CF-Certified Parent Coaches

Welcome to the Connected Families community. We belong together. Please relax and make yourself at home!

“Hybrid Educator” describes my journey through Christian education, home education, and public education. My seven children are my favorite teachers! Our current educational landscape includes a university graduate, home school graduate, home school senior, and four public school students (in kindergarten, grade 2, grade 4, and grade 7.)

Attending a tiny Christian college in Texas prepared me to teach at Christian schools in the United States and Africa before home-schooling my own children in New Brunswick, Canada. My husband, Michael, and I promoted curriculum at Home School Conventions across the country. Visions of family learning kept me dancing among blissfully harmonious expectations. Reality brought dissonance, overwhelm, and collapse. What was going on in me? What was going on in my children? My husband? Not the slightest clue! Just increasing pressure that I had to keep everyone happy, along with heaps of shame for failing so short of that goal. Without a wisp of awareness. A different question taunted, “What’s wrong with me?”

My first encounter with Connected Families was hearing a radio interview that echoed the longing of my heart for true peace in my family. Healing and wholeness are possible! Relief flooded me, and hope carried me forward. Through grace-filled truth in courses, kindness, coaching, prayer, humor, and community, I continue to try again.

Connected Families family members help me focus more on Jesus and His wonderful grace every day. How thankful I am for appreciative inquirers! Childlike wonder and curiosity are returning to my heart and home. Connected Families Parent Coaching is a transformational way to share the love I receive. Where are you in your parenting journey? Coaching empowers every parent to discover a unique next step for their divinely and intricately designed family. Let’s learn and grow together!

Many of my “dance steps” remain awkward (and embarrassing for my children). Practicing to the music of God’s mercy is a delight. Connected Family resources are a gift from heaven.

You don’t have to take my word for it! Where do you want to start? Linger on the Connected Families website discovering beautiful eternal harmonies. You might even find yourself dancing.

“Lord, You are my true strength and my glory song, my champion, my Saviour! Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!” Psalm 118:14-15

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I’m Kate, and I’m a mom of one biological daughter and two stepsons. I know firsthand the rollercoaster of parenting. From navigating the complexities of trauma, sensory issues, anxiety, depression, and ADHD to embracing the highs and lows of raising kids who are sensitive and intense with big feelings, I’ve experienced a lot. Going through a divorce or co-parenting in a high-conflict situation? I’ve been there, too. I understand the challenges that arise when two co-parents have different approaches in their respective homes and how it affects the children involved. I would love the privilege of walking alongside you while you are on your unique parenting path. Wherever you are in your parenting journey, know that I’m here and ready to accompany you with kindness, understanding, and absolutely zero judgment. Read more…

I came to Connected Families as a seasoned teacher turned homeschool mom (with a sensitive and intense child) at the end of my parenting rope. Now as a CF coach I want to help other struggling families dive into this whole-Bible, whole-brain approach that helps us make the Christ centered change we want to see. I believe there is so much grace available for parents who, like me, desire to help their children grow in wisdom when they struggle. Our challenges are an opportunity to see God move, to let the Holy Spirit guide us, and to live in more of the fullness of what God has for our families. I love to get practical with tools and resources to help families apply the CF framework to their unique families. I live in Madison, WI with my husband and 3 young kids, a “teddy bear” dog, and 3 ridiculous chickens. I hold a master’s degree in Education, and have a special passion for helping families with toddlers. I would love to come alongside you on the parenting journey. Read more…

I am a certified parent coach with Connected Families. With four wonderful children of my own—ages 17, 15, 13, and 11—I understand the joys and challenges of raising a family. As a former missionary, our family has had to navigate some pretty major transitions that have deeply impacted us all. Through my own personal journey, I have experienced firsthand the transformational power of the gospel through the Connected Families framework, a biblically-based approach to parenting that has brought healing and growth to my own household. When I was at the peak of struggle in my parenting, I was exhausting all parenting resources, and then I came across a book in the library by Connected Families. I have never looked back. I am excited to share this framework with other parents, offering fresh perspectives on parenting and empowering families to grow in grace. I am passionate about helping families build strong, connected relationships. Connected Families is a warm invitation to nurture connection, build grace-filled relationships, and establish a solid foundation for lasting family growth. I would love to walk with you in experiencing a fresh approach to parenting that can often change your family’s dynamics and empower you to grow as a parent. My heart for you and for myself, is that we would allow God to give us the grace to enjoy our children the way He has made, wired, and gifted them, so that we would then be able to train them up in the way they should go…Join me in the journey toward the Father’s heart for us and for our families. Read more…

