About Cassidy (she/her)
Since this is the part of the website where you learn whether I am a good fit for you, I'll tell you about who I am.
I am nothing if not myself with caregivers. I really believe in having a sense of humor and being creative in my approaches. Because raising kids is hard, and I encourage you to both laugh and cry about it. I am always learning new stuff to make the work I do with you even more kick-ass.
Qualifications (at least according to capitalism and a few other systems of oppression):
When looking for a parent coach and rationalizing using financial resources for that type of support, it may be helpful for you to know more 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.
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 continuing education that as of late has included learning from folks with lived experience in neurodiversity affirming approaches, the LGBTQIA+ and specifically trans folks. I've been actively engaging in a personal and professional anti-racism and anti-oppression unlearning journey through peer supervision, consultation, and personal work. Most recently, I've been learning a lot from a consultation group Silvana at Decolonize Your Practice has been hosting for the summer of 2023 and now continuing into the fall.
Identities and areas of privilege: I'm a cishet, ablebodied, white woman with straight size privilege with a graduate degree. I'm an ADHDer and am able to offer that lived experience perspective to clients. For folks of marginalized identities that need to have some shared lived experience with a provider for felt safety, allow me to guide you toward folks who share those important identities.
Click here to schedule your free no obligation 30 minute consultation
Pivot to Caregiver Coaching
After so many years of working with children, I started to realize that I REALLY enjoy helping caregivers get into alignment with their highest parenting values. Cutting through the incessant noise and shoulds that parents are combatting every moment of the day. So as of January, 2023 I officially launched a separate coaching business. This has allowed me to support more folks while also lending to more flexibility for being location independent more often during the year. As of November, 2023, I am pausing on working with child clients and am only working as a Parent Coach.
I work with caregivers to navigate whatever struggles arise. I use my strong sense of intuition and ability to be present to build a relationship with my clients while helping you feel empowered as a caregiver.
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 ADHD piece was pretty life changing for me. This lived experience allows me to offer a level of understanding and insight that others may not be able to. One of my favorite personal qualities is that I pick up on seemingly minor things that may be creating a huge challenge for the humans you are raising. You can trust that I offer everything I've learned and experienced to help the folks I work with. Life truly doesn't have to contain so much suffering.
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. It's also important to name that it can often be beneficial to share an identity or lived experience between client and coach, and therefore I'm not always going to be the best fit for each person who calls me. For example, I'm a White, Cis-Het female. I strive to be not only neurodiversity affirming, but affirming of the LGBTQIA+ community and have been actively engaging in anti-racist learning for the last 2+ years. I welcome families of varying makeups. Sometimes being affirming is not enough. There are some folks who would be best served by sharing an identity with their coach or at least a higher level of competence and education, and if those folks 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
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 where there is nobody to support their niche of working with kids.
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 most recently wrapping up a 6 month cross country solo roadtrip towing a hand-me-down camper that I lovingly and painstakingingly revitalized. I love travel and leisure and therefore strongly hold boundaries on my time off whether it be one day or two weeks. There is definitely more travel in my future, stay tuned.
Being an aunt is one of my favorite things. I have many niblings between my bio family and my chosen family. Speaking of family, it is HUGE. My family tree puts the Vitamix in Blender (teehee, get it?). I am an amateur dad joker (see last sentence). 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 virtual offerings, when I return to the child therapy world!
Sustainability is my other passion. 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. The pause I'm taking from seeing child therapy clients will directly support this project, and I'm excited to see what will happen while I'm giving myself the space to pivot and dedicate time and attention to this project!
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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