Do you have a strong willed child? Could you use some support dealing with temper tantrums and power struggles? Do you feel guilty because you can't be all things to all people? Then let me introduce you to Karen Bierdeman.
Karen Bierdeman is a parent coach --a profession that didn't exist when I started working with mothers 20 years ago. I first heard the term used in the late 1990's, but it was only after interviewing Karen recently that I began to understand what parent coaching is all about.
Karen is the author of www.TheGuiltFreeMom.com, a 2005 graduate of the Parent Coaching Institute, and an avid user of MotherStyles in her work. She lives in the Seattle, Washington area and coaches mothers all over the country, via telephone and webinars.
Karen is the second professional profile in an on-going series. As long as there is interest, it will continue. My objective is two fold: to recognize people who are doing important work supporting mothers and to inspire other professionals to do the same.
If you are doing programs for parents in your local area, and would consider being interviewed, please contact me at jpmoms@aol.com.
Meet Karen Bierdeman:
Personality
type: INFP
Work/Family: Mother of 6 and 10 year-old girls, former first grade teacher and child-development expert, parent coach since 2005, author of www.theguiltfreemom.com.
Click here to Hear her Podcast on MotherStyles.
Q: What is parent coaching?
Parent
coaching is parent-to-parent support. But unlike the support you may get from
friends, I have no vested interest in what you actually do. There is so much
information out there for parents, most of it conflicting, it is hard to wade
through. I help a mother identify her strengths, come up with a vision of what
she wants her family to be like, and then customize a plan to help her get
there. Parent coaching grew out of the executive and life coaching movement. If
business executives get coaches to help them be their best, and parents are the
executives of their families, then parents need coaching, too. I focus on
strengths and goals, instead of deficits. Parent coaching is about moving
forward in your life, not getting into the past.
Q: What made you become a parent coach?
I struggled as a new mom. I thought because I had a degree in
child development and experience as a teacher, I'd be a great mom. But my child
wouldn't breast feed, my mom was dying of cancer, I didn't know how to refuel or
support myself. It was hard. I managed to pull myself out of a hole and decided
I wanted to offer to others the kind of support I would have wanted back then
--support in being who you are. The joy of parent coaching is connecting with
other moms and hearing them say, "I didn't know I could enjoy mothering so much"
or "I finally feel confident." I get excited when I see people grow and change.
Q: Where do you get your
clients?
About half of my clients come from my website and blog,
half come through word-of-mouth. I was on a local TV news show in May; that
generated a lot of calls. Clients tell me: "My kid is driving me crazy!" "My
mother-in-law says I'm raising a brat!" "I'm having power struggles with my
picky eater." People are reticent at first, because as mothers we think we
shouldn't ask for help or make our development a priority. So, I offer a
complimentary first session so people can get a taste and hear the sound of my
voice. I do 99% of my coaching over the phone. I coach women all over the
country - Maine, New York, Montana, Arizona.
Q: How much does it cost?
I offer an
array of services at different prices, from teleclasses and groups to 1:1
coaching. Without knowing the details of a mother's particular story, it's
difficult to say which service would be best for them. In the complimentary
first coaching session, I go into detail about what I offer, how I can help, and
how much it will cost. Together we come up with a budget and a plan for how best
to work together. One-on-one coaching is usually done on a monthly basis and
that includes four hours of personalized coaching over the phone and unlimited
email coaching in between. Some clients opt for a longer term commitment so I
offer a price break for 12 sessions. I also offer a 100% Happiness
Guarantee.
Q: How do you use
MotherStyles?
I use it as
a reference with every client. Together we tease out their preferences and
identify their style. An ESTJ mom is going to handle a strong willed child
differently than an INFP. Yet, either way, it is so healing to be validated. For
years I thought I was an Extravert and tried to act like one. Personality type
has helped me realize I do best with a small circle of friends who like to
ponder the same life questions I ask in coaching.
To learn more or to
contact Karen directly, go to www.theguiltfreemother.com.
I welcome your thoughts and comments on the professional profile series.
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