Megan Hils

As a mother of two, I know that parenting today can be overwhelming. Thanks to the internet and social media, we have access to unlimited experts and resources promising that they have the solutions we are seeking. Sometimes, this makes it hard to hear our own voice, or to remember what we know to be true about our children and families.

I spent much of my career as a school psychologist. My primary function was to support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. My role varied from day to day and required expertise in learning, assessment, mental health, and behavior at both the systems and individual level. There was a lot to love about my job but the part that always excited me most was working directly with parents and guardians. You are in the trenches doing the important, powerful, incredibly challenging, and all-too-often thankless work.

My passion for parent coaching comes from my own parenting experience. As a school psychologist, I would frequently start my time with parents by saying, “You are your child’s greatest advocate and you know them in a way no one else can.” I did believe that, but I wasn’t parenting like I did. I kept trying to follow scripts or replicate systems other people used. Eventually, tired and waning in confidence, I decided to listen to my own words. I thought deeply and carefully about what would work for my family and the goals specific to us. The change in how I parented and, perhaps more importantly, how I felt about parenting, was immediate. It changed my life and my family for the better and I want to help you do the same. I love working with people like you to find the strategies that work for their specific lives and families.

If we work together (and I hope we do!), I will enter our partnership with confidence in you and your ability to meet your parenting goals in a way that makes sense for your specific situation. I know that there is not an expert in the world who can parent your children the way you can parent them. In other words, don't look to me for one size fits all rules, routines, or scripts. I am not saying they are never useful, but they are only one piece of the puzzle. Using my background as a PCI Certified Parent Coach®, school psychologist, and expert in child development and strengths-based parenting, I use assessment tools and ask thoughtful questions to help you identify your parenting style and goals. Then, using research-based strategies tailored to your unique situation, we will work together to build for the today you have, the tomorrow you want, and the confidence in your ability to get yourself there.

Here are just a few of the things parents and I have tackled together during coaching:

• Age appropriate behavioral strategies
• Teaching empathy and kindness
• Communicating effectively with your child
• Cultivating self confidence and higher self esteem in your child
• Behaviors associated with ADHD, Anxiety, ODD and others
• Sibling issues
• Balancing your needs as an individual within your family structure
• How to help your child with learning issues
• Navigating the school special education system
• Getting what you want from your children without bribes
• Getting kids to cooperate with your daily routine
• Managing screen time and technology
• Discipline/gentle parenting
• Mealtime problems
• Coparenting
• Parenting an LGBTQ child

It is important that I acknowledge that you do not have to be a biological parent to parent a child. Parent coaching is open to all people parenting children. My coaching practice welcomes people of any gender identity or expression, race, religion, or ethnicity.