About Us | Family Education

Childhood Developmental Psychologist and Founder of REC Parenting
Dr. Ana Aznar is the founder of REC Parenting. She is a psychologist with a passion to support parents and children. With so much contradicting and poor quality parenting information out there, she believes in providing parents with high quality, evidence based advice. Ana is a mother of four teenage boys and specializes in all things parenting on Family Education. She continues to conduct research and write about parenting, family relations, and children's socioemotional development.

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Dr. Caroline Buzanko is a Psychologist. Mother. International Speaker. Yoda of anxiety. ADHD Superhero. And Changer of Lives. She works with kids, teens, and their families to maximize confidence, forge resilience, and foster strong connections. With over twenty years of working with families, her focus is on developing long-term success and well-being by creating meaningful change. She also trains other mental health professionals and educators to optimize their effectiveness in working with children and teens.

Dr. Buzanko is also the Director at Koru Family Psychology, a family-first practice that promotes optimal growth and success for individuals and families in all areas of life. She is a sought-out speaker who has been featured on various media platforms as an expert on child and teen development and holds faculty positions teaching graduate-level students.

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Danna Bodenheimer, LCSW, DSW is a LifeSpeak Expert and she founded the Walnut Psychotherapy Center. Based on years of working in private practice in Philadelphia, Danna recognized the need for greater access to long-term, psychodynamic psychotherapy in a safe clinical environment.

Danna is a writer and a consultant/speaker for several Philadelphia non-profit organizations. These organizations include Jewish Family and Children's Services and the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Philadelphia. As a writer, she has published on topics related to love in psychotherapy, eating disorders, and the history of relational work. Danna just completed a book about getting started in the field of clinical social work, incorporating research done on over 100 social workers' experiences.

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Dawn Huebner, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of 10 books for children selling over 1 million copies in 23 languages. A child psychologist, parent coach, and popular speaker, Dr. Dawn translates the latest research into actionable strategies to free young worriers from anxiety, helping children live happier lives. For tips and tricks, you can use daily visit DawnHuebnerPhD.com.

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Dr. Deanne Simms is a senior Clinical Health Psychologist who has a well-established career providing specialized care for children, adolescents, and adults with complex mental and physical health challenges or conditions. In her work ranging from primary to tertiary care settings across four Canadian provinces, Dr. Simms has worked to build and evaluate evidence-based practices and programs. She strives to support the health and well-being of the individuals she works with while enhancing and improving service delivery in both the private and public health sectors. 

Dr. Simms is a passionate leader whose responsibilities have extended to provincial and national health leadership. An innovator who drives change, she is a sought-after consultant for system-level projects. Using her scientific background, combined with her dedication to enhancing and extending health service delivery, Dr. Simms contributes meaningfully to steering committees, working groups, and initiatives aimed at transforming the health care landscape through disruptive, data-driven innovation. Dr. Simms is also the President and CEO of ThriveSpace Health and Wellness, a company that focuses on delivering and enhancing digital health services. In this space, she consults with individuals, clinicians, organizations, and health systems to augment and enhance service delivery. Dr. Simms is passionate about ensuring individuals everywhere can access the right care, at the right time, in the way that most suits their needs.

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Marie-Alexia Allard obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Université de Montréal and completed postdoctoral studies at the Université du Québec à Montréal. A clinical psychologist and member of the Ordre des Psychologues du Québec since 2012, she specializes in fertility, perinatal care, and parenting. She consults for fertility clinics in the greater Montreal area and co-founded the Ensemble psychology clinic in 2016. Dr. Allard is also a supervisor at the Centre de Services Psychologiques and a lecturer at the Université du Québec à Montréal, where she teaches courses on the emotional development of toddlers, family psychology, and intervention with children and adolescents. 

She offers a wide range of psychological services to help people reduce stress and cope better with fertility treatments. She also offers support services to women and couples who are considering gamete donation. As part of her clinical practice, she also sees women and men experiencing perinatal bereavement, suffering from anxiety or depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period, or having difficulty adapting to the arrival of a child. She also sees toddlers and their parents.

