About Cassidy (she/her)
This is the part of the website where you begin to get an idea of whether I might be a good fit to support your process, so I'll tell you a bit about who I am and how I show up in my role as coach.
I am nothing if not myself with caregivers. I believe in having a sense of humor and being creative in my approaches. Raising kids is hard, so I encourage you to acknowledge (and maybe even embrace) the laughter and the tears. I am always learning, bringing fresh perspectives to the work we do together.
Qualifications (at least according to capitalism and a few other systems of oppression):When looking for a caregiver coach or educational advocate and in doing so, rationalizing using financial resources for that type of support, you may desire to to know about my training, education and certification/licensure. I received my Master's Degree at Johns Hopkins University in their Clinical Community Counseling program. I'm a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland, as well as an approved supervisor in the state of Maryland.
I'm also a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), accredited by the Association for Play Therapy. Becoming an RPT required an additional 150 hours of a combination of graduate studies and continuing education courses, an additional year of play therapy specific supervision, plus ongoing education every year to maintain the title. In addition, I do a combination of required and desired (read: learning that doesn't count for continuing education requirements because the system of the profession is flawed and perpetuates a limited scope on healing). Continuing education to maintain my licensure has included learning from folks with lived experience in neurodiversity affirming approaches, the LGBTQIA+ community, specifically trans folks. I welcome families of varying makeups. I've been actively engaging in a personal and professional anti-racism and anti-oppression unlearning journey through peer supervision, consultation, and personal work. One of the most valuable learning contexts for me is within community, and in 2023-2024, one invaluable space was consultation sessions facilitated by Silvana at Decolonize Your Practice.
Social location is important when choosing who to work with. Here is an overview of my identities and areas of privilege: I'm a cishet, generally able bodied, white woman with straight size privilege and a graduate degree. I'm an ADHDer and am able to relate and provide feedback and engage in collaborative problem solving from that lived experience perspective to. For folks of marginalized identities who need to have some shared lived experience with a provider for felt safety, I’m happy to guide you toward folks who share those identities and may be a good fit for your needs.
Click here to schedule your free no obligation 30 minute consultation
Pivot to Caregiver Coaching
After so many years of working with children and their adults, I started to realize that I REALLY enjoy helping caregivers get into alignment with their highest caregiving values and finding small ways to shift their caregiving practices in a way that reflects their truest selves. Cutting through the incessant noise and ‘shoulds’ (shoulds really are the worst) that caregivers are combatting every moment of most days. So as of January, 2023 I officially launched a separate coaching business. At that time, I thought I’d continue my child therapy practice. After a 6 month solo roadtrip in 2023 (and an abundance of self-inquiry), I made the decision to stop working with child clients in the therapy capacity. Since November of 2023, I’ve been providing services as Caregiver Coach. This has allowed me to use my years of clinical experience working with kids and their families, and expand the support I’m able to provide in ways that are more aligned with my values. The world is hard and we all need some spaces to heal. Caregiver coaching may be yours.
In the realm of working with folks who are raising other humans, we take a collaborative approach to navigating struggles as they arise. I use my strong sense of intuition and ability to center curiosity and compassion to build a relationship with participants, in service of you being more empowered and skillful in your role.
One of the reasons I spent so much time in my career up until now working with kids, is that I was in GRAD SCHOOL before I realized what I now know of as being an ADHDer. I already knew that I had anxiety and was working on that, but the awareness I gained around ADHD piece of my identity and experiences was pretty life changing for me. This lived experience allows me to offer a level of understanding, insights, and resonance that others (i.e., neurotypical providers) may not be able to. One of my favorite personal qualities is that I pick up on seemingly minor factors that may be creating a huge challenge for the humans you are raising.
While I do have lived experience as an ADHDer and strive to practice from a neurodiversity affirming approach, I still catch myself uncovering internalized ableism surrounding ADHD. Sometimes I miss things or make an incorrect guesses as to the source of a struggle. Showing up from a place of humility is central to my core value of curiosity. Together we will wonder and hypothesize and experiment, and I know I get it wrong sometimes. That is why relationship and collaboration with participants is key.
It's also important to name that it can often be beneficial to share an identity or lived experience between participant and coach that I do not hold, and therefore I'm not always going to be the best fit for each person who calls me. For example, as a white, cishet female who is child-free by choice, I do not share the identity of a Black, queer, solo parent who experiences micro-aggressions and exists in a world that is categorically unsafe. Sometimes being affirming is not enough. Only you know what you need and I’ll honor whatever that is. If you decide to schedule a consult, we will openly discuss whether I'm the best fit to work with you.
