At 15, I was certain I wanted to become a child psychologist. I believed that working with children was the best way to create change. Not adults, I thought, they were too set in their ways. (Oh, the arrogance of youth!) When I entered college, I quickly realized that my psychology courses focused more on theories and research than on how to actually help children. A friend in the Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) program introduced me to a different approach—one that applied research to real-life interventions. Midway through college, I added a second degree in Children and Family Systems, which gave me the hands-on knowledge I was craving.

At the same time, almost 25 years ago, I took an undergraduate elective on Families and Divorce. It was my first introduction to the unique challenges families face during this transition, and I had no idea then that it would shape the course of my career.

Through my work in a residential treatment facility for children, I learned a critical lesson: we could teach children all the skills and coping strategies in the world, but if they returned home to families that didn’t support them, lasting change was difficult. This realization led me to focus my graduate studies on Marriage and Family Therapy, specializing in Children in the Context of Families.

During my internship as a child and family therapist, I was introduced to Collaborative Divorce, an amicable divorce process where mental health professionals play a key role in supporting families. I quickly realized that despite divorce affecting millions of children each year, my master’s program offered little guidance on helping families through this transition. That first training sparked my passion for helping families navigate divorce with resilience and clarity, and I’ve never looked back.

In the 18 years since, I’ve completed hundreds of hours of specialized training in child development, divorce dynamics, co-parenting, and family transitions. I’ve also co-presented at numerous conferences and trainings on The Voice of the Child, Child-Inclusive Mediation, Resist-Refuse Dynamics, Interdisciplinary Teams, and have an ABA Chapter published on the Role of the Child Specialist.

Now, with more than two decades of experience, I understand that helping today’s children means supporting their parents—guiding them through life’s challenges with grace, understanding, and a focus on strengthening relationships. Whether through parent coaching, divorce support, or family transition guidance, I’m here to help families build a foundation for lasting resilience and connection.

~Kathleen