel connected to their kids, they want to feel confident in their parenting, and they want calmness in themselves. They also want to be free of guilt that gets in their way and have space to reflect on their parenting practice. Together, we will co-create steps that help you do just that!

Does my child join the sessions?

I work directly with parents and caregivers without children being present. Parent coaching unfolds with the belief that parents are the captains of their families. The coaching process focuses on providing parents with the tools they need to lead their families and achieve their goals.

Are our conversations confidential?

All coaching discussions are confidential. However, I am required to report suspected or known abuse or neglect of children to ChildLine and to the county children and youth agency.