Work With Me

Ways We Can Work Together

I partner with schools, parent communities, libraries, synagogues, and organizations that want to lower the temperature around college admissions and bring perspective back into family life.

My work comes from fourteen years in the trenches with nearly 500 families — and from living this chapter three times as a parent. College matters. But it’s just one chapter in a much longer life. No outcome is worth sacrificing a kid’s well-being or a family’s relationship.

Speaking

I give talks and lead conversations for schools, libraries, synagogues, community groups, and conferences. These programs are grounded in what families are actually experiencing — not hype, rankings, or fear.

I rely heavily on real-life stories: the parking-lot questions, the late-night emails, the texts that arrive before I’ve had coffee.

Parents laugh. They recognize themselves. And they leave feeling clearer, calmer, and better equipped to support their kids.

For some programs, I partner with a clinical psychologist so we can address student mental health, anxiety, and family communication directly. These conversations can be tailored for parents, teens, or both together.

Topics Often Include:

  • Why admissions feels so intense right now

  • How to support kids without adding pressure

     

  • Making room for curiosity, exploration, and even fun

  • Keeping the parent–teen relationship intact while college is in the picture

CONNECT TO SPEAKING

Workshops

Workshops are smaller and more interactive. They’re designed for real conversation, not lectures.

Some are for parents who want help staying grounded. Some are for teens who are carrying more stress than they let on. Others bring parents and teens together to better understand what each side is experiencing and to reset patterns that aren’t working.

When appropriate, I partner with a mental health professional to guide conversations around stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being in a way that’s practical and supportive.

Presentations

I also offer structured presentations for schools, libraries, and organizations that want an honest look at today’s admissions landscape without turning it into a strategy seminar or a panic spiral.

These sessions help families understand what matters, where the pressure actually comes from, and what they can safely ignore.

The goal is simple: to help families move through this chapter with more confidence, less noise, and their relationships intact.

FAQ—The Sanity List

WHAT ACTUALLY HELPS

Timing matters more than panic.

Starting too early adds pressure before kids know who they are. Starting too late adds stress and scrambling. Give kids time to grow and figure things out.

Let kids lead, with you by their side.

Encourage your child to make real choices about classes, clubs, summer plans, and internships. Learning how to decide—and live with decisions—is part of growing up.

Depth beats dazzle.

Kids don’t need to do everything. Colleges care far more about genuine commitment than a packed schedule.

Authenticity is everything.

Students should never do things just because they “look good” on an application. The strongest paths grow out of what genuinely interests them and lights them up.

Follow curiosity instead of forcing a story.

Interests don’t always make sense right away, and that’s okay. Let them develop before trying to turn them into a narrative.

Treat the college list as a work in progress.

Strong lists evolve as kids learn more about themselves and what actually feels right.

Let essays sound like a real kid, not a marketing team.

The strongest essays reveal character, not just accomplishments. Often, the small, ordinary moments tell the most compelling stories.

 

Lower the volume on the “C” word at home.

College doesn’t need to dominate dinner, car rides, or every conversation. Make time to talk about everything else, too.

Make space for fun along the way.

Campus visits, virtual tours, and road trips can be enjoyable when they include things your kid loves—great food, time outside, or a stop that has nothing to do with college. Think memories, not assignments.

Protect the relationship above all else.

No acceptance letter matters more than staying connected to your kid through this chapter.