What is a Parent Coach?

Tara Paterson
What is a parent coach? Parent coaching is a partnership between a parent who wants to accomplish specific goals either within themselves or within the family unit (with children or a spouse or partner) and a trained professional who can offer specific tools to help a parent recognize areas that need improvement; offer effective techniques to create the changes they seek; and achieve their goals.

How is having a parent coach different from the many parenting books or workshops which are available? Having a parent coach is building a confidential, private relationship with someone who listens to a specific situation and offers advice and tools to assist the parent through their individual experiences. A coach becomes a cheerleader for the parent by reinforcing concepts learned by working together. A coach is a non- judgmental sounding board where everything is discussed in confidence openly and honestly. A coach is not an “expert,” but rather an advisor for the parent’s specific situation.

Is a coaching session considered a therapy session? The answer is no, but it can be therapeutic. A parent coaching relationship offers the parent a bird’s eye view into their life by celebrating the many accomplishments which may go unnoticed on a daily basis while offering effective means to correct things the parent wishes to change.

What would a typical coaching relationship consist of? How a relationship is structured is flexible based on the needs of the parent. To get started the coach will provide the parent with specific information which will assist with the development of a plan to meet the parent’s needs. An initial session is scheduled to create the plan, followed by the guidelines and structure agreed upon by both parent and coach.


How long is a standard coaching relationship? The minimum requirement is 3 months and can last for several years. Sessions are usually on a weekly basis and last from 45 minutes to an hour based on the parent’s goals and the desired outcome.

A parent coach can be a valuable resource to create a harmonious family life while providing the individual with increased confidence in all facets of their life.

As a certified parent coach, I specialize in:

  • Grief Management

  • Parenting Intuitive Children

  • Connection Parenting

  • Parenting a Child with Special Needs

  • Intuitive Coaching

  • Energy Management

  • Moving through emotion

  • Managing a relationship with someone who has a mental illness

  • Presence- being with a situation or circumstance, but not being of it

    For more information about working with a parent coach, email: parentcoach@justformom.com or visit www.JustForMom.com/parentcoach.
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    Tara Paterson

    Tara has been building bridges with moms and families for many years. Her passion first revealed itself with JustforMom.com, a web site business with advice, ideas, and resources designed to "touch each Mom´s life, one Mom at a time." She went on to create Moms In Print, a resource to assist, educate, and guide mom writers to realize their dream of being a published author; and in July 2004, Ms. Paterson launched her 501 (c)3 non- profit concept- the Just For Mom foundation. The Foundation has been involved with projects that involve a grassroots effort to support the Reading Rainbow; the creation of the prestigious Mom´s Choice Award®; and is the recipient of a portion of the proceeds from the Chicken Soup series - Chicken Soup for the Mother and Sons Soul.

    Tara received her parent coach certification through the Academy for Coaching Parents International; is a columnist for Children of the New Earth, an online publication; and is an expert blogger for the Partnership for a Drug Free America; she is also a trainer for the Academy for Coaching Parents.

    She is the co-author of the book- Raising Intuitive Children (New Page Books, May '09) and is the spokesperson for the Mom's Choice Awards.

    Tara was nominated as the 2002 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, and was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003 by a Northern Virginia networking group.

    She has been seen on CNN, the Today Show, the Early Show, 48 Hours and has been featured in the Washington Post, Newsweek, the Purcellville Gazette, the Loudoun Magazine and quoted in the USA Today and Parenting Magazine.


    Tara Paterson is available for private coaching, presentations, lectures, and workshops. To find out more, visit her ParentingIntuitives blog.