Barbara Joy - Parenting Coach

Can't meet Barbara in person? Hear how phone coaching helped this parent:

As a single mom of three children, (ages3, 9,13), I need all of the support I can get. I have a scheduled app’t. with Barbara twice a month. We talk about whatever is most challenging for my family at that particular time. She also always starts off having me share my successes which is so helpful because sometimes I forget about them ! I am also learning that when I take care of myself, I am a much better mom. For me, the phone coaching is perfect. I email her my updates and agenda a day or two before and then when we get on the phone, I am focused on how I want to spend our time! We are in our second year of working together and I plan on her guiding me through getting these three through college!

- Holly, New Orleans

Individual Parent Coaching

For individual coaching we will schedule a time to meet at your home, my office or by phone. The initial session lasts 2 hours and during that time we will talk about your family values and dynamics, your current parenting and discipline style, communication, any stresses that are occurring for the family and most of all, what challenges you are wanting help with. By the end of the first session, we will have begun to create a plan for you to begin making the changes you desire for your family.

We will also decide when we need to meet next. This varies from family to family. Typically, many parents like to have a couple of weeks following our first session to implement and integrate their new strategies. Then at our next session, we talk about the successes that have occurred and what goals you want to set next.

We work together to accomplish whatever goals you set for yourselves and your family. The length of time that I work with a family varies. We work together until the parent feels that they are being successful and where they want to be in their parenting. By this time, we have created a trusting and safe relationship and parents know that they can call at any point and resume our work together. I encourage my clients to call when a situation arises that they feel they need some help with, rather than waiting until the situation feels overwhelming.

I strongly believe in the team approach. Sometimes a family needs services and support in addition to my coaching. In these situations I assist the family in expanding our team. With the families permission, I call upon therapists, pediatricians, school directors,etc. I have several therapists who work with children and families and we work colaboritively as a team to help the family succeed. It has proven to be very beneficial to many families.

Anyone who is a parent knows that parenting requires flexibility. My coaching also provides flexibility. Depending on your geographic location and needs, we might sometimes meet in person and other times have our session via telephone. We can design what you need according to what is going on in your life at the time. If time and distance permits, I can also travel to your home.

In closing, I want to say that I love and deeply believe in the work I do. I believe that parenting is the most important job you will ever do. It may very well be the most challenging and rewarding chapter of your life! It is extremely rewarding to see parents become more confident and satisfied with the way they are parenting their children. I many times, say that children are like little Gumbies: moldable and flexible. And, as the parents make changes, the children also make changes. It is an exciting process to be a part of because it does not take years and years to see the successes in the many families that I work with.

I frequently refer to this poem by Mary Korzan (see below). It so clearly reminds us how much our children are looking to us to model how to behave in this world. In my coaching we will be modeling positive and successful parenting and as you experience it, you will more fully be modeling it for your children.

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