If you're like me, your pre-child self may have thought, sure, parenting will be hard, but also, we won't use screens or eat sugar. I'll be patient and kind and approachable. Bedtime will be a strict routine, and I'll infuse lots of magic while also keeping the kids grounded. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda.
Four children later, I can only shake my head at my former self. What I didn't know. Parenting is like nothing I could have imagined. It's been one of the most profound changes in my life, both incredibly rewarding and incredibly trying. And there's no instruction manual. The village we all need is often one we also need to build ourselves.
And it's also REALLY hard to give ourselves grace as parents. Even though it's something we all truly need.
As all families have their own ups and downs, ours included some medical and sensory challenges. For us, it felt like leveling up in a game we thought we knew the rules to. My husband and I felt we had decent parenting instincts, especially as educators (haha, silly us), but we could really use an outside support, and some targeted help. Where does one even go for that?
I first heard about Allison Beck, LCSW when she was leading a postpartum moms’ group at Pilates Loft. The group combined community-building with a workout, which is ingenious because new moms will only leave the house for time with moms, caffeine, or something they can justify as self-care. Later, when my husband and I were struggling to manage our child’s needs and our own reactions, I reached out to her to learn more about coaching. It was one of the best decisions we have made as parents.
Why You Should Work with Allison
- She Understands Parenting on a Deep Level
Allison doesn’t give generic advice you could find in a parenting book. She has years of experience in reproductive psychology and parenthood and actually understands what is happening behind the chaos. She helped us recognize our triggers, adjust our expectations, and get on the same page as a team. No more good cop and bad cop disagreements at eight o’clock at night when everyone is overtired. - She Balances Support with Honest Feedback
Allison is warm and incredibly supportive, but she also gently pushes you when needed. She challenged us to look at things from a different perspective. Not always fun but often necessary. Sometimes, the hard truth is that we need to change, not our kids. That is not an easy pill to swallow, but it makes a difference. - She Offers More Than Just Coaching
If you are a new or expecting parent, Allison has resources beyond coaching, including psychotherapy and programs focused on pregnancy and postpartum. She understands how to support parents at all stages meaning your work together can grow as you do.
Her Background and Street Cred
Allison has a degree in Human Development from Cornell and a Master’s in Social Work from NYU. She also has specialized training in maternal mental health. Most importantly, she is also a mom of two, so she understands the exhaustion, the worry, the guilt, and the impatience that comes with the repetition of answering "why" a thousand times a day. Her advice works because it is practical, relatable, and grounded in real life.
Bottom Line
If you ever find yourself wondering why your child is acting a certain way, why you are reacting the way you do, or whether you actually just yelled about socks, Allison is the person to call. Her coaching gave us clarity, confidence, and that grace we were so in need of. I cannot recommend her enough and encourage you to reach out to me with any specific questions. I'm happy to share more about our experiences working together.
Check out Allison’s work here.
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