With a B.S. in Biblical Studies and over 15 years of ministry experience as a pastor, I bring both personal and professional passion to helping families grow in grace and connection. I am a Certified Parent Coach (Connected Families), an Affiliate Trainer for Trauma Free World, and a Certified Facilitator for Prepare & Enrich. As a therapeutic foster parent and mom of three, two adopted through the foster care system, I understand the complexities of parenting children with deep histories of trauma. I discovered Connected Families in the darkness of my own parenting journey. I was desperate for help, parenting children who had recently received multiple diagnoses, and my husband and I felt completely ill-equipped to meet their needs. Through Connected Families, we found grace, understanding, and practical tools that gave us the confidence to parent through adversity, and discover healing on the other side. Today, I work at an alternative school, where I witness daily the transformative power of connection with students from the hardest places. I also serve on the vision team for Foster the City, equipping and inspiring churches to provide loving homes and supportive communities for children in foster care. Connected Families changed the trajectory of my parenting and brought peace to our home. My heart now is to walk alongside other families, offering hope, encouragement, and the assurance that healing and connection are possible, even in the hardest seasons. Read more…

Hi there! I’m Vanessa — a mom of two big-hearted and energetic daughters, a leadership coach, and a facilitator. I love working with families and communities to share the truth and grace of the Connected Families Framework, and God’s heart for all of his children. As a coach, I’m passionate about helping people break cycles, generate more awareness, and approach life with more intention and choice. I work with families of all faiths, and mixed-faith households. Our family is mixed faith, so I have personal experience parenting as a Christian while respecting other belief systems. If you think we could be a good fit for coaching or workshop delivery, I’d love to serve you and walk alongside you on your parenting journey! Read more…

As a parent coach, my desire is to come alongside parents and help them gain confidence and equip them to lead their families. I will help you create an environment in your home where everyone feels valued and connected, and skills for you to build a relationship with your kids that will last long after they leave your home. I strongly believe that you are the expert on your child and I would love to walk with you as you bring more peace and joy into your home. Read more…

I have personal and professional experience with adoption and love working with families who have experienced adoption and/or trauma. It would be a joy to walk alongside you in your parenting journey, whether you are facing behavioral challenges or just want to connect deeper with your child. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker and Certified Parent Coach. When I was in high school, my sister and sister-in-law were both adopted internationally, providing me with a unique opportunity to see and experience firsthand the impacts of trauma on the direct family unit. I saw the need for people to walk alongside parents who need encouragement, support, and practical tools for parenting their children with purpose. To meet this need, I became a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. I provide insight and strategies backed by neuroscience, child development research, and the Connected Families framework to help you feel more equipped to parent with confidence. I meet with parents of children who have come into their lives biologically, through adoption, or through foster care. Additionally, I also meet with clients of all ages for therapeutic counseling with LifeWorks Counseling Group in Columbus, Georgia. I have worked with families parenting children who have ADHD, sensory needs, developmental delays, anxiety, Down syndrome, autism, trauma, and more. I also work with families who just want to understand their children a little more, strengthen trust, and don’t want to miss the opportunities to equip, teach, and connect with their children on a daily basis. I meet with families via Zoom, and I can also meet in person in Columbus, Georgia. To get started, please email me at [email protected]. Read more…

When my daughters were first born, my husband worked out of town every weekday and I was struggling with post-partum depression. As a mom desiring to do everything perfectly, I was drowning under a sea of unmet expectations. I had goals and didn’t have a plan for how to make them a reality. From my time as a counselor, I knew I wanted our girls to know their value, but I struggled to enforce consequences. When I found the Connected Families material, I found the tools to apply the principles that were most important to me in counseling. It was like someone had written a how-to manual on being a wholehearted parent. I was thrilled and spent the next 6 years applying the framework in my home and reading The Discipline that Connects book with as many friends as would meet me for coffee. So when I learned that Connected Families was training coaches I knew that I wanted to become a coach. And share this life-giving framework with others. I am passionate about empowering parents as they build a home where everyone feels valued and connected. Using my experience as a school counselor and a parent coach, I would love to walk alongside you as you learn new strategies and apply the Connected Families framework in your home. Read more…

