COACHING
As a parent coach, I assist families in discovering the strengths their family already possess and developing strategies to address the challenges they face. Together, we come up with a parenting plan for your family that addresses your current challenges and prepares you for what is come in your parenting journey. Invest in your family today and enjoy the lifelong benefits & rewards. (No quick fixes or magic pills!)
My goal in working with parents is to create a personal and goal-oriented experience, focused on your particular questions and concerns.
Coaching can provide any of the following and more:
· Direct and practical answers that are right for you and your child
· Useful tools to approach challenging parenting situations
· Ways to enhance your child’s social, emotional & cognitive growth
· Simple & clear strategies to implement right away
Even though I am a licensed therapist I practice solely as a parent coach and consultant. Therapy focuses much more on the past and is non-directive and tends to be long-term. As a coach I am directive and the focus is not just on understanding what is driving your child’s behaviors, but what you can do to help change their behavior. My initial work with families generally requires 6-8 sessions over a 2 to 3-month period of time. Approximately 95% of my work is strictly with parents. I offer home visits and school observations, but they generally tend to happen after we have met together at least once.
Some of the outcomes of working with Melissa as a parent coach :
· Put an end to arguing, yelling, threatening, or repeating yourself
· Solutions to behavioral problems that seem insurmountable
· Sibling conflict is more manageable
· Respectful and well-behaved children
· A more coordinated approach to parenting with your partner and/or caregivers
· Feeling more fulfilled as a single parent or caregiver
· Stronger relationship with your child based on mutual trust and respect
· Being more coordinated in your parenting with an ex-spouse
I look forward to supporting you on your parenting journey!
Free Consultation
Let’s set up a consult to discuss your parenting goals. I offer a free 20-minute consultation to make
sure we're a good fit for each other. Please email me to set up your consult call.
FAQS:
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COACHING AND THERAPY?
Coaching is a collaborative process by which you, the client, choose the goals you want to work on or the situations you want to improve. I will then help to keep you on target and provide support, consultation, and suggestions to help you achieve your goals. The intention of coaching is for improvement, achievement, and greater fulfillment. Therapy’s goal is for greater improvement in functioning but it presumes that there is a lack of functioning or impairment as the starting point. If at any point the issues transcend our task, I will make a referral to the appropriate mental health provider.
IN-PERSON & ONLINE PARENT COACHING
I offer personalized parent coaching designed to help you better understand your child, their behavior, and development while finding effective solutions to both avoid and manage parenting challenges. We work together in person or from the privacy of your own home or office (using your computer, tablet, or smartphone via Skype/Google Hangouts/Doxy-HIPPA compliant). I strive to make parent coaching as accessible as possible for you! Working over the video also allows for greater vulnerability and a sense of safety for you as a client. During our confidential sessions, I will create a nonjudgmental space for you to explore and learn, share your struggles, and most importantly be fully heard.
NANNY & CAREGIVER COACHING
I offer coaching to the whole parenting team. The parenting team can include nannies, babysitters, grandparents, relatives, or basically anyone who loves to spend time with your children. Sometimes we all meet together as a group and other times I work with caregivers separately. Great caregiving doesn’t just happen; it’s a craft that must be learned, practiced, and molded. Ideally how caregivers communicate with children is consistent with how parents communicate and discipline their children. Helping kids learn to manage their emotions, teaching them life skills, empowering them to be proactive problem solvers, building a solid foundation of self-respect and self-worth, and encouraging independence and accountability takes skill and intention. By working together I can help to get everyone on the same page so there is more consistency and less friction between adults and kids.
PAYMENT AND INSURANCE
Payment is due before sessions start. I accept checks, cash, Venmo, and Paypal. I will provide you with a detailed receipt upon payment so that you can file a claim with your insurer. Some insurance companies may reimburse you for services. Any reimbursement would be based on your policy’s out-of-network rates. If you have questions about your coverage, please contact your insurance company to understand your policy benefits for behavioral health sciences. In some cases, your HSA may reimburse under Neruo-Developmental Specialist. Coaching services may also be covered under a company’s EAP program, so check with your company to see what types of support services they might offer.
WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT MELISSA:
So tonight was incredible. “Do you want to floss first or brush first” his reply: “Floss first.“ I wish I called you months ago. It’s so helpful to understand what’s going on in his mind and that I can make him feel more in control and empowered by just changing my language and approach. Thank you. Karin S, 2023
I just want to say thank you again for taking the time with me to 1) validate what I'm feeling and seeing with my son, it's so helpful. And 2) teach me tools and practice with me, how I as a parent can better connect with my son. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with you. I will book a follow up at a later date, because I'm sure there's lots more I can learn from you.
Mom of 4-year-old son, 2024
Thanks for the message and resources; our time with you is extremely helpful to us both as we frequently question if we are parenting in the best way possible and your feedback helps reassure us.
Patty & partner 2024 Maven Coaching Client (tele-coaching)
Thank you so much for your time last week and for the fabulous content on your website/emails!! I’ve been having great success using my empathetic statement (it took a couple of days to have it readily available in my brain…), and “my son” has been so responsive to it. My husband commented last night on how effective it’s been, even on the days where “my son’s” sleep has been a little wonky! THANK YOU!!
Eden P, 2022 Maven Coaching Client (tele-coaching)
Awesome!! She comes from a wealth of knowledge and provides really useful, immediately applicable tips.
2021 Maven Coaching Client (tele-coaching)
Subject Line: Small Victories. Melissa, I just had to share while it was fresh in my mind... Bath time was a smashing success last night! I gave XXX the choice of when he had the bath and which bathtub he used and whether he wanted to wash his hair or have me do it, etc. At the end he told me he loves baths and could he take one every Wednesday. Lol. I said he could take them on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. He was so cute. Thanks for the advice!
Mom of four kids under 5yrs, Edgewood, WA
Melissa is the person to call with any matters related to the family. She has helped me find focus, confidence, and a plan for my growing family. Her approach is tailored and focused on the best results for you, nothing off the shelf
Jenna, Seattle, WA
Melissa is very real and open with her own personal experiences which makes her feedback that much more realistic and helpful. Otherwise, I think it would have been - for me at least - a bunch of really good ideas that I wouldn't know exactly how to act upon. A great amount of humor and professionalism made it feel safe and "at home" to discuss concerns about raising my children. Thank you!
Mom, Seattle, WA
It's amazing how God places certain people in our lives during difficult times. My parent coach, Melissa Benaroya has been a huge source of support for me. She has put me on the right path and I feel so blessed by God to have her in my life. I am a better parent because of her. She is extremely knowledgeable and always has the answers. Thank you Melissa for sharing yourself and your knowledge to help me become a mother who parents her child with love, empathy, and respect while also setting boundaries and attempting to enforce them in a clear and consistent manner. You are amazing!
Mom, Seattle, WA
Melissa, I can't thank you enough! I did everything we talked about today, not one struggle and I was glowing!! I felt like I really get her more now and where she is in her stage of life, and she was so happy! I know it's not going to be a straight line but I felt so much more confident!!! Thank you!!! Looking forward to seeing you in two weeks and reporting in!
Mom, Seattle, WA
Melissa, Just had to email and say thank you! I was so used to doing and saying everything for my daughter that I didn't realize she grew into this little person who just wants a say in everything! The shared power makes so much sense to me and feel now like I am watching my doll from a different lens! It truly is amazing, and can't thank you enough!! I just feel so much more confident and better understanding of where she is in life and what she needs from me!!! I always say God puts people in your life when you need it!
Mom, Seattle, WA
