Great question! Not the first time someone’s asked me that. I create comprehensive plans that address areas of need. I help parents and kids get a better understanding of what’s going on. I help parents reframe their kids’ needs, and help them create plans that are truly supportive. I help kids understand the barriers that keep them from being successful, and help them identify tools that can foster success.

Honestly? A lot of this work is helping put a name to the thing, whatever it is. Once we name it, it’s less scary. And once it’s less scary, we can deal with it.

My skill set is to use my lived experience to advise with academic matters and providing concrete plans to address whatever is happening in your family at the moment. I can coach and create roadmaps, pointing people in a direction together. Typically my services are going to relate to the system of school in some way.

Therapeutic services have some overlap with mine, but a therapist will help you and your family process much more specific things. They may not be creating plans with you, but they will guide you to develop insight into challenges you’re experiencing and possible changes to help you achieve your goals.

Unfortunately, no. Insurance doesn’t cover my services.

In this capacity, I can’t. My work is focused on helping families with school systems, demystifying processes, and behavioral supports. Since I’m not a cognitive psychologist or therapist, I don’t provide testing or mental health services.

However, I can provide informal academic testing, anecdotal behavioral observations, and I can help steer families to community-based supports, including therapists, clinicians, related service providers, parent support groups, and books/websites.

I am definitely not a lawyer. However, as we work together, I may be able to help you identify whether legal representation is necessary, and I can offer support in choosing legal representation if desired.

With family coaching I can help anyone because I’m coming to you. And the skills we work on are for life, which is different than school.

With advocacy or consultation, though I can still probably help! No matter the educational setting, all children legally have the right to a free and appropriate public education (called FAPE) that meets their educational needs.

I can help you navigate the school district process to determine whether your child can get services from the school for their learning differences, and help advise what the best supports may be.

My focus is on helping families in Oregon and the surrounding areas — Washington and California — but I’m open to helping folks wherever they may be. I’m available for consultation with out-of-state clients on a case by case basis. Remote consultation is available for international clients involved with DoDEA.

Although there aren’t really rules about it, I recognize that these are highly personal matters. Trusting me with your family dynamics and your child’s needs is vital for the process to work. The only times I will discuss any aspect of our work together are with your explicit permission, or if there is a safety concern.

My hope is to make our work together as brief and effective as possible. I want to give you the tools you need for your family’s goals, so that your family is independent and growing beyond any work we may do. That said, I will always be available to consult after our initial plans are completed.