About Colette

 

Calming the Storm

As parents, you want the world for your children.

Yet, complications are inevitable.

Perhaps your child has medical, emotional, or learning challenges. Perhaps external circumstances and stressors interfere.

Perhaps difficulty managing your emotions, breaking out of automatic responses, or a sense of confusion about the best approach, have you feeling stuck in troubling interactions with your child.

You are not alone.

Snowfall or Blizzard?

Children are like snowflakes – they’re all human and made of the same basic organic compounds. Yet, no two are exactly alike.

When I raised my own three children, now young adults, they each had very different personalities, emotional styles, learning abilities, and behaviors. Ah… the unpredictable behaviors.

When we were in sync, it was such a joy! It was beautiful to behold, just as a lovely snowfall brings peace and purity.

But the environment can change in an instant.

But when we got stuck into stubborn patterns of turbulence and conflict, I realized I needed to take a hard look at what I was bringing to the situation, so we didn’t get completely snowed in.

Digging Out

By taking a deep dive into my own stresses, expectations, conditioning, and coping style, I developed the capacity to escape unhelpful traps and choose more effective responses. We were able to dig out!

This was my best education, giving me first-hand experience of how parenting tapped into different sides of myself – depending on the needs and individuality of each child.

Bracing for the Storm

In working with parents, my mission is to help them build greater confidence and connection.

We all bring to parenthood our personalities, coping styles, expectations, and the models we learned from our own parents. Sometimes, these set us up to be the parents we want to be.

Other times, not so much.

Weathering the Weather – Whatever the Weather

When the sun disappears, and the needle on the barometer drops, anxiety and apprehension often move in naturally with the heavy gray clouds. But you can be ready.

Together, we’ll develop a fuller understanding of the factors that make it hard to respond to your child the way you want to. We’ll identify your parenting strengths and develop ways to tap into them more fully.

Equipped with deeper self-understanding and empowerment, you’ll be able to choose the way you want to parent.

About Colette

My Education and Philosophy

A licensed psychologist practicing in Maryland and Pennsylvania, I use an integrated approach geared toward expanding self-awareness and pragmatic problem-solving.

I am a certified mindfulness teacher and will incorporate this in our work if you are interested.

My therapy style is warm, interactive, and collaborative. I believe an accepting and affirming therapeutic relationship forms the foundation for the meaningful change we will build together.

Through many years working with parents and children and my own experience as a parent, I know there is no more important and challenging endeavor. I would be honored to collaborate with you on your parenting journey.

What Fuels Me

Over the 30 years of therapy practice working with children, adults, and families, I’ve developed a special interest in helping parents overcome hurdles and feel more capable and effective.

After earning my doctorate in clinical psychology, I worked in various inpatient and outpatient treatment settings and private practice with adults and children of all ages and stages.

My interest in understanding the rewards and challenges of parenthood and my passion for supporting parents took flight when I joined the staff of a treatment center specializing in treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There, I worked with adults and couples seeking to understand and alleviate their ADHD.

Given the strong genetic basis for ADHD, many of the adults I worked with had children who also had been diagnosed with ADHD. Through this work, I developed an expertise in helping parents learn how their own challenges, strengths, instincts, temperaments, and family histories influence how they parent.