Parenting with Intention, Not Perfection

Helping frustrated parents build trust, empathy, and connection—without losing authority or self-confidence.

Common Challenges Parents Face

When professional instincts—control, decisiveness, efficiency—meet the messy emotions of family life, it can leave even the most confident parents unsure of what to do next.

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Challenges parents encounter:

  • Power struggles with children or teens who push boundaries or resist direction

  • Parenting from guilt or fear, especially after conflict, divorce, or major change

  • Balancing demanding careers with emotional availability

  • Navigating co-parenting dynamics and differing communication styles

  • Managing burnout, anxiety, or perfectionism that spills over into family life

  • Supporting children’s emotional or behavioral struggles, including school avoidance, dysregulation, or anxiety

Michelle’s work helps parents understand these challenges not as failures, but as opportunities for growth. Therapy becomes a process of learning new tools—not judgment or blame.

Her clients appreciate her pragmatic and results-oriented style. She knows you’re not looking for theory; you’re looking for what works.

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The Details

  • Michelle’s approach is designed for parents who are used to being listened to elsewhere but feel ineffective at home. Her style is direct, collaborative, and grounded in warmth, humor, and evidence-based techniques.

    She blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Family Systems Theory to build practical tools you can use immediately—skills for emotional regulation, communication, and conflict resolution.

    Together, you’ll:

    • Identify the patterns keeping your family stuck and understand emotional triggers.

    • Clarify your parenting goals and family values.

    • Increase emotional fluency and learn how to integrate it into daily communication.

    • Practice tools for staying calm, even in emotionally charged moments.

    • Learn new ways to communicate that invite cooperation, not compliance.

    • Build consistency and alignment between co-parents or caregivers.

    Her sessions are:

    • Focused and structured: Each conversation is goal-driven and built around actionable strategies.

    • Flexible and adaptive: Space is left to address new dynamics or challenges as they arise.

    • Practical and empowering: You’ll leave sessions with tools that apply to real family life.

    Michelle’s ultimate goal is not to keep you in therapy indefinitely, but to help you build the insight and confidence to manage challenges independently. “Effective therapy helps you outgrow the need for it.”

  • Parent-focused therapy is less about “fixing” problems and more about strengthening your family’s foundation and providing the tools and strategies to respond to parental challenges. Over time, you can expect:

    • Calmer, more respectful communication between parents and children.

    • Reduced conflict and greater emotional understanding.

    • Renewed confidence in handling challenges without resorting to control or avoidance.

    • Improved emotional regulation and awareness for both parent and child.

    • A stronger, more resilient family system that thrives under stress.