Certified Coaches

I’ve spent over twenty years helping the next generation respond to God as a pastor and ministry leader. I’m passionate about equipping leaders of kids with grace-infused perspectives and practices that cultivate faith in families. As a CF Certified Parent Coach, I get to come alongside parents and church leaders to not only tell kids they’re loved by God, but show them! On the hardest days, the Connected Families framework helps me stay rooted in God’s love and offer his love to my kids, too. I’d love to help you steward the privilege of leading the kids in your family or church, especially in the messy parts.

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My goal is to support parents and kids in order to build healthier families and more fully reflect the heart of Jesus and the family of God. Kenji and his wife Amy are missionaries with Cadence International. They spent 8 years living overseas in Japan and have firsthand experience with raising third-culture kids. They currently serve at Cadence’s HQ as caregivers for the kids of Cadence missionaries and provide support and pastoral care for families around the world. Connected Families has been an invaluable tool for their family as they raise their three young kids. Read more…

As a counselor, homeschool mom of three, and pastor’s wife, I understand that every child, parent, and family is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach to parenting is not sufficient. At Cedar Cove, we offer Christ-centered counseling to all ages, virtually and in person. As a counselor, I blend these skills and practices into my parent coaching. Counseling has given me a knowledge of relational and mental health struggles, giving me the ability to help parents and kids who are struggling at this level. Homeschooling my own sensitive and intense kids has given me insight into the particular challenges that can occur in this context. My husband has been in school or in ministry for the duration of our marriage. While this dynamic has been challenging at times, it has grown me in my ability to help those struggling in similar ways. In each of these settings, I have helped parents and children suffering from anxiety, depression, OCD, self-injury, ADHD, ASD, ODD, and PTSD. I have helped people walk through difficult transitions, grief and loss, and painful relationships. I offer a free consultation call to any family interested in pursuing parent coaching with me. Send me an email to set this up! I look forward to hearing your struggles and walking with you through them. 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 mother to 5 kids (ages 17 to 7), I understand the unique challenges and joy parents face, especially parenting children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, gifted, dyslexia, developmental delays, mental health challenges and adoption trauma. Before finding Connected Families I searched everywhere for resources and read book after book about methods that were short lived. That is where I hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. I ultimately became a coach through their training program to help others like me. I have seen transformation in our home through working with a framework that not only has changed our children’s behavior, but transformed our hearts as well. You are not alone on this parenting journey. There is hope and you can enjoy your children, building lasting relationships with your children and deep connection that lasts a lifetime. And I’m here to help. 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…

As an adoptive parent, I understand the parenting challenges unique to families formed through adoption. In addition to parenting, I have had the privilege of working as the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Coordinator for my county since 2018, with children in foster care who have experienced the trauma of neglect and abuse. I bring encouragement for strengthening families through virtual one-on-one coaching, small group coaching, and in-person workshops. I accept clients from any location, as I do all my parent coaching sessions virtually. I would love to come alongside you in your adoptive/foster parenting journey. In November of 2023, I attended an adoption conference in Des Moines, IA. I saw a picture with the Connected Families Framework, which drew me in to take a closer look. When I saw that this was Biblically based, I wanted to learn more, and I became a certified Parent Coach in November 2024. I am continually learning and applying the Framework, so that I can encourage and equip parents on how to help their children find their unique identity and beliefs about themselves. In my own Connected Families coaching sessions, it was revealed to me that I wasn’t as “safe” a parent as I thought I was. I am now looking at myself first and trying to be a better listener. It is never too late to change! I have four children, six years apart. My oldest two are biological, and my youngest two were adopted internationally from Taiwan, making us a multiracial family. They are all young adults now, so I have experienced every age and stage from preschool through high school and beyond. Family is sacred, and over the decades, my faith has grown into a closer union with God. I seek comfort in the Lord to be patient as I wait upon the Holy Spirit to lead my husband (and high school sweetheart) to put his faith in Jesus. Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her. This is why I chose to name my coaching business, She Believed. What are you believing God for in your journey? “Mandy’s coaching was truly impactful. She didn’t rush through the areas where I needed more support, and she was consistently encouraging. One of the most meaningful aspects was how she ended every session with prayer, which left me feeling uplifted and strengthened.” Becky, client in summer 2024 Read more…