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Dr. Jennifer Salerno is a nurse practitioner, researcher, author, national speaker, and founder of Possibilities for Change. Her team developed the nation’s leading adolescent risk screening system, RAAPS. Dr. Salerno’s book, Teen Speak, and the Teen Speak series includes practical communication strategies that have helped thousands of parents overcome the most common challenges of parenting a teen.

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John Arden, PhD, ABPP is the Author of 15 books (translated into 20 languages) including Brain2Brain, The Brain Bible, Rewire Your Brain, and Brain-Based Therapy with Adults.

He recently retired from Kaiser Permanente where he served as the Northern California Regional Director of Training where he developed one of the largest mental health training programs in the United States. In this capacity he oversaw more than 150 interns and postdoctoral psychology residents in 24 medical centers. He has presented in all US States and 27 countries.

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As one of the nation’s acclaimed Emergency Medicine Physicians, Dr. Stephanie Burgos is also a best-selling author, lifestyle and confidence coach, wellness expert, speaker, and social influencer. Dr. Stephanie works with women on how to balance mental and physical fitness with personal and professional success so they can renew their energy, restore clarity and rebuild confidence.

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Tara has educator experience that brings expertise in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. With diplomas in Fine Arts, Humanities, Egyptology, and Cryptozoology, she has worked on educational platforms like Infoplease and Fact Monster. At Family Education, she strategizes, edits, and curates content, including baby names and their origins.

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Dr. Lisa Ndejuru is a LifeSpeak Mental Health & Resilience Expert. She holds a psychotherapist's permit issued by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec (Canada). After training extensively in psychodynamic and humanistic-existential approaches, Lisa’s professional practice led her into short-term solution-focused work. Choosing to keep the best of all worlds, she has shaped an eclectic and very client-centered approach that favors deep listening and making meaning.  She holds an M.A. in counseling from Sherbrooke University and a transdisciplinary PhD from Montreal’s Concordia University. 

Two decades of working with adults, couples, and families has yielded a broad practice, knowledge, and skills base to intervene on issues like anxiety, depression, trauma and resilience, relational difficulties, self-esteem, grief, identities and transcultural issues, and others. Lisa regularly participates in professional training activities, speaks, and teaches. She offers consultations, workshops, and supervision and is currently devising therapeutic group experiences for racialized women and non-binary people. 

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Lisa Pender is a passionate Digital Wellness educator and speaker, and is the founder of Digitally Well. She works with businesses and post-secondary institutions to provide impactful workshops, webinars, and consultations on the intersection of digital well-being and performance. Lisa is a sociology professor at Mohawk College and has been teaching in higher education for over fourteen years. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo, a B.A. from McMaster University, achieved her Digital Wellness Educator certification from the Digital Wellness Institute, and completed the “Mindfulness in Modern Society” certificate from McMaster University. Lisa is also a figure skating coach of 25 years who lives, volunteers, and works in the Hamilton, Ontario area. 

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Nicole Shallow is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Sleep Specialist. She is extremely passionate about the topic of sleep and has become an authority figure in the sleep education space. She has partnered with many large brands to speak about the importance of sleep, has spoken on 10+ podcasts, and is the CEO and founder of her own company Your Behaviour Gal Consulting Inc. Nicole has recently launched her own Sleep Competency Training program to support the education of other professionals within her field.

Nicole supports clients directly one-on-one, with a specialized focus on supporting neurodivergent children and their caregivers. She prides herself on the relationships she can build with her clients, parents, professionals, supervisees, and mentees. The three values that drive Nicole's practice are compassion, knowledge, and inclusiveness. These are the three words she lives by every day, and this truly reflects in her practice as a Behavior Analyst.

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Nishta Saxena is a LifeSpeak Expert, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, founder of  Vibrant Nutrition, and busy mother of two kids. Her expertise is focused on pediatric and family nutrition, coaching families through their life cycle. She also works with adults managing and preventing chronic diseases, including heart disease, fatty liver, high cholesterol, and Type 2 Diabetes.

