“Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."
— Rumi
Embrace curiosity.
Notice judgments.
Slow things down.
Breathe.
About Sarah Mackay
Certified Parent Coach.
I’ve experienced firsthand the heartbreak of watching my teen daughter travel the peaks and valleys of a residential treatment journey.
Six years ago, my then 13 year-old daughter was struggling in every way: at school, with friends and even more so with us, her parents. Our relationship seemed to change overnight: she withdrew, becoming anxious, angry and depressed.
I know what it is like not to recognize your own child—and to hate how you are treating this virtual stranger in your home.
After a year and a half of attempts to ease the crisis at home, my daughter left for wilderness, followed by residential treatment in Utah. Every parent I know who faces the decision to send his or her child to an out-of-home placement suffers—and we were no different.
Parent coaching during my daughter’s absence and eventual transition home gave me the extra support I needed. When I did not know the right words to reach my daughter coaching helped me gain confidence in my parenting and allowed me to relax and experience joy in my family life again.
As a parent coach I love providing guidance and affirming support to other parents. Watching my clients’ stress levels go down as they reconnect and deepen their relationship with their child is a profoundly moving experience.
My philosophy
As a mother, I went through my own transformational coaching experience. As I discovered the art of loving detachment, one parenting gem that stood out was “Connection Before Correction.” It became one of my parenting mantras.
Figuring out how to use this principle every day can be a game-changer. Work with me to learn how to apply this gem to your parenting skill set.
Certification and Experience
Certificate of Parent Coaching, Parent Coach Professionals--Bend ORE
Master of Arts in Education (TESOL), School for International Training
Secondary Teaching Credential, Holy Names University
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley
Member: International Coaching Federation (ICF) and National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)
Parent Support Group Co-Leader: Willows in the Wind; Family Sanity; Family Connections—NEABPD
Sarah also leads support groups for parents of teens participating in these programs: JET ED Consulting and La Europa
Beyond years of supporting parents, I have worked extensively with tweens, teens and young adults in my capacity as a teacher and educational leader.
What Makes Me Feel Connected and Inspired
The good news is that we can untangle conflict within our families: loosening communication knots is what coaching is all about.
“I’ve seen Sarah collaborate effectively with parents in all stages of their teenager’s journey to health and recovery. She has a gift for helping families figure out where they are stuck in unconscious or unhealthy patterns or behaviors . Parents tell me that Sarah is both gentle and encouraging in her coaching—and direct. She’s willing to point out what’s not working from her perspective, if needed. This is exactly what helps parents build on the gains made during treatment.”
