IF MY CHILD HAS AN EATING DISORDER, CAN YOU HELP ME?

Yes. Although I am not a medical or mental health professional, I can be an important part of your team as you help your child heal. Navigating the world of eating disorder treatment can be incredibly overwhelming and confusing; I bring both personal and professional experience to guide you during this painful time in your family’s life. My approach is founded on two core principles: parents play an essential role in treatment, and recovery is possible.

WHAT IS “PARENTING WITHOUT DIET CULTURE”?

Parenting Without Diet Culture is a framework for making your home a safe haven from the harmful messages about food and bodies that can contribute to body shaming (of oneself or others), disordered eating, and eating disorders. Because our kids have to navigate the real world, Parenting Without Diet Culture also means building our kids’ media literacy and critical thinking skills so they can be resilient to harmful food and body messages when they inevitably encounter them.

WHAT IS A PARENT COACH?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when your child is having a tough time. And if there is a health crisis, such as an eating disorder, the stress and fear can make it hard to function or think clearly. As a compassionate advisor, a parent coach supports you along the way, to help you see possibilities, restore your confidence, and empower you to take action. Parent coaches partner with you to develop practical solutions to the challenges of raising kids in a modern world.

It’s also important to understand what parent coaching is not. Parent coaching isn’t a substitute for family or individual therapy—or for medical or mental health advice. If you are in need of additional professional support for yourself and/or your child, however, I can help you find providers in your area.

YOU SEEM TO FOCUS ON PARENTING ADOLESCENTS? WHAT IF I HAVE YOUNGER KIDS OR ADULT CHILDREN?

Supporting parents navigating the adolescent years is my focus. And remember that stage of life isn’t only the teen years—adolescence begins while your child is in elementary school. I do also work with parents who have younger kids or older adult children; during our initial consultation, I will assess whether I might be the right fit for your family’s needs and provide referrals if needed.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Schedule your initial consultation. It’s a chance for you to share what you’re looking for and to get a sense of how we might work together.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A PARENT COACHING SESSION?

During our conversation over Zoom, I will get to know you as a parent in order to assess the challenges you’re facing and get to the root of your concerns. I’ll listen deeply as you describe your child—because you are the expert on your kid. Through our dialogue, I will help you identify approaches that feel right for your family. I will also share additional resources customized to your needs. Reach out to schedule your initial consultation here.

DO YOU WORK WITH GUARDIANS, GRANDPARENTS, AND STEP-PARENTS?

Yes. Anyone raising a child is doing the work of parenting.

DO YOU OFFER SEMINARS FOR SCHOOLS OR PARENT GROUPS?

Yes! I can present interactive parent education and professional development workshops on a range of topics at your school, community center, or place of worship. These events can be conducted by videoconference. Contact me for more information.

WHAT IS “COMMON SENSE CAMP”?

Common Sense Camp is a framework I developed in 2020 to help parents teach basic life skills at home. It’s not an actual “camp” but rather a structured approach to slowing down and addressing important concepts, skills, and values—the things we often think we’ll get to but are usually too busy to cover during the normal hustle and bustle of daily life. To help others start their own version of Common Sense Camp, I created a Parent Guide. To learn more about Common Sense Camp or to purchase the Parent Guide, contact me.