In her 15+ years of clinical practice, Nishta has helped thousands of families around the world move through their lives with energy and experience the powerful health effects of optimal nutrition. She is also a well-known “nutrition myth buster”, promoting evidence-based nutrition with a common-sense approach. In addition to her private practice, seeing clients globally, and her speaking work, Nishta is a national media expert in food and nutrition, appearing regularly on Your Morning, The Marilyn Denis Show, The Social, CBC, Today’s Parent, and Best Health. Her favorite food is chickpeas. 

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Amanda is a Parenting Guru and Designer Nanny, and host of the podcast, Parenting with a Punch. Amanda is continually inspired to work with parents and children to help them succeed and feel empowered. Amanda works with children ages 2-18 years old.

Amanda has a BS in Psychology from Northeastern University. She then received her MS degree from Touro College with a dual degree in General and Elementary Special Education with a specialization in Early Childhood. Amanda is a former Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) in NYC.

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Founder of TheParentingJunkie.com, Avital’s mission is to help parents and caregivers who struggle with chaos, clutter and conflict to transform their experience with young children into one of presence, play and peace.

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Brittany has a Master’s degree in Child Development and has worked for the past 20 years as a Child Development Educator and Parent Advisor. As a mom of two littles, Brittany knows how important it is to stay connected to a community that understands the ups and downs of parenthood.

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Charise Rohm Nulsen is a writer, social media influencer, activist, and perpetual volunteer. She is a graduate of Boston College (B.A.) and Boston University (M.A.T.) who has worked in the corporate world in Manhattan, San Francisco, and Boston, as well as in education throughout Massachusetts. Now as a work-from-home-mom, she is passionate about helping other women live their best lives and bring about positive change in their communities and beyond.

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Donna Moriarty is a writer, editor and author with a passion for writing, speaking and listening—the most powerful and enduring forms of human connection. She’s written and edited award-winning publications, short fiction and nonfiction, book reviews and a one-act play. Her first book, Not Just Words: How a Good Apology Makes You Braver, Bolder and Better at Life, was published in 2018.

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Erin Ollila graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and then went on to co-found Spry Literary Journal as an outlet to celebrate the written word. Erin's writing can be found all over the internet and in print, and includes interviews, books, blog posts, and creative nonfiction. She lives in Southeastern Massachusetts where you can likely find her chasing around her younger daughters at her son's youth sports' games.

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Award-winning author, speaker, and grief specialist Gary Roe is a compassionate and trusted voice in grief-recovery who has been bringing comfort, hope, encouragement, and healing to hurting, wounded hearts for more than 30 years.

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HeHe is the founder of a Maternity Concierge, Doula and Birthing Service in the Boston area. Through an approach of mindfulness, relaxation, and customized care, HeHe views her role as the guardian of the energy of your birth experience.

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Jacqueline Weiss is a blogger, freelance writer and social media consultant based in Los Angeles. A graduate of Emerson college, she is passionate about wellness, fitness, and beauty.

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Laura Richards is a writer, journalist, communications, brand, and PR specialist with 20+ years of experience. She’s also a mother of four so understands the joys and struggles of parenting. Laura has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe Magazine, Reader's Digest, Martha Stewart Living, Woman's Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful, and is a frequent Family Education contributor.

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Rachel is a NY-based mom of two daughters and a nationally-published writer. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Emerson College, and contributes editorial content to FamilyEducation.com as well as SHAPE, Univision, Pregnancy & Newborn, Reader's Digest, MommyNearest, Red Tricycle, Redbook.com, New York Metro Parents, Verywell Family, and more.

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Sa'iyda Shabazz is a writer and mother to one. She can often be found in her apartment writing into the wee hours and trying to read a book in peace. She is a staff writer for Scary Mommy, and writes for several other parenting sites. Her work has also been featured on The New York Times and the Washington Post.

