As our kids become teens their nucleus shifts and what once felt like a cohesive family may start to feel disjointed. Parents of teens quickly realize they don’t have the same control and influence over their kids, and the more rigid they become the more a teen pushes away. Developmentally, our teens are hardwired for increased autonomy and independence.  They need to learn to take risks, to figure out how to cross that rickety bridge, and start preparing for being out in the world. As hard as it is for parents, we need to let them find their way.  We can coach them along the way, but we can’t control how it happens. 

Our success as parents isn’t about how smoothly things go, but by how well we manage them and how quickly we can bounce back when things don’t go well.

I work with parents to develop the skills needed to build a resilient family, so when things go sideways, you can tackle it from a place of support, empowerment, and curiosity, instead of fear, force, and anger.  As teens and parents build trust parents learn to take one step back as teens take one step forward. When this happens in a supportive and compassionate way teens start to shift from a place of compliance to commitment. They start to take the steering wheel of their lives.

By creating boundaries, scaffolding, and tools, you’ll feel prepared to take on the uncertainties, conflicts, and chaos that come with parenting. 

I help your family define core values, we’ll build scaffolding by setting realistic expectations and goals, and the capacity to follow through.  I’ll give you the tools to problem solve with your teens in a collaborative and constructive way. I’ll help you create a safety net, so when something does happen, you have a plan and your teen knows what to do.