As a parent of three children who are in their late teens/early 20's, I have experienced the ups and downs, the pride and the doubts, the joys and the fears that only parenting can bring about as one is taken on the ride of raising another human being today. When to let go, when to hold on more tightly- this journey can be one of the most humbling and exhausting experiences even during the best of days! It can also become suddenly more daunting when you have a child who is struggling with a condition or life situation that is challenging to navigate and parental peer support does not provide the answers that you are seeking.

Oftentimes, the path to recovery for your child may be more clear than your own as a parent, who is also in need of a place to turn towards during these hard moments. It is in these times that we need each other the most. We might find ourselves longing for the seemingly simpler days when we could readily seek advice during a backyard play date; when a remedy for one child dilemma might easily be adopted for another successfully. Yet often, we turn away from one another when our children's lives become more complicated.

I have been in this empty space before and understand the struggle that a parent can experience in determining when to disclose and trust another with a problem that your child is experiencing. Finding non-judgmental support and authentic connection when we are struggling to show up as the parent we believe our children need us to be is invaluable, but often not easily attained when we are feeling vulnerable and unsure of ourselves.

Through one-on-one coaching sessions, as well as group support online and in person, I hope to provide the spaces for parents, like myself, to regard challenging times as opportunities for growth for both their child, as well as themselves. Within this mindset, together we can explore how transformational the hard moments can eventually be for the entire family unit.

My background as an independent college coach, in addition to my training and experience as a crisis counselor, have led me to want to connect and support parents who are doing the hard work of parenting behind the scenes of our social media presence where achievements and milestones are rightly celebrated. I believe that we can strive to be more confident and at ease in our role as parents if we recognize and value the need to take care of ourselves as individuals through lifestyle choices (including the development of authentic connections) that will enable us to take on the inevitable challenges this journey presents.

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"Jennifer was a rockstar- she remained calm and collected during a long and difficult conversation. Her patience, warmth and kindness enabled a difficult situation to de-escalate." -Kei S.

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"Jennifer perservered when emotions became high. By staying positive and remaining patient, she was able to stay engaged and optimistic and the result is feeling heard and understood." -Christine M.