When I first got to know about Connected Families, I was working with young adult orphans and at-risk children in Latvia. The Framework transformed my thinking and really helped me serve these children better. During my parent coaching studies, the Lord brought my husband to my life. I moved back to Finland, we got married, and I became a stepmom to two teenagers. Having worked with orphans, I have adoptive and foster parents on my heart and would like to support them through the Connected Families Framework. I have also led a center for victims of human trafficking and their children in Cyprus. Serving in this ministry gave me insight into parenting challenges that these precious women faced. Kun ensi kertaa tutustuin Connected Families -materiaaleihin työskentelin nuorten aikuisten orpojen ja riskiasemassa olevien lasten kanssa Latviassa. Lähdin hakemaan apua työhöni ja sitä todella myös sain. Opintoihin kuuluva valmennussetti mullisti ajattelu- ja toimintatapani. Opiskelujen aikana Jumala toi mieheni elämääni. Muutin takaisin Suomeen, menimme naimisiin ja samalla sain perheeseeni myös mieheni teini-ikäiset lapset. Kannan sydämelläni erityisesti sijais- ja adoptiovanhempia. Erilaiset vanhemmuuden haasteet tulivat tutuiksi myös johtaessani päiväkeskusta ihmiskaupan uhreille ja heidän lapsilleen Kyproksella. Read more…

Alice is a heart-connector and dream-builder who believes connections can change the world — and she’s built her life making that vision a reality. Through coaching, she creates spaces where families grow stronger, relationships heal, and authentic bonds thrive. Every conversation plants a seed of transformation; every detail nurtures connection. For Alice, Bonding Hearts isn’t just a business — it’s her calling, art, and mission to help hearts find their way back to each other, one soul at a time. Read more…

I’m a trauma-informed Social Worker, Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, and founder of Truth + Grace. I have a decade of experience serving foster care and adoptive families, people in substance use recovery, and children/adults with mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions. I have personally experienced the life-transforming grace and truth of the gospel in my parenting through Connected Families and I love watching parents light up as they see for themselves how grace-based parenting brings peace and joy back into their homes. I help overwhelmed parents of young kids who are feeling defeated by persistent behavioral challenges, break free from yelling and unhelpful consequences by teaching effective, grace-filled strategies for correcting behavior while maintaining security, love, and connection with their child. ​If you want to enjoy your child again, motivate them towards better behavior, and experience deeper family connections – I would be honored to support you on your journey. I specialize in children’s mental health and trauma prevention. I have experience helping families with kids of all ages and feel especially called to support parents of young children ages 2-10. Read more…

I became a Connected Families Coach to support the parents in our church body and the deeper I go with these materials and methods the more I am inspired! I love Connected Families because it is a call to live out the gospel in our closest relationships. Soaked in scripture, these ways lead each of us in our parenting journey humbly to the Cross of Christ (Do-overs) and help us grow to live out the fruit of the Spirit (restoring our children gently) and inspiring all to be a blessing as we parent with the Connect Families Framework. The majority of my time, outside of the care and keeping of my family (husband Matt and 3 teenagers), is given to leading Kids and Family ministry in Minnesota at my local church. This is work I love! For 8 years, with my team, I have had the great joy of loving on kids in Jesus name and building routines and memories that (I pray) will lead to deep abiding faith and home in the church for all those that grow up in our care. I believe strongly that in Christ “every family under heaven” (Eph 3:15) has been established, you are the right parents for your kids! I would be honored to walk with your family as a coach! It would be my hope to make this information personal and practical, prayerfully considering what your next step might be with all the tools of Connected Families at the ready. Read more…

My name is Heather Benjamin. I have a passion for the way Connected Families has combined brain science, and early childhood development with a biblical foundation creating a unique parenting framework. I am a mom to six kiddos – with one special angel awaiting me in Heaven. After losing my precious son Matthew at just 11 months old in 2022 due to complications with Dandy-Walker Syndrome & simultaneously going through a divorce, I was shattered. Dealing with my own grief and heartache was one thing, but trying to help my children figure out their own was another. My other son Alex, was struggling tremendously. He struggled with intense anger. My other kiddos struggled with ADHD, high energy, and anxiety. I was desperate and needed help. Connected families turned my life around. The tools and resources gave me the ability to help each one of my children in a unique way. Almost three years later I have now become a coach myself and my husband Kevin and I are implementing the framework daily. It’s not perfect nor will it ever be, however, I have learned to have grace with myself and with them and we are in a better place because of it. Our other five kiddos range from the age of one and a half all the way to eleven. I have experience with trauma, grief, anger, ADHD, divorce, sensitive and intense kids, special needs, and more. Through this coaching journey, I have also learned that I am sensitive and intense myself. I feel that God has used this in a way to allow me to be able to speak to parents who also struggle with things such as perfectionism, OCD, over-stimulation, stress-cycles, fight/flight, and more. I chose Connected Families because I knew, deep in my spirit, that there was a better way. A healthier and more biblical way to parent. I wanted to break toxic generational patterns, and ineffective discipline and see the transformation to being a healthy family. It would be my privilege to support and guide you through your own unique transforming journey. Read more…