Coaching

New:  Dr. Laura now does sessions on Skype & FaceTime!

FAQ:  Personal Consultations with
Dr. Laura Markham

Wondering if a personal consultation about your child would be useful?  Want a chance to work directly with Dr. Laura to transform your relationship with your child? 

On this page you'll find answers to the questions most commonly asked about coaching with Dr. Laura. 

If your question isn't listed, please don't hesitate to ask: DrLauraMarkham at AhaParenting.com.

How should I decide between a personal consultation and the teleseminar calls?

Most of Dr. Laura's Teleseminar calls are "classes" focused on a specific topic or age group.  Parents especially love the Q & A that follows; you can submit a question in advance via email, and Dr. Laura always answers every question during the call -- although the time spent on each question will vary as time allows during that call. Last names are never used to keep the calls "anonymous."

Many parents love the opportunity to hear Dr. Markham discuss child development and learn from the answers given to other parents who are dealing with similar issues, in addition to having their own personal question addressed.  Other parents prefer the targeted attention and privacy of a more indepth personal consultation.  Teleseminars are a bargain financially, but  the amount of time that will be spent on your specific question will be less than even a short personal consultation would give you.

Is telephone coaching a substitute for therapy?

No. This is not therapy, but rather support for parents to strengthen their relationship with their child and learn new parenting skills.  If you or your child have issues that require deep exploration or ongoing support,  you'll want to work with a therapist.  Dr. Markham is trained as a clinical psychologist--her Ph.D. is from Columbia University--but she does not maintain a license to practice therapy because she confines herself to coaching.

What should I be looking for in a parenting coach?

Experience, training, wisdom, and an approach that feels like a good fit for your family.  Look for a Ph.D. in psychology, or an MSW.  Read the expert's book or ask for some articles, so you can see if you like their approach. Make sure the coach has experience helping parents address the kinds of problems you want to solve, and that he or she gives detailed, hands-on, step by step advice as well as general theories.

Does it make sense to work with someone long distance?

When you're looking for expert advice, it's important to find someone you respect, whose approach is a good fit with your own.  That person might not always be located close by.  The wonderful thing about the internet is that you can find the perfect advisor for you, even when they're far away.  It also gives you the opportunity to fully evaluate the fit by reading their articles online.  And it gives you access to someone of international stature like Dr. Laura Markham.  

What's different about Dr. Laura Markham?

There are a lot of parenting experts out there. If you have an easy kid, most of their advice will work.  Your child will grow up ok.  Maybe not optimally, but well-behaved enough and reasonably well-adjusted.  But if you're looking for some extra support in your parenting, you probably don't have an easy kid.   About a third of all children are considered challenging for one reason or another.  And if you are a parent who has a challenging child,  then connection is your magic weapon.  Indeed, it's the only tool that both makes parenting easier and helps your child develop optimally. Connection is Dr. Laura Markham's specialty. 

Unlike most parenting experts, Dr. Laura trained as a clinical psychologist.  The  foundation of her work is her Ph.D. from Columbia University, so her opinions are based on scientific research and an extensive knowledge of child development.  She understands the theories  -- and translates them into daily-life advice for parents on how they can raise terrific kids.

Best of all, because she's a mother, Dr. Laura gets right into the nuts and bolts practicalities that parents-in-the-trenches need.

But that's not all that's great about Dr. Laura.  Past clients rave, using words like warm, supportive, knowledgeable, helpful, insightful, reassuring, comforting, wise, inspiring.  You can get a sense of her personality by reading her advice to readers in the Ask the Doctor section of this website.

What can I expect from coaching with Dr. Laura Markham?

RESULTS!  Specifically:

1. More insight, confidence and effectiveness as a parent.
2. A plan for change, including specific next steps you can take on your own.
3. A more rewarding relationship with your child.
4. A happier, better-behaved child. (Clear evidence that you’re doing a better job!)
5. A happier family.

Is coaching time-consuming?

That's up to you.  You can speak with Dr. Laura once about a specific issue, or weekly for a few months to transform your life.  But any investment of time that you make will be well worth it.  Janet Rose Wojtalik, Ed.D. says "It always amazes me how some parents will spend hours online researching where to find the cheapest shoe sales, but some parents won't take an hour every now and then to improve their skills as a parent." 

Isn't coaching expensive?

Dr. Laura does limited long-distance consulting, and purposely keeps rates in keeping with standard rates for psychologists throughout the US: $110 for one hour.  If you only have a small question and don't need a whole hour, you can schedule a 30 minute session for $60.

What if I need more time?

If Dr. Laura has availability to expand your call at the time she will do so upon your request, and ask you to come back to this page to increase your payment later.  If she can't expand your slot at that moment, she will schedule another session with you while you're talking. 

An hour is usually enough time to give you some clear ideas about what to work on to get some immediate change in the right direction.  Often, you'll want to schedule a follow-up session in a week to refine your plan as you implement it. 

You can always email Dr. Laura in advance of the coaching session with background info to save time during the call, and between sessions for additional support.  There is never a charge for reading your emails or for quick answers.

What if I'm disappointed in the consultation?

You'll be the first!  Seriously, Dr. Laura offers a personal guarantee: If you aren't completely thrilled with what you get out of your coaching session, your payment will be cheerfully refunded, no questions asked, within a week of receiving your email to Dr. Laura Markham (DrLauraMarkham@AhaParenting.com) asking for a refund.

Do I have to pay for a long distance call?

Dr. Laura uses Facetime or Skype whenever the client prefers. Facetime and Skype offer free internet  long distance calling all over the world.  Using either Facetime or Skype is easy;  Facetime now comes with Mac computers, or you can just go to Skype.com and download their free software.  When it's time for your consultation, open Facetime or Skype on your computer, put Dr. Laura Markham in your contact list and click on it.  She will accept  your call.  No telephone, no long distance charges. If you have a webcam, you can choose whether to see each other as you converse. Even for technophobes, both Facetime and Skype are delightfully easy.

What if I don't feel comfortable using Facetime or Skype?

No problem.  Email Dr. Laura and she'll send you a call-in number for a conference call line.  In that case, there will be a long distance charge, just as if you called anyone out of state. But there's an upside, too:  the call can be recorded so that you can download it to listen to it again or play it for your spouse. (Facetime and Skype calls aren't recorded.) 

What if I'm out of the US?  No worries.  Dr. Laura can supply you with a call-in number that is "in country" for you so won't have to make an international call.

How do I make an appointment?

Click below for the form to register.  Dr. Laura will personally email you within 24 hours to make an appointment.  Usually appointments can be arranged within a couple of days, and we guarantee you won't wait longer than a week.

What if we can't find a time to meet soon, and I've already paid?

Again, that has never happened, because Dr. Laura makes sure it doesn't.  But in a case where it did -- a rare vacation -- your payment would be immediately refunded.

How do I pay?

Just click below for the registration form, and pay the appropriate amount for the amount of time you'd like to reserve.

Registration for Personal Consultations
with Dr. Laura Markham