Parenting
Without the Fight.  

Connection over Compliance.

You are exhausted.

You’re exhausted by the judgment you feel in the grocery store when your child is melting down. You’re exhausted by the isolation of feeling like no one understands your home life. And most of all, you are exhausted by the "experts" telling you to use sticker charts, timeouts, and forced compliance.

You’re doing everything you’ve been told to do, but it only seems to lead to bigger meltdowns. You know deep down that treating your child like a project is breaking your connection with them.

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You don't need a cure. You need support. 

I am not here to help you force your child to assimilate to societal norms. I don't discuss behaviorist approaches (like ABA) that feel controlling rather than understanding, and we will never focus on making your child uncomfortable just so they "fit in." If it's uncomfortable for your child to make eye contact, I won't suggest that you force it.

Your child isn't giving you a hard time; they are having a hard time. Whether you are navigating a new diagnosis, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), or sensory processing differences, I help you decode your child’s behavior so you can stop fighting and start connecting.

How We Work Together

In parent coaching, I work strictly with you, the parents. (I do not work directly with the child). We typically start with an average of 8 sessions, though we adapt to what your family needs.

1. Decoding the Nervous System

We look past the behavior. I will give you "homework" to observe your child—what is happening 5 to 30 minutes before the meltdown? What is pulling on their nervous system?

2. Shifting the Focus

In those first few sessions, parents tend to focus only on the things that are going wrong. I help you see the incredible things you are doing right, lifting the veil of parental guilt.

3. Building Capacity, Not Compliance

We look at how giving your child a little autonomy goes a long way. (Do they really need to wear socks in the winter? Can they pick the specific bowl for their snack?)

4. Bridging the Parenting Gap

If you and your partner are on different pages regarding discipline vs. neurodiversity, we focus on the shared ground: how much you both love your child and want them to thrive. We explore what’s underneath each position to build a unified front.

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We drop the blame.
We drop the shame.

We stop apologizing for your child’s existence in public spaces, and we build a home that feels like a sanctuary, not a battleground.

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Policies

  • In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a psychotherapist and a client. No information is disclosed without prior written consent from the client. This is done by signing a HIPPA form. However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. I am required by law to report to the authorities the following circumstances:

    1. If I suspect that an individual may be involved in child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse.

    2. If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person.

    3. If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.

  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before our session you will be charged the full fee for that session.

  • The therapist is not obligated to make up time due to a client’s lateness. More than 15 minute lateness constitutes a late cancellation and the therapist is not obligated to conduct the session.

  • If I am severely ill or have a life-or-death event, I will inform you that I will be absent.

    I inform patients of my vacation or conference schedule at least a week in advance.

    If I am unable to give a week’s notice of events which will keep me out of the office I will give 48 hours.

Fees

  • $200 per individual session (in-person or via telehealth).

  • $275 for family (in-person or via telehealth).

  • $200 per session.

    Packages are available.

License & Certifications

  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

    EMDR-Trained

    PCI Certified Parent Coach

    Certified Sex Therapist for sexual assault

  • Licensed Professional Counselor #1124769260

Insurance

  • I do not take insurance, however I participate in out-of-network insurance programs, which typically cover 50% to 100% of my fee. To see what your insurance company covers, you can ask them the following questions:

    • Do I have out-of-network mental/behavioral health benefits?

    • Do I have an out-of-network deductible? If so, how much, and has it been met yet by other medical expenses?

    • What amount is covered per psychotherapy session?

    Please contact me to inquire about your insurance needs before our first session. 

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Real Stories of Emergence & Connection.

  • "Working with Dawn was one of the best things I could have done for myself and my family. As a single mom to three young kids (one of who has multiple diagnoses included ADHD, DMDD, and ASD), when I first met with Dawn I was beaten down. For all my trying, all I could see were the multitude of failures I felt. From day one, she opened my eyes to all the positives I was creating for my children and myself... Essentially, she helped me see the sun again after what must have been years of steady rain.”

    —A.L.

  • “Going into parent coaching sessions with Dawn Van Berkel we didn’t know what to expect...but we needed help, without realizing we did. Dawn helped us realize (pointed out actually) that we are doing a great job as parents... She understands and coaches on how to recharge “our brain” and dive back to the routine. And she always knew how to put a smile in our faces... We truly enjoyed working with her - we now know what we want our life (and a perfect day) look like and we are working towards this goal."

    —I.P.

  • “When I first called Dawn, I wasn't sure about this whole parent-coaching concept. Could she really step into my situation and help me find a pathway forward in the midst of my child's mental health struggles? ...coaching with Dawn redirected me from a path of despair and defeat to one of understanding and hope. Thank you, Dawn, for helping me grow as a person and a parent, and for encouraging me to dream big for my family.”

    —Grace V.

  • “My wife and I are special needs parents of two children under the age of ten. Prior to meeting Dawn, we struggled with how to get through each day with everything we have on our plate. Dawn helped us regain focus on what was truly important to us and it has made a huge difference! ...The most effective changes we’ve made in our lives didn’t come directly from Dawn, but as a result of working with her. She helped us discover positive change through collaborative, self-reflective conversation."

    —George + Kelli

  • “Dawn, I can’t thank you enough for all the time you spent and commitment and guidance you provided in helping me in my parenting journey!!! I have learned so much... You enabled me to see things from a different perspective and think outside of the box.”

    —Kristie

  • “My coaching experience with Dawn was absolutely outstanding. Over the course of a few months she really helped me identify personal strengths -- that I had previously only applied to my professional life -- and adapt them to improve my parenting skills with my two year old... I feel like in the last few months I've gone from a frazzled parent with little patience who yells too much, to a much calmer and more confident mother (and wife and employee!)... All in all I gotta say, while I was a bit skeptical at first about how much of an impact this coaching would have, it's made an enormous difference and I highly recommend Dawn!”

     —Eleanor

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Ready to stop surviving and start emerging?

Whether you are navigating a new diagnosis or a new life chapter, you don't have to do it without a map. Let's look at the patterns, find the root, and build a strategy to get you back to yourself.

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