About Me

Sarah Anita, M.Ed.

I am a certified parent coach and consultant, professional “kid person”, and mother of two. My mission is to help parents strengthen their relationships with their children and create the lives they want for their families.

I’m a former principal, assistant principal, and teacher who has worked with thousands of children and families from kindergarten through 12th grade. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of working with families, it’s that all parents want what’s best for their children.

I have also learned that parenting is one of life’s greatest challenges, and that many parents need more support than they are getting. I have experienced some of those challenges myself as a parent whose household is impacted by ADHD - it took a lot of learning and hard work to find balance in our family!

My approach to supporting parents combines the modes of coaching and consulting. The best coaches help their coachees learn to hear their inner voice and intuition, increasing their confidence and honing their decision-making skills. Consultants give practical advice gleaned from years of experience in their area of expertise. In my experience, parents benefit from both!

I draw from many philosophies and resources, including positive psychology, attachment-driven parenting, collaborative coaching, whole-brain parenting, slow parenting, and more.

I strive to use inclusive practices and welcome all types of family structures, including single parents, divorced co-parents, LGBT parents, and more. I have a particular passion for working with parents of children with ADHD, children with big feelings, and highly sensitive children. Click here to learn more about my service packages.

My Philosophy

  • Every parent needs to define their own vision and values. If you read ten parenting books, you’ll learn ten conflicting perspectives on what it means to be a high quality parent, often including a healthy dose of parental shame. Provided that your child is safe, loved, and cared for, parenting styles can look many different ways, and the truth is often “somewhere in the middle.” People often feel at their best when their actions are aligned with their values, and parenting is no exception. Having a clear picture of your family’s dreams and guideposts is an important first step to experiencing clarity and fulfillment.

  • Parenting is a practice of the heart and the mind. Much of the wisdom that you need to be the parent you dream of being is already within you. Coaching creates a “container” for parents to spend time drawing out what they already intuitively know about parenting their child well. With that said, there is a great deal of research in neuroscience, education, biology, and more that have given us solid information about what parenting practices help kids function at their best. Combining these “ways of knowing” gives us solid ground from which to parent.

  • Safe relationships help all people grow. Kids thrive when they feel securely connected to a “bigger, wiser, and kind” adult. Adults also make growth with the help of collaborative, connected relationships. My goal is to provide an empathetic space free of judgment or expectations, where parents feel they can let their guard down and make real progress toward their goals.

Education & Training

  • Master of Education in Diversity and Equity in Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • In Progress: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of West Alabama

  • Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Psychology, University of Oregon

  • Professional Coaching Certification, Transformation Academy

  • Coaching for Equity, National Equity Project

  • Principal License, Portland State University

  • Professional Teaching License with Endorsements in Health Education, Elementary Education, and English Language Arts

  • Crisis Prevention, Safety-Care

  • Restorative Justice, Resolutions Northwest

  • Trauma-informed Practices, Trauma Informed Consulting

  • Collaborative Problem-Solving, Think:Kids

  • Positive Behavior Interventions and Systems, Center on PBIS