Is this your family?

We have a great interview for you today!  We were fortunate enough to interview Parent Coach, Susan Epstein.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Parent Coach and has so much to offer parents.

Q:  Tell me a little bit about yourself, both personally and professionally.

A:  I graduated from Clark University in Worcester, MA in 1980, where I earned a B.A. degree in Sociology and Spanish with a minor in Psychology.  I worked for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children until moving to California in 1984, where I pursued my M.S.W. from the University of California at Berkeley School of Social Welfare. I am a certified Brief Strategic Family Therapist and trained with the Family Therapy Institute, at the University of Miami. I completed training in 2003 with the internationally accredited Coaches Training Institute.  Bilingual in English/Spanish, has enabled me to work with different cultures throughout my career.

Q:  How did you become interested in this profession?

A:  I had worked as a clinical social worker since 1980. It bothered me that our training was focused on client’s pathologies rather than on their strengths. I felt that there had to be a better more positive way to help families help themselves without splitting everyone up and seeing them in therapy. In 2002, I hired my own life coach to see what that would be like. The experience was eye opening and life changing. Coaching seemed like a great fit. I was able to take what I knew and had studied and transfer it into a career that helps parents move forward and immediately feel successful.

Q:  Is there some one that inspired you to do what you do?

A:  My inspiration comes from many people who I have worked with over the years. Some were teachers, mentors and even clients. From the age of 16, when I read my first “self help books” Born to Win and I’m Okay You’re Okay. I knew that psychology was my field.

Q:  When and why did you start your Parenting Powers Blog?

A:  I started Parenting Powers in March 2007. I had been parent coaching and had a local private practice. I wanted to reach a wider audience and help parents through my writing, speaking and teaching.

Q:  What is it that you have to share with other Parents?

A:  You are trying too hard. Parents use way too much energy, too many words, too many mixed messages. Simplify, simplify, simplify!

Q:  Can you give us an idea of the types of topics that you cover in your blog?

A:  Respect, How to Parent Calmly, How to Motivate kids to cooperate, Homework issues, Divorce, Death and other losses and much more.

Q:  How can interested people learn more about you and your work?

A:  Go to http://parentingpowers.com/ and sign up for my free special report, How to Take Back Your Parenting Power.

You can also take a look at my books, dvds and audio cds by clicking HERE.