With my background in mental health, I know ultimately what's going to make the biggest difference...
...And it is your relationship with your child.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with decades of experience working with adolescents and families, I can spot serious problems right away, both mental health problems and development/relationship dynamics. This allows me to deepen my understanding of exactly what will make the biggest difference for specific families because when it comes to families, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
I have a unique perspective of parenting, developed through years of experience as a parent and family coach, that is intentional and collaborative with our children. This means including them in the solutions along with a very conscious, connected approach with the relationship between you and your child being the center of the family and what's most important.
You are not alone. I am a parent to a teen right now, and I am going through it too. Let's make some changes in your family's life today.
Book a Call to Reset Your Family
Create a Calm, Harmonious Family Life
As a parent and family coach, I help you reduce conflict, improve communication, and deepen your connection with your tween or teen. I specialize in guiding parents to foster intentional, collaborative relationships built on understanding and respect.
You'll achieve a calmer home environment through shifting mindsets, effective communication, and structured approaches.
My coaching emphasizes that the most important parenting skill is your relationship with your child. This skill lays a strong foundation for lasting and fulfilling family connections.
Explore Services
“Tess was very helpful to our family when we were going through a particularly challenging time with our teen son. As a mother herself, she was empathetic and as a therapist she was direct and realistic with her advice.”
Monica G.
"I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Tess to other parents navigating a tricky divorce, coparenting through dysfunction , and supporting their children through difficulties. She cares and will go above and beyond to support you with what your priorities are."
Anonymous
How My Story and Parenting Journey Has Effected My Approach to Coaching...
I hail from a large Irish family in New England, spending much of my childhood living off the land. As the oldest of five siblings, I took on the responsibility of looking after them from a tender age of 9, particularly in the woods of New Hampshire. This experience significantly influences my leadership approach now as a parent coach. My parents emphasized cooperation, collaboration, and connection, values that continue to shape my parenting philosophy.
Reflecting on my own upbringing and working extensively with parents and families, I've realized the profound impact our family of origin has on our parenting styles. As a parent coach, my goal is to help shift parents' mindsets about their upbringing. I incorporate current research and scientific insights into parenting, supporting them in making positive changes.
In my coaching practice, I focus on conscious parenting, urging parents to be intentional and adopt a "guide and coach" approach, especially during the tumultuous middle school and high school years.
I teach parents how to collaborate effectively, aligning their strategies and fostering inclusivity when addressing issues with their tweens or teens. My "put it on the table" concept encourages open dialogue, where any problem is discussed openly by both parents and the child. This fosters curiosity, understanding, and collaborative problem-solving, emphasizing mutual respect over punitive measures.
My journey as a parent and family coach has been deeply influenced by personal experiences, including a significant divorce from my son's father due to his mental health and substance abuse issues. Through this adversity, I've redefined the concept of family and built a supportive community around myself and my son.
1:1 Parent & Family Coaching
Together, with your kid(s), we develop better ways to communicate, we develop systems, structures, and agreements in the family so everyone feels heard, know what's expected, and above all develops a better connection to your kids.
Attend a Live Parenting Masterclass
My live masterclasses: Connection Over Conflict: 3 Essentials to Parenting in the Middle School Years and the Tech Reset Masterclass offer an accessible, introduction to my 1:1 coaching and provide you with valuable skills for when parenting your teen/tween just feels too overwhelming.
The Conscious Moms Collective
This is a personal development and parenting membership for moms who want to go deep and stay in connection with other moms going through the same struggles during these years of parenting.