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Suzie Marschhausen is a blogger, writer, perinatal health coach, and Child Rights Activist. Her mission is to educate and hold space for mothers and fathers to experience deep healing so they can become more conscious and authentic parents. She believes the key to upholding childrens’ rights to health, autonomy, and safety is our own massive personal and spiritual growth as parents. She currently lives in Playa del Carmen, Mexico with her husband, son, and two dogs.

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Working with young people and their families for ten years, Tania Angibeau is a psychoeducator who is passionate about family relationships.

She is the founder of her company "La Maison de Réconciliation" which offers services adapted to individual and family needs. With its slogan “Open the door to reconciliation”, she inspires individuals to change their habits in order to lead a more fulfilled life. 

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Yiching (pronounced E Ching) is a Malaysian Chinese immigrant and first-generation Canadian. She has 14 years of clinical experience working with children, youth, parents, and adults as a Social Worker and Therapist in multiple settings (children’s mental health, community health care, and education sectors). 

She received her Master's of Social Work from the University of Toronto and has numerous clinical training hours and certificates in Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapies, Emotion Focused Coaching, and Mindfulness. Yiching also offers Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CaCBT) for racialized individuals that helps support clients in learning and implementing CBT skills using a culturally relevant and faith-based approach.

Yiching also has a passion for adult education in supporting workplace wellness through lunch and learns, workshops, and seminars. Yiching is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers as well as the Ontario Association of Social Workers. 

In addition, Yiching provides services in English and has a comprehension of conversational Mandarin and basic Spanish. Yiching is also well-versed in the Latinx culture through lived experience as a mother of two highly active and super curious biracial children. When she's not working or spending time with her loved ones, Yiching finds comfort in researching for her next trip while sipping a taro milk bubble tea (with qq of course).

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Zeb Goldstein is an attorney for Morgan & Morgan, with a focus on helping clients recover damages in personal injury claims. Away from the courtroom, he enjoys cooking, exercising, and attending his children’s school events.

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Expert Support for Every Stage of Parenthood
REC Parenting offers comprehensive resources and expert guidance for every step of the parenting journey, from planning a family to managing teenagers and beyond. REC Parenting's platform features subscription plans that provide access to masterclasses, podcasts, and personalized help, ensuring parents receive reliable support every step of the way.

Additionally, take advantage of founder Dr. Ana Aznar's expert parenting advice with our question form, perfect for families to ask questions and share their situations with a child developmental psychologist who's ready to give you the answers you need! 

Check out REC Parenting and our Ask Dr. Ana feature today.

LifeSpeak’s Family Education partnership is led by trusted parenting and caregiving experts who provide practical, real-world guidance for every stage of family life. From child development and eldercare to navigating special needs, LifeSpeak experts deliver empathetic, evidence-based resources designed to help families thrive. Through quick videos, in-depth programs, and actionable tools, they empower caregivers to build confidence, reduce stress, and support their loved ones with ease. Accessible anytime through their AI-powered platform, LifeSpeak ensures that expert help evolves with your family’s unique needs.

Check out LifeSpeak's expert support now!

Chairman, Dept. of OB/GYN, Northwell Health Southside Hospital
In 2015, Dr. Benjamin Schwartz was named the Regional Director of Obstetrics & Gynecology for the Northwell Health Eastern Region as well as the Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwell Health Southside Hospital.

In those roles, Dr. Schwartz oversees the inpatient and outpatient care for women in the Eastern Region and is Northwell s lead clinician for the development of our educational post-graduate programs including a new Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as a new Fellowship for Advanced Female Pelvic Surgery.

A specialist in Gynecologic Oncology and Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, Dr. Schwartz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Surgeons.

Personal Coach for Parents of Adolescents
Carleton Kendrick is the coauthor of Take Your Nose Ring Out, Honey, We're Going to Grandma's. He's been in private practice as a family therapist and has worked as a consultant for more than 20 years. He has conducted parenting seminars on topics ranging from how to discipline toddlers to how to stay connected with teenagers.

