The Learning Advocate

At The Learning Advocate, I coach young people, from middle school through university, to help them understand themselves as both thinkers and feelers. We focus on personal resources and strategies, rather than weaknesses, to practice academic and social success. This might mean practicing skills in emotional regulation, organization, studying, or time management — always with a focus on independent problem solving.

Like the most effective sports coaches, I use solution-focused conversations that lead young people to identify their natural strengths, spot unhelpful habits, define goals, and set clear criteria for success. The young person always makes the final calls — they own the process and understand it’s up to them to put the game plan into action. Over time, they develop their own personalized playbook.

My role is to highlight what’s working (how to repeat those wins) and encourage reflection with motivating questions. If the game plan isn’t working, we regroup, adjust strategy, and try new tools. Just as a coach fine-tunes a player’s stance or ball-handling, I help ADHDers refine their skills for greater accuracy and efficiency. Regular practice and feedback sessions keep progress on track.

At The Learning Advocate, I coach parents and caregivers to recognize their child’s strengths and challenges, respond constructively, and apply the tools that help their child succeed. Children with ADHD need caregivers who understand how ADHD affects them, and who can respond with empathy and support. They can’t figure it out alone. They often don’t know why they’re struggling either. As their strongest ally and safe space, families and caregivers play a critical role in shaping a supportive home environment.

With parents and caregivers, we start by breaking down the game itself: What is ADHD? How does it affect my child? How does their ADHD affect me? Then we review the “game film” (scenarios from real life) and walk through how those plays might go differently next time. Along the way, we tackle common myths, answer tough questions, and examine the beliefs driving your responses.

Together, we build your own parent playbook for supporting your child’s growth. ADHD is full of “failing forward” moments and, as parents, your patience and grace create a safe playing field where your child can practice, recover, and build confidence. ADHD affects the whole family. By working together, families can build shared language, create healthy agreements, and foster understanding that benefits everyone. 

The Learning Advocate cycle: Review | Research | Recommend | Write | Respond | Represent

Sometimes it's hard to interpret all the paperwork that comes with a child's diagnosis. The testing is dense and can be hard to synthesize. Student Support meetings move quickly, and although the whole team is working to support the child, keeping up with all the jargon, confirming what services your child is getting, and how they will be supportive can be overwhelming and confusing. 

The Learning Advocate helps parents and caregivers with this journey by partnering with you each step of the way. We will review all testing your child received and clarify what's needed and available in the school setting. I will join you and the Student Support Team as a collaborator to create the goals and outline the accommodations your child needs to be successful.