My journey to become a parent coach started when God called me and my husband into the process of rebuilding the foundations of our family. Connected Families was the complete answer to our question: “how”. Later I understood that the calling wasn’t only for the sake of our own family, but for something bigger that God is doing in this time. Through the grace of God, we’ve started to see the blessing of the Christ-centered transformation in our family, which is the main vision of Connected Families. I’m a mom of three sensitive and intense kids. I’m excited to coach and walk alongside families who long to see the gospel, God’s love and grace lived true in the midst of all the challenges of the daily life of their family and parenting. I also lead workshops, courses for small groups and translate Connected Families content into the Finnish language, which can help parents, as well as people who work with or are in any close connection with kids. I live and work in Finland. Polkuni vanhemmuuden valmentajaksi alkoi siitä kun Jumala kutsui minut ja mieheni “perheen perustusten uudelleenrakennusprosessiin”. Connected Families on ollut kokonaisvaltainen vastaus “miten”-kysymykseemme. Myöhemmin ymmärsin että tuo kutsu ei ollut vain omaa perhettämme varten, vaan osa jotain suurempaa, mitä Jumala on tekemässä tässä ajassa. Jumalan armosta olemme saaneet alkaa nähdä Kristus-keskeistä muutosta perheessämme, joka on Connected Families:n päänäky. Olen kolmen herkän ja intensiivisen lapsen äiti. Haluan valmentaa rinnalla kulkien perheitä jotka kaipaavat saada nähdä evankeliumin sekä Jumalan armon ja rakkauden tulevan eletyksi todeksi, läpi perheen ja vanhemmuuden haasteiden. Vedän myös työpajoja, kursseja pienryhmille sekä suomennan Connected Families:n sisältöä, josta voi vanhempien lisäksi saada apua kaikki kasvattajat ja lasten kanssa työskentelävät. Asun ja työskentelen Suomessa. Read more…

Mary Trego with Moving Forward Parent Coaching As an experienced coach, mom, and yaya, I would love to join you in your parenting journey, to encourage and help you move forward. You will learn ways to connect with and guide your child, as well as give yourself grace. This will result in more joy and satisfaction in your parenting. About my coaching: I have been a parent coach for about 10 years since completing a year-long course with the Parent Coaching Institute. I choose to continue my training with Connected Families, feeling that there were gaps in my ability to really help parents. I was attracted to CF by the Biblically grounded and research-informed teaching. Connected Families is rich with the knowledge, tools, and encouragement that parents need. While we all know that parenting can be fun and rewarding, it doesn’t take long to realize that raising a little human can also be challenging and exhausting. Sometimes we get stuck, trying the same techniques and getting the same frustrating results. Parent coaching is a way to get out of that rut. I chose a business name of “Moving Forward Parent Coaching” to help parents know that there is a way forward and with God’s help, find more joy and peace for yourself and your family. I love to encourage parents through their everyday challenges, especially those with children ages 2 to 10. I am also passionate about supporting single parents with the extra responsibilities they carry. As a coach, I am by your side to help you become more competent, confident, calm, and Christ-like. I look forward to encouraging you on your hope-filled journey. About me: My husband, Jason, and I both grew up in Kansas and lived there until 2000 when his job change moved our family to Athens, Greece. In all, we lived in 5 locations in Europe, Africa and Latin America. I understand the challenges of living and raising children overseas, and I love to encourage these parents who are far from their home country and family. We now live in NW Montana and also spend several months each year close to family in Denver. In addition to encouraging parents, I enjoy gardening and traveling with Jason, the love of my life for over 45 years. And of course, I cherish spending quality time and making memories with our 5 children and their families, including the 5 cute and smart grands! To find out more about parent coaching, contact me at: [email protected]. Briefly tell me about your family and your top parenting challenges. The next step will be a complimentary 15-minute phone conversation to see if coaching together is a good fit for both of us. An email will follow to explain the coaching process. Read more…

Discouraged? Overwhelmed? I’ve been there! Parenthood challenged me beyond myself, and Connected Families (CF) offered me hope to a level I previously thought was unattainable. While I looked at many other parenting resources first, once I found CF, everything else fell short in comparison. I love how deeply rooted the CF Framework is in both scripture and brain research. As your parent coach, I can help you understand the CF Framework and how it applies to your unique situation. Perhaps you’re reading my bio because you know me, or you know Connected Families. I can tell you that I was in a challenging home environment and felt called to invest in changing my family. The leap was absolutely worth it, and I’d love to talk through any questions you may have in a free fifteen-minute phone consultation. Below is my contact information, and below that is an easy-to-fill-out form if you would rather reach out without clicking any links. Read more…