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Family Psychotherapist
Dr. Fran Walfish is the top leading child and family psychotherapist and author in Beverly Hills, California. In addition to her thriving private practice, Dr. Walfish was on clinical staff in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for 15 years. She was a school psychologist and served a 4 year-term as Chair of the Board of The Early Childhood Parenting Center founded at Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles. Dr. Walfish is a featured expert in Parents magazine “Ask The Experts” and formerly in her weekly Q & A in The Beverly Hills Courier. She is an on-camera expert contributor to NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, KCBS2 News, The Doctors CBS, FOX News LA, The Robert Irvine Show.

Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Dr. Neha Sheth is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist in New York City who delivers and performs surgeries at Lenox Hill Hospital. She practices at Upper East Side Ob/Gyn in Manhattan, New York. Dr. Sheth completed her BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She attended medical school at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. She then completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts-Baystate Medical Center where she was a proud recipient of the Baystate Ronald T. Burkman Research Award. A dedicated OB-GYN, she holds active membership in the American Medical Association and is a fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 

Dr. Sheth’s goal during consultations is to help women build a routine that will allow them to better prepare their bodies for successful pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, her interests include office gynecology and office procedures. She embraces a comprehensive, compassionate care approach to women’s healthcare. Her enthusiastic attitude encourages women to be active participants in their medical management. For more information, visit https://www.uesob.com/team

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Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Autism Medical Specialist
Timothy M. Buie, M.D. is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Autism medical specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital. Prior to that position, he worked in the pediatric gastroenterology department for 18 years at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children based in Boston, MA. He also served as the Director of Gastrointestinal and Nutrition at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Lurie Center for Autism. Dr. Buie is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. He completed his training in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Yale University School of Medicine.

In addition to managing a large patient population, Dr. Buie has published a variety of papers and book chapters characterizing gastrointestinal problems in children with autism and developmental disorders including clinical presentation and medical findings. His work includes translational research of the intestinal microbiome and the metabolic effects of the microbiome in a variety of conditions in pediatrics including autism and inflammatory disease.

Dr. Buie has been honored for his efforts in medicine and has been selected as one of Boston’s “Top Docs,” by his peers. He most recently received the Margaret Bauman Award for Autism Care presented in May 2017, which he also received in 2010.

Pediatrician
Henry Bernstein, M.D., is the Associate Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics and the director of Primary Care at Children's Hospital, Boston. He also has an academic appointment at Harvard Medical School. Bernstein has extensive clinical experience as a primary care pediatrician in a variety of settings: private practice, a health center, a medically underserved area as a member of the National Health Service Corps, as well as in a children's hospital, teaching medical students, pediatric residents, and fellows.

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Clinical Psychologist
As an Award-Winning Clinical Psychologist and Educator, Dr. Isaura de la Caridad Gonzalez has utilized her expertise and trailblazing skills to support others, specifically the Latina population, to expand their businesses and create top sum financial legacies. She is a multilingual innovator who founded one of the top Psychology practices in Staten Island as well as multiple other organizations, which aim to empower and inspire Latina entrepreneurs to learn the skills that will bring their businesses to the highest level.

Registered Dietitian
Michelle is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Preventive Cardiology Dietitian. She completed a vigorous clinical residency and graduated with a MS in Clinical Nutrition from NYU. She has over 10+ years of experience counseling individuals and families on chronic disease prevention and management. Michelle owns a nutrition counseling and consulting private practice in New York City.

She works with children, adults, and families to reduce their risk of suffering from a heart attack, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. Such risk factors include: increased weight, increased waist circumference, obstructive sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, diabetes, kidney disease, and family history of the aforementioned. She thoroughly evaluates all clients for nutrition deficiencies and excesses and creates a comprehensive plan to enhance their well-being and quality of life. She creates personalized programs and packages with a high success rate. She sees clients in her NYC office and virtually.

Licensed Social Worker
Noreen Joslyn is a licensed independent social worker in the state of Ohio, and is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. She has a Master's degree in Social Work, specializing in family and children, from the University of Pittsburgh. Joslyn is a psychiatric social worker in private practice with Ken DeLuca, Ph.D. & Associates, where she counsels parents and children. She is a past board member of the Ohio Association of Gifted Children, and an officer for the Parents and Community Division of the National Association for Gifted Children. Joslyn's prior experience also includes work with parents and children in special education, female juvenile corrections, and in partial hospital programs. She and her husband reside in Ohio with their two gifted children.