Click here to schedule your free no obligation 30 minute consultation
Adding Educational Advocacy Services
Much of the time outside of child therapy sessions was spent in collaboration with caregivers and school staff, uncovering learners’ unmet needs and problem solving to bridge the gap between what supports were available to the student, and the supports they needed to make space for their wellbeing in the school setting. It was reviewing IEP and 504plan documents for public schools and accommodations plans at independent schools, recommendations from evaluations, talking to teachers and caregivers and often feeling like a true Sherlock Holmes to get to the bottom of the struggles. What I realized as I wrapped up my work with child therapy participants in 2023 was that the negative feedback children experience and perceive in the context of their school struggles, was one of the biggest barriers to receptivity to the healing experience of therapy, and even their ability to experience safe attachment with their caregivers. That was the aha moment for me, when I realized that all of the experience I’ve had navigating the murky and often frustrating waters of obtaining affirming and individualized (read: humanizing) accommodations and support within the school systems, was something I was passionate about carrying forward in my professional life.
Supervision
I am a board approved supervisor for LGPC's in the state of Maryland. I am also a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). I really enjoy working with folks who are working in group practices who want to work with kids, and are seeking additional support to be the best therapists they can be in supporting child clients. There are nuances to working with children that are not taught in graduate school and that professionals who focus their practice primarily with adult clients, do not fully understand. It is such a joy to support clinicians in empowering themselves in this area and knowing that our communities have access to more and more genuinely good clinicians from whom they can choose to work with.
The fun stuff!
As you can see, I love unicorns. I love to read for fun. I can often be found doing some sort of creative project, whether it be chalk painting furniture, acrylic paint pours, or in recent years, solo roadtrip towing a hand-me-down camper that I lovingly and painstakingly revitalized. I love travel and fiercely protect my alone time (#introvert) and therefore strongly hold boundaries on my time off whether it be one day or two weeks. My schedule and cancellation policy allows me to be location independent and meet the varying scheduling needs of participants.
Being an auntie is one of my favorite things. I have many sibkids between my bio family and my chosen family. Speaking of my family, it is HUGE. My family tree puts the Vitamix in Blended (teehee, get it?) and for that I have learned to feel gratitude not only for the expansive connections it has afforded me, but also for the multiple lenses from which it allows me to expand my understanding of familial roles and relationships. I am an amateur dad joker (see vitamix reference). I'm also an amateur Geek Therapist and have been dabbling in some gaming which will be another really fun thing to add on to my future virtual offerings, should I return to the 1:1 or group therapy world one day!
Environmental literacy and wildlife conservation is my other major passion and focus. I'm currently working on a project that combines my experience working with kids and families, to support folks in taking better care of our precious planet one tiny action step at a time. I'm enjoying observing what is forming while I'm giving myself the space, time, and attention this project deserves!
I am nothing if not myself with caregivers. I believe in having a sense of humor and being creative in my approaches. Raising kids is hard, so I encourage you to acknowledge (and maybe even embrace) the laughter and the tears. I am always learning, bringing fresh perspectives to the work we do together.
Qualifications (at least according to capitalism and a few other systems of oppression):When looking for a caregiver coach or educational advocate and in doing so, rationalizing using financial resources for that type of support, you may desire to to know about my training, education and certification/licensure. I received my Master's Degree at Johns Hopkins University in their Clinical Community Counseling program. I'm a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland, as well as an approved supervisor in the state of Maryland.
I'm also a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), accredited by the Association for Play Therapy. Becoming an RPT required an additional 150 hours of a combination of graduate studies and continuing education courses, an additional year of play therapy specific supervision, plus ongoing education every year to maintain the title. In addition, I do a combination of required and desired (read: learning that doesn't count for continuing education requirements because the system of the profession is flawed and perpetuates a limited scope on healing). Continuing education to maintain my licensure has included learning from folks with lived experience in neurodiversity affirming approaches, the LGBTQIA+ community, specifically trans folks. I welcome families of varying makeups. I've been actively engaging in a personal and professional anti-racism and anti-oppression unlearning journey through peer supervision, consultation, and personal work. One of the most valuable learning contexts for me is within community, and in 2023-2024, one invaluable space was consultation sessions facilitated by Silvana at Decolonize Your Practice.
Social location is important when choosing who to work with. Here is an overview of my identities and areas of privilege: I'm a cishet, generally able bodied, white woman with straight size privilege and a graduate degree. I'm an ADHDer and am able to relate and provide feedback and engage in collaborative problem solving from that lived experience perspective to. For folks of marginalized identities who need to have some shared lived experience with a provider for felt safety, I’m happy to guide you toward folks who share those identities and may be a good fit for your needs.
Click here to schedule your free no obligation 30 minute consultation
Pivot to Caregiver Coaching
After so many years of working with children and their adults, I started to realize that I REALLY enjoy helping caregivers get into alignment with their highest caregiving values and finding small ways to shift their caregiving practices in a way that reflects their truest selves. Cutting through the incessant noise and ‘shoulds’ (shoulds really are the worst) that caregivers are combatting every moment of most days. So as of January, 2023 I officially launched a separate coaching business. At that time, I thought I’d continue my child therapy practice. After a 6 month solo roadtrip in 2023 (and an abundance of self-inquiry), I made the decision to stop working with child clients in the therapy capacity. Since November of 2023, I’ve been providing services as Caregiver Coach. This has allowed me to use my years of clinical experience working with kids and their families, and expand the support I’m able to provide in ways that are more aligned with my values. The world is hard and we all need some spaces to heal. Caregiver coaching may be yours.
