By Shawna Bush, M.A., NCSP

A parent coach, or a professional trained to support and guide parents in their parenthood journey, works with families to address various parenting challenges and offer personalized strategies that can enhance parenting skills and improve family dynamics. 

When looking for a parenting coach, it is important to consider looking for a coach with relevant training, certifications, and experience, whose approach aligns with your values and parenting philosophy. In addition, it is crucial to feel comfortable and connected to your coach, as this relationship will be built on trust and open communication. Consider meeting with prospective coaches for their discovery session, which is typically free of charge for a short duration of time, to help you determine whether the coach would be a good fit for your family. 

Once you have met with a coach you think would be a good fit for your family, it may be beneficial to learn what your coaching sessions may look like. While many parenting coaches offer sessions through a virtual platform, some may offer in-person sessions in an office setting. At Heller Psychology Group, however, our Parent Coach works with families solely through a telehealth platform. 

As you prepare for your first session, consider writing down the areas you feel are most impacting your family. Your coach is going to want to learn all about you, your family, and what you see for your family in the long term! 

After gathering all of the background data, your coach will work with you to create both short-term and long-term goals that you see for your family. Once the goal is set, the Parent Coach will continue to work with you to develop a plan tailored to your family’s specific needs. This plan will include several resources and strategies that may be beneficial to you as you work towards your goals. In addition to these resources, the Parent Coach will provide ongoing support, as well as share feedback and make adjustments to your plan as needed. Your coach will also work to keep you accountable and on track as you work towards your goals and celebrate your success as you reach them.

Overall, with the right approach, a parenting coach can be a valuable resource that can be used to help your family thrive!

Shawna Bush, M.A., NCSP is an executive functioning and parent coach/tutor with Heller Psychology Group, based in Bethesda, Maryland and available virtually. Check out her full bio here: https://hellerpsychologygroup.com/about-shawna-bush/