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Pediatrician
Shari Nethersole is a physician at Children's Hospital, Boston, and an instructor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She graduated from Yale University and Harvard Medical School, and did her internship and residency at Children's Hospital, Boston. As a pediatrician and parent, Nethersole believes that the first 12 months of life are critical for a child. "A nurturing, child-centered environment is important for the early years," she says. "Children need to be protected from some of the adult issues and concerns that surround them, and should be able to enjoy just being a child."

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Clinical Psychologist
Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D., is the former Editor in Chief of Exceptional Parent magazine. Klein, a clinical psychologist and editor, cofounded the magazine in 1971.Klein serves as a research associate in Medicine (Pediatrics) at Children's Hospital (Boston) where he teaches health-care professionals about working with the parents of children with disabilities, with particular focus on the challenge of delivering difficult diagnostic news.

Klein began working with children with disabilities in 1954, when he was a camp counselor. He received his Ph.D. in psychology from Clark University in 1963. He has received numerous national awards for his work from organizations such as the American Psychological Association, the National Down Syndrome Congress, National Parent Network on Disabilities,American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, and the National Easter Seals Society.

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Teenager Specialist and Owner of The Complete Student
Blaire Lent was born and raised in New York. She moved to South Carolina after completing her second graduate degree in Education. She has a Masters in Education and in Special Education. Upon arrival in South Carolina Blaire began working with teenagers with a variety of diagnoses from ADHD and Dyslexia, to Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Anxiety. After realizing that the school systems, both public and private, were not servicing students with such needs in all the ways that they could, Blaire opened a small private school. The Complete Student is accredited through SCISA and is a small private school catering to middle and high school students who benefit from project based learning methods.

Mayo Clinic Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Founder of The Stream
Brenda Zane is a Mayo Clinic Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Founder of The Stream, an online community to support moms of kids with substance use disorder. She is also the host of Hopestream, a podcast that offers resources, expert input, and hope to parents who's kids are struggling with addiction. Brenda spent over 25 years in the corporate advertising space working for global agencies and Fortune 500 companies before her son became addicted to drugs and nearly died from an overdose. She made a career shift to health and wellness as a way to provide the support she felt was missing during her experience of parenting a child in addiction.

Brenda holds a B.S. in Marketing and earned her health and wellness coaching certification at the Mayo Clinic. She has completed certifications in nutrition, addiction and treatment through HarvardX, Stanford online and The University of Adelaide. Brenda is also a founding member of N.O.A.C., a corporate social responsibility initiative that helps federal, state, and private sector programs extend their reach in communities affected by the opioid crisis and achieve positive, measurable results in prevention, treatment, and recovery.

She lives in Seattle, WA with her husband and blended family of four boys and two dogs.

Early Child Development Specialist
Brittany has a Master’s degree in Child Development and has worked for the past 20 years as a Child Development Educator and Parent Advisor. As a mom of two littles, Brittany knows how important it is to stay connected to a community that understands the ups and downs of parenthood.

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Social Justice and Issues Expert
Charise Rohm Nulsen is a writer, social media influencer, activist, and perpetual volunteer. She is a graduate of Boston College (B.A.) and Boston University (M.A.T.) who has worked in the corporate world in Manhattan, San Francisco, and Boston, as well as in education throughout Massachusetts. Now as a work-from-home-mom, she is passionate about helping other women live their best lives and bring about positive change in their communities and beyond.

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Education Expert
Colleen Wildenhaus is the mother of a 13-year-old girl suffering from severe anxiety and OCD. Her blog Good Bye Anxiety, Hello Joy shares with readers the journey her family takes to enjoy the small moments each day, keeping the beast of anxiety from taking away the joy of life.

Colleen became frustrated with medical and self-help books available to parents; while they offered suggestions, many were out of touch with reality. Through her blog, she shares the day to day struggles of parenting a child with anxiety, offering