About Me

Meet Emily of Empathy Parenting

I’m a PCI Certified Parent Coach® who moved to Charlottesville from Austin, Texas in the summer of 2017. As a parent coach, I use a strengths-based model, listening for what is working in your family. Together, we create a customized plan that will positively impact the areas where you are challenged. Whether it’s your child’s new developmental stage or exasperating behavior, sibling rivalry, or parenting in line with your values, I will listen, provide specific feedback, and be your accountability partner in making the changes you want to make.

My passion for supporting parents began when I simultaneously was teaching teen parents and became a new parent myself. Inspired by the students’ commitment to their education and nurturing of their young children at such a young age, I became trained as a parent educator for both the high school students and parents in my community that faced common challenges. My career path includes my undergraduate education at Vassar College, a year of service in AmeriCorps, Masters of Science in Teaching Science at Portland State University, and twenty years of experience working with young adults in high school and young children in early childhood settings.

Since moving to Charlottesville, I have been facilitating discussion groups with adults on racism and white privilege and offered parent support groups at The Women’s Initiative. My husband, two children and I enjoy Virginia’s cooler climate and gorgeous mountains for camping, playing outside and walking our dog.