Certified Coaches

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.

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Whether you’re a parent grappling with discipline dilemmas or a grandparent taking on a pivotal caregiving role, I’m here to share a little hope and help. My journey as a mother of eight and grandma has equipped me with a deep understanding of the unique struggles faced by parents and grandparents alike. For the past 35 years, I’ve mentored families as a teacher, homeschool consultant, speech coach, and now as a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. My business – Room4Hope Coaching – was born out of my prayer for God to “make room for hope” in my own family. I combine my professional training and personal experience to help families communicate and connect. It is my great joy to be a trusted mentor to my own children, grandchildren, and to YOU.

For more information, visit www.Room4HopeCoaching.com or email [email protected]

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Have you noticed how many young families don’t have a great foundation? Not only that, but they often turn to Google rather than a trustworthy community for help. I come alongside parents to process parenting challenges and build wise habits rooted in relational connection that is also brain science-informed. My coaching is twofold: 1) CF foundational framework for families privately and 2) in order to multiply impact, I also coach churches. I serve as a missionary with the trustworthy engine of FamilyLife Canada and seek to partner with churches to build ministries and communities that offer help and hope for marriages and parents. My services are free because of a large team of generous partners. I first discovered Connected Families when I was getting my master’s degree and met Jim Jackson in a class. As a young dad, I was struck by the power of modeling and relational connection for passing on my faith and building wisdom. As a pastor, I researched a lot of parenting curriculum, but nothing combined effective brain science with the heart of Gospel reconciliation like Connected Families. I would be honored to coach you in building a more connected family on a strong foundation. Read more…

Through all ages and stages, I walk alongside parents with empathy and practical strategies. AREAS OF FOCUS• Schooling: Homeschool and Public• ADHD• Dyslexia• Anxiety• Sensitive and Intense • Sibling Conflict • Health: Severe Needs and Food Allergies FOCUS – ALL AGES: Early Childhood • Elementary Years • Teens • Launching teens into young adult years • Young Adults Read more…

As a home educator, I understand the lifestyle and parenting challenges unique to homeschooling. I have experience with adoption, ADHD, sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, and highly sensitive children. I am a Connected Families parent coach trainer and work as a mentor and parent coach in the Thrive Homeschool community. I also serve parents in my private coaching practice through one-on-one coaching, small group coaching, workshops, and a monthly newsletter. In 2015, our three sensitive and intense boys were 10, 8, and 5. My husband and I were in the same boat as you, struggling with parenting and knowing we needed better tools. We tried many approaches that relied heavily on behavior modification, but those philosophies felt unnatural and manipulative. We may have been getting some results, but they weren’t long-lasting and didn’t help build the family culture we longed for. When we discovered the Connected Families Framework, we found it clear, purposeful, and aligned with our values. It helped us grow wisdom in our kids and build a more connected family. Parent Coaching was the best investment we could have made for our family. It was a transformative experience that gave us a new perspective, helping us connect with our boys before jumping in to correct their behavior. It provided us with accountability and guided us through our unique parenting challenges. Not only has it brought more confidence and clarity to our parenting, but it has also brought more peace to our home. Now that we have two college-age kids and one finishing up homeschooling high school, I see the fruit of the Framework! That’s why I’m so deeply passionate about sharing these tools with families. We have experienced such an amazing transformation, and I am confident I can help your family experience this, too. What a blessing to see how God is equipping parents to disciple their children, who will one day pass this blessing on to their children. God is in the business of redeeming families. It would be an honor to walk alongside you on your journey! 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…

Danielle is a licensed Pediatric Occupational Therapist and homeschooling mother of ten years. Recognizing the genuine challenges of parenting as well as the unique privilege, Danielle loves coming alongside families to help them experience God’s grace and a deeper connection with each other. David loves helping people connect with God’s heart and has found his own relationship with the Lord being deeply impacted by the Connected Families framework. He has almost twenty years of experience in mentoring and coaching ministry leaders in spiritual and family rhythms and is delighted to now offer CF coaching. David and Danielle Cervenka were greatly helped by the Connected Families coaching program as they were serving as missionaries in Japan. They wanted to change the culture in their home where tension and yelling were commonplace, and disciplinary tools were frequently characterized by shame. They are still far from perfect, but their home is now characterized by connectedness and understanding, and peace is much more commonplace. They now live in Texas but are still heavily invested in missionaries living overseas. They love being able to pass on the Connected Families framework and see families grow in connectedness both locally and abroad. David and Danielle are happy to facilitate coaching together or separately when that is preferred. 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…

Parenting is a blessing, a challenge, and—at times—overwhelming, whether your child is four or fourteen. As a coach, I offer empathy and encouragement while helping you clarify intentions and grow in confidence. My goal is to equip you with effective tools grounded in Scripture and brain science. Parenting today poses unique challenges, but there is HOPE! I hold an undergraduate degree in psychology and an MA in Ministry Leadership. With more than 30 years of teaching experience and over 20 years in Christian ministry serving parents, children, and youth, I bring both professional expertise and a heart for families. Some of my best teachers have been the many children and youth encountered along the way! Having raised my own children, I wish the resources of a coach had been available. Now, as a coach and follower of Jesus, I want you to know and experience that you can grow in this process right alongside your children. 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…

Amanda Kan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Counseling from Johnson University, complemented by a strong academic foundation in education. As the Children’s Director at North Point Christian Church, Amanda is passionate about supporting parents through the Connected Families framework. Her professional journey is marked by a deep commitment to diverse learner needs, including experience as a first-grade teacher in a Christian school and as an instructor of daily living skills for teenagers who are blind, visually impaired, or living with various disabilities. Additionally, she has served as a Family Consultant at a teen substance abuse center. Amanda is also the founder of Flourishing Family Academy, where she helps homeschooling families navigate their educational journeys. Through the Step Up for Students marketplace, families can easily access her services to help their households thrive. Read more…

Marlee Thomsen, LCSWA, has been working with children and parents as a mental health therapist since 2019 at Cornerstone Counseling and Wellness. Marlee is passionate about supporting parents and children as they connect through play, the events of ordinary days, and discipline scenarios that arise. In 2021, Marlee became a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach which has helped her both personally and professionally in approaching children as God approaches us with unconditional love, safety, empathy, and loving discipline. Marlee lives in Durham, NC with her husband and two precious sons, who continue to provide opportunities for her to grow as a parent and follower of Jesus. Outside of the office, you might find Marlee wearing beloved athleisure clothing while exploring a park with her family, drinking coffee, and/or reading on her Kindle Read more…