Certified Coaches

I am passionate about helping parents and educators show up with grace and deep understanding for the children in their care. With many years of experience working with children—first as an Early Learning Educator and then in Early Childhood Development, I am committed to bringing unique insights into children’s needs and behaviors.

My personal journey with the Connected Families framework has profoundly impacted how I approach parenting and work. It has helped me to truly understand God’s grace and empowered me to better connect with both my two teenage children and the children I work with. This grace is the foundation of my coaching. I am passionate about equipping parents and educators to experience this freedom and bring God’s grace to the very heart of their parenting and teaching. Utilizing the Connected Families framework is like co-parenting with Jesus. It doesn’t get any better than that!

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Mara is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate with experience in play therapy and family therapy in addition to parent coaching. She enjoys walking with parents through the struggles and joys of raising children, especially children who have unique challenges or experiences. Mara has found help and hope in the Lord through the Connected Families teaching and she loves to offer the same help and hope to other parents. Mara lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and two children. She enjoys knitting, listening to audiobooks, and hiking with her family. Read more…

It is never too late for God’s grace and truth to change lives! In my early 60’s, I unexpectedly encountered Connected Families on the Internet and, even at this age, what I learned was so encouraging! I sure wish I had had Connected Families as a young mom! As I engaged with the framework through the Discipline that Connects online course, received coaching myself, and continued to engage with other Connected Families materials, I began to see a new richness in my life, my marriage, and even my extended family! This gave me a desire to share what I was learning by pursuing parent coaching certification. My husband and I have been missionaries with FamilyLife, a Cru ministry for over 30 years. We have had a heart to see families experience the hope and help they can find only in a relationship with Christ. As a certified parent coach, I now have another tool to offer families so that parents can experience God’s transforming grace and truth and share it with their kids. I am excited to walk with parents (or grandparents!) to discover God’s unique plan for their family! Exploring the Biblical, practical, neurologically sound approach to relationships that the Connected Families framework offers will provide you with a plan that could change your family for generations to come. Coaching can help you grow a family that is connected to God and to each other. You can have a family characterized by grace and truth in the ups and downs of real life. Read more…

As an adoptive mama of sensitive and intense kiddos, I found Connected Families while searching for resources to help my family thrive. The Connected families framework is practical without being prescriptive. I love how it takes God’s Word and our relationship with Him and integrates the latest brain science to guide our relationships. When I feel stuck in a situation, I can use the framework to process the next steps. Since becoming a parent, I have learned how uniquely and wonderfully each child is made. What “works” on one child doesn’t necessarily “work” on the next. This framework takes the “what” and makes it personal for each kid. I have 3 very different children and find that my interaction with each one is unique, yet the principles behind them remain the same. I can help you apply the framework for your family. I understand the family dynamics of children with mental health issues, ADHD, and intense feelings/behaviors. And, after the loss of my husband to cancer, I know what it is like to be a solo parent. God’s grace is enough. He says that He has given us everything we need for life and Godliness. I believe the framework is one of those gifts. I am excited to help you unpack it! Read more…

Family is God’s design, and we are made to thrive! I am deeply passionate about parenting, and pursuing a healthy, thriving family. We have 3 very different children, and have learned (and grown) the most in parenting our oldest son, who is very sensitive and intense. It’s an honor and privilege to support parents in their parenting journey, as they aspire to learn and grow to become the best parents, and living examples, for their children. I’ve accumulated mass amounts of content and knowledge from countless parenting resources. Connected Families, and their parenting framework I teach, is by far the best I’ve ever come across for building trust and relationships with our children, while raising them up to be who God has made them to be. Read more…

Parenting can be one of the most rewarding—and most challenging—callings in life. My parent coaching is designed to equip and encourage parents who feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or stuck in survival mode. Whether you’re navigating daily struggles or deeper family dynamics, I come alongside you with practical tools, compassionate support, and hope-filled guidance. Rather than focusing on what’s going wrong, I work with your strengths to help you step confidently into your God-given role as a parent. With personal and professional experience in foster care and adoption, I understand the added complexities that can come with parenting children from hard places. I offer insight, grace, and strategies tailored to your unique family story. My desire is to see you experience the joy and purpose of parenting—rooted in connection, restored hope, and growing confidence. Together, we’ll uncover the obstacles that are keeping you stuck and move toward lasting transformation in your home. Read more…

All families struggle at times, and we all need support. I desire to bring hope and direction for parents through parent coaching and see a lasting positive change in the whole family. As a parent coach I am passionate about the well-being of families. I come alongside parents and help them find a long-lasting plan that increases peace and grace in the family. I am a mom of three active girls and an Executive Director at a family ministry called Moms for Kids or “Momssit”. Through my work, I serve families especially in Finland. Vanhemmuuden valmentajana haluan tuoda kokonaisvaltaista hyvinvointia perheisiin. Vanhempien rinnalla kulkien autan heitä löytämään kestävän suunnitelman vanhemmuuteen, joka lisää rauhaa ja armoa koko perheen elämään. Kaikki perheet käyvät läpi vaikeuksia ja kaikki tarvitsevat tukea ajoittain. Connected Families valmennuksen avulla haluankin tuoda toivoa ja suuntaa vanhemmille ja sitä kautta nähdä pysyvää positiivista muutosta koko perheessä. Olen kolmen vauhdikkaan tytön äiti ja toiminnanjohtaja Moms for Kids yhdistyksessä eli Momsseissa. Haluan palvella suomen perheitä työni kautta valmentaen ja tuoden Connected Families työtä maahamme. Read more…

My name is Jane Otieno. I am married and blessed with two children, a 16-year-old and a 20-year-old. I serve alongside my husband as a pastor. I am so passionate about parenting and equipping parents with strategies to help them parent with grace. As a certified parent coach, I find joy in walking alongside parents in their parenting journey. 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…

I am a youth pastor, a dedicated husband to one, and a father of three. I understand the intricacies of parenthood from both a personal and professional perspective. With a heart filled with compassion and a deep commitment to the Church family, I hope to bring a unique blend of faith-based guidance and practical wisdom to parent coaching. I have served in youth ministry for over a decade and have experienced firsthand and alongside others many of the challenges and joys that families encounter on the windy and wonderful journey of doing life together. I’m a Barnabas. I am wired to uplift and encourage. In addition to working with students, I’ve expanded our church ministry to include parent coaching to support discipleship that happens at home. where he offers a holistic approach that integrates faith, love, and compassion into every aspect of parenting. Read more…

I am a mom of three amazing and energetic kids. My own journey of parent coaching began when the busyness of life was interfering with the joy I desired to experience in my family. I was frustrated. I needed God’s grace and unconditional love in my life. The Connected Families framework helped me turn from managing behavior to connecting and mentoring my children. I would love to come alongside you on an intentional parenting journey to discover your child’s unique gifts and guide them toward their purpose. Learn tools to communicate and connect with your child. Build a more connected and peaceful home. Read more…

Parenting is a journey filled with challenges and opportunities for growth. As a third-culture kid raised in a Chinese family in Thailand, I learned resilience and adaptability. When I became a mom, I sought answers in books and courses, yet real-life parenting often defied textbook solutions. Through Connected Families, I discovered the power of grace-filled parenting rooted in self-reflection and reliance on God. This approach transformed anxious parents into confident ones and inspired me to become a parent coach. With two children of my own, I understand every child and family is unique. Let’s grow together in faith and grace-filled truth. Read more…