In the realm of working with folks who are raising other humans, we take a collaborative approach to navigating struggles as they arise. I use my strong sense of intuition and ability to center curiosity and compassion to build a relationship with participants, in service of you being more empowered and skillful in your role.
One of the reasons I spent so much time in my career up until now working with kids, is that I was in GRAD SCHOOL before I realized what I now know of as being an ADHDer. I already knew that I had anxiety and was working on that, but the awareness I gained around ADHD piece of my identity and experiences was pretty life changing for me. This lived experience allows me to offer a level of understanding, insights, and resonance that others (i.e., neurotypical providers) may not be able to. One of my favorite personal qualities is that I pick up on seemingly minor factors that may be creating a huge challenge for the humans you are raising.
While I do have lived experience as an ADHDer and strive to practice from a neurodiversity affirming approach, I still catch myself uncovering internalized ableism surrounding ADHD. Sometimes I miss things or make an incorrect guesses as to the source of a struggle. Showing up from a place of humility is central to my core value of curiosity. Together we will wonder and hypothesize and experiment, and I know I get it wrong sometimes. That is why relationship and collaboration with participants is key.
It's also important to name that it can often be beneficial to share an identity or lived experience between participant and coach that I do not hold, and therefore I'm not always going to be the best fit for each person who calls me. For example, as a white, cishet female who is child-free by choice, I do not share the identity of a Black, queer, solo parent who experiences micro-aggressions and exists in a world that is categorically unsafe. Sometimes being affirming is not enough. Only you know what you need and I’ll honor whatever that is. If you decide to schedule a consult, we will openly discuss whether I'm the best fit to work with you.
Click here to schedule your free no obligation 30 minute consultation
Adding Educational Advocacy Services
Much of the time outside of child therapy sessions was spent in collaboration with caregivers and school staff, uncovering learners’ unmet needs and problem solving to bridge the gap between what supports were available to the student, and the supports they needed to make space for their wellbeing in the school setting. It was reviewing IEP and 504plan documents for public schools and accommodations plans at independent schools, recommendations from evaluations, talking to teachers and caregivers and often feeling like a true Sherlock Holmes to get to the bottom of the struggles. What I realized as I wrapped up my work with child therapy participants in 2023 was that the negative feedback children experience and perceive in the context of their school struggles, was one of the biggest barriers to receptivity to the healing experience of therapy, and even their ability to experience safe attachment with their caregivers. That was the aha moment for me, when I realized that all of the experience I’ve had navigating the murky and often frustrating waters of obtaining affirming and individualized (read: humanizing) accommodations and support within the school systems, was something I was passionate about carrying forward in my professional life.
Supervision
I am a board approved supervisor for LGPC's in the state of Maryland. I am also a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). I really enjoy working with folks who are working in group practices who want to work with kids, and are seeking additional support to be the best therapists they can be in supporting child clients. There are nuances to working with children that are not taught in graduate school and that professionals who focus their practice primarily with adult clients, do not fully understand. It is such a joy to support clinicians in empowering themselves in this area and knowing that our communities have access to more and more genuinely good clinicians from whom they can choose to work with.
The fun stuff!
As you can see, I love unicorns. I love to read for fun. I can often be found doing some sort of creative project, whether it be chalk painting furniture, acrylic paint pours, or in recent years, solo roadtrip towing a hand-me-down camper that I lovingly and painstakingly revitalized. I love travel and fiercely protect my alone time (#introvert) and therefore strongly hold boundaries on my time off whether it be one day or two weeks. My schedule and cancellation policy allows me to be location independent and meet the varying scheduling needs of participants.
Being an auntie is one of my favorite things. I have many sibkids between my bio family and my chosen family. Speaking of my family, it is HUGE. My family tree puts the Vitamix in Blended (teehee, get it?) and for that I have learned to feel gratitude not only for the expansive connections it has afforded me, but also for the multiple lenses from which it allows me to expand my understanding of familial roles and relationships. I am an amateur dad joker (see vitamix reference). I'm also an amateur Geek Therapist and have been dabbling in some gaming which will be another really fun thing to add on to my future virtual offerings, should I return to the 1:1 or group therapy world one day!
Environmental literacy and wildlife conservation is my other major passion and focus. I'm currently working on a project that combines my experience working with kids and families, to support folks in taking better care of our precious planet one tiny action step at a time. I'm enjoying observing what is forming while I'm giving myself the space, time, and attention this project deserves!
Cassidy with a huge grin while hiking during her 2023 roadtrip.
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Very exciting find- FOAM recycling bin.
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Cassidy holding one of her niblings on the beach. Not seen- pure joy on both faces.
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