SCHOOLS: SPEAKING TO PARENTS / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

What I do within the school setting is exciting and varied. I offer workshops at your school for your parents and staff.  My approach is unique in that I take the whole family into account: the parents individually, the partnerships that support the child (regardless of whether the child is with two parents, a parent and a care-giver, extended family, etc.), and complete tools to raise responsible children in a loving and emotionally supportive way.

My workshops are fun, informative, and interactive.  Everyone walks away equipped with tools to use immediately.

CORPORATE CLIENTS / KEYNOTES

I provide comprehensive options to corporate clients.
I invite you to get in touch with me to discuss your interest in what I have to offer your business and employees. I work closely with corporate clients to develop workshops that meet the needs of your employees.

Without a doubt, calm and "in control" parents make happier, more productive employees. I speak on topics that support the people within your business in their role as a parent and within the workplace. The skills parents take away from my workshops transfer effectively to work situations. 

I am also available to provide keynote speeches for conferences, workshops, and seminars. Presentations can be tailored for therapists, teachers, social workers and other professional groups and gatherings.

I look forward to hearing from you and having the opportunity to talk to you in more detail about what I do and how we can deliver it!

Keynote Speaker for Nestlé in Manila, the Philippines on Growth Mindset

SAMPLE TOPICS

Melissa strives to challenge outdated ways of thinking about raising children by sharing evidence-based tools and strategies. She helps parents understand and discover how they can best nurture and develop a healthy child both socially and emotionally based on the latest research.

Building Your Parenting Toolbox / Building Positive Relations With Children Through Positive Discipline
This workshop offers parenting strategies that result in children who want to be in partnership with their parents. Melissa blends Positive Discipline and Gottman techniques in her approach to helping take the power struggles out of our day-to-day interactions with our children. Melissa will share specific discipline strategies that foster respectful loving family relationships and teach self-discipline. The content presented is based on her book The Childproof Parent.

Emotion Coaching: An Essential Part of Your Parenting Toolbox
Emotion coaching helps parents guide their children through life's ups and downs in a way that builds confidence, resilience and strong relationships. Developed by Dr. John Gottman, author of Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child, this process helps your child learn how emotions work and how to behave in healthy ways when feelings are strong and develop skills that help them thrive socially and academically. Come learn and practice with your community of parents. 

 
Creating Healthy Families: Putting Yourself & Your Relationships First
This workshop for parents is based on the research of Drs. John & Julie Gottman. Come and learn about the Gottman Sound Relationship House and how to build your emotional bank account. Melissa will share some simple steps that are scientifically proven to strengthen relationships and can enrich your lives through your connection with one another and your child.

 
Fostering Empathy in Children
From the groundbreaking work on Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman (1996) identified five characteristics, which more than general intelligence or IQ, predict a person’s eventual success in life. These traits (self-awareness, mood management, motivation, empathy, and social skills) can be fostered in children and taught in classrooms, making them powerful strategies for parents and teachers to model when working with children. Helping kids read emotions and develop empathy is an ongoing process and can’t be taught in a few days or weeks. Melissa will share three specific strategies to help foster empathy in our children.

Introduction to Positive Discipline
This is a foundational level class for parents, caregivers, and teachers. This introductory class focuses on the basic parenting approach of the Positive Discipline model by engaging in group activities and discussions based on real-life scenarios. Positive Discipline focuses on teaching children valuable social and life skills without using any form of punishment, permissiveness, or rewards. Positive Discipline uses effective discipline techniques that help children gain a sense of belonging through connection, and significance through contribution. All Positive Discipline tools are designed to respectfully empower and encourage children to realize their own capability and keep the joy in caregiving. 

Partners in Parenting
Learn why taking care of your relationship is critical to your child’s development! Based on the research of Drs. John & Julie Gottman, this hands-on workshop will help participants learn the secrets to increasing relationship satisfaction and parenting as a team.

Beyond Praise: Avoiding The Approval Junkie Syndrome
Tired of using threats and bribes? In this workshop, we will discuss specific ways to encourage and motivate children without creating approval junkies.  This workshop is great for parents of children of all ages! 

Fostering A Growth Mindset: Unlocking Your Child’s Full Potential (Alternative Title: Don’t Put a Lid on Your Kid)
Melissa will present to the audience how nurturing a growth mindset can help alter and develop our children’s abilities and intelligence. She will discuss how achievement is directly correlated to our beliefs about intelligence. Melissa will both educate and enlighten the audience on how a growth mindset leads to increased effort, greater confidence, a willingness to take risks and learn from mistakes. She will cover how we can model a growth mindset for our children, help them persist in the face of obstacles, and learn to embrace failures as valuable opportunities for learning.

Empowering T(w)eens
This workshop is an opportunity for families to gain support and learn ways to coach their teens and preteens to navigate conflict. Melissa will share strategies, based on the work of Dr. Lisa Damour, for working through challenges with your child while modeling the tools needed to manage conflict with confidence, that simultaneously empowers students to stand up for themselves and be active bystanders when others need their help. This workshop creates a space where parents can learn together and be more intentional in their parenting. The goal is for parents to walk away with greater confidence and clarity about what they can do and say to support their t(w)een.

The Longest Year(s): Understanding & Tools to Support Your Child Post-COVID
In this workshop, we explore some of the challenges that children have faced due to the pandemic and what the outcomes have been regarding their mental health and behavior. We then dive deep into some of the strategies that parents can employ to help children feel heard while restoring a greater sense of control. Melissa will share both her knowledge and experience helping hundreds of families navigate these challenging times with greater ease.

Screen Time 101
During this workshop Melissa will cover some of the basics of how to proactively set limits on screen use and avoid challenging behaviors associated with children’s use of screens and devices. Based on the latest science and research she will clarify the emotional, behavioral, and physical impact of screens, share guideline and strategies for managing screen use, demonstrate how to model healthy screen use for your child, and share strategies to avoid and navigate challenging behaviors associated with screen use. Parents and caregivers walk away with clarity and tools in their pocket to put into practice immediately.

WHAT DOES THIS COST?

I offer presentations to small and large groups for PTSAs, corporations, parent organizations, schools, churches, conferences, and in private homes. Book a complimentary Discovery Call to learn more.

AROUND THE SEATTLE AREA & VIRTUALLY

Prices for presentations depend on length, location, and the number of workshops booked. (Please contact me for an exact quote because there are a handful of factors that go into the final cost. So, let’s chat!)

OUTSIDE SEATTLE AREA

I have traveled as far as Manila, Philippines to speak to parents, organizations, and educators. The cost varies depending on your needs and by location – so please request a quote!

WHAT ATTENDEES ARE SAYING:

Your talks are always so engaging and last night was no exception. Really nice flow and balance of information and audience participation and engagement. I also gave you a challenging task of an audience with a huge age range of kids, and the topic and information presented were relevant to all. You managed to expertly personalize and connect to the diverse group of attendees with your personal stories of elementary and high school parenting experiences, as well as enlightening activities to help drive home some of your key points. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and knowledge with families in our district. AMY B, PTSA PARENT EDUCATION CHAIR FOR LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

Melissa, your talk at Lake Washington Technical College was super helpful- it has done wonders with my approach to my strong-willed and wonderful little girl! KELLI, MOM OF A PRESCHOOLER, SEATTLE

Thank you again, Melissa! I have taken many parenting classes and yours was by far the best. I really appreciate that I had the opportunity to learn more techniques from you. I am hoping to take an emotional coaching class soon!
PRIVATE PARENTING GROUP PARTICIPANT

Melissa, I liked the animated conversation and presentation. Normally these seminars during or after lunch put you to sleep; however, you had all my attention. Thank you so much!
WORKPLACE LUNCH & LEARN PARTICIPANT, STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY, SEATTLE, WA

I had the opportunity to participate in a PEPS Facilitator Training program led by Melissa. As the session progressed, however, I found myself truly impressed by their depth of knowledge, ability to facilitate group meetings, and most importantly, her ability to make participants feel comfortable and at ease. I left feeling excited and truly prepared to lead my first PEPS group and felt that I had a reliable and knowledgeable resource to turn to if needed. CINDY, SEATTLE, WA

 I attended a parent lecture at Wedgwood Cooperative Preschool a few months back and you were the fabulous guest speaker. I was inspired by your energy. Your ability to make time for your fitness goals is what I took home that evening. I have since applied this to my life and am feeling great! Thank you for the much-needed nudge. More importantly, the words to make the nudge stick in our busy household. Mom is officially back on the 'to do” list. HELEYNA, WEDGWOOD COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL PARENT, SEATTLE, WA

 I’ve had the pleasure of working with Melissa at PEPS as she delivered numerous facilitation skills trainings for our Volunteer Group Leaders. She is a great person to work with – very knowledgeable on the topic, and very open to and proactive about incorporating all of our feedback. She is both personable and professional and fun! Our group leaders who attended the training reported that they learned new facilitation and really enjoyed the training. MARY POWER, PEPS PROGRAM DIRECTOR

MELISSA’S CLIENTS INCLUDE:

 Keynote Speaker for Nestlé, Philippines ⋅ Keynote Speaker at WA State Head Start/ECEAP Conference ⋅Jewish Family Service of Seattle ⋅ Hutch Kids at Fred Hutch ⋅ The Annual Women’s Leadership Conference  ⋅ Fenwick & West LLP ⋅  Starbucks Coffee Company ⋅ The Entrepreneurs Organization (EO Seattle)⋅ Insperity HR Services⋅  Villa Academy ⋅  Lake Washington Institute of Technology ⋅ The Bush School Parent University ⋅ University Child Development School ⋅ Program for Early Parenting Support - PEPS ⋅ Seattle Central Community College ⋅ Madison Park Cooperative Preschool ⋅ Magnolia Cooperative Preschool  ⋅ Mercer Island Preschool Association ⋅  Mothers of Multiples ⋅ North Seattle Central Community College ⋅ Saint Catherine School ⋅ The Woodinville Toddlers Group ⋅ West Seattle Preschool Association ⋅ North Queen Anne Preschool ⋅ Cascadia Elementary ⋅  Redmond Toddler Group⋅ Kirkland Cooperative Preschools ⋅ Inglemoore Cooperative Preschool ⋅ Crystal Springs Cooperative Preschool ⋅ Sandhurst Cooperative Preschool ⋅The Redmond Toddler Group ⋅  MOPS of North Seattle ⋅ North Seattle French School ⋅ Lake Washington School District PTSA ⋅ Community Elementary School ⋅ The Valley School ⋅ The French American School of Puget Sound ⋅ St Louise Parish School ⋅ Maven Clinic ⋅ Stanwood Cooperative Preschool ⋅ Villyge ⋅ Bailey Middle School- Austin, TX ⋅ French Immersion School of WA ⋅ Forest Ridge, Sacred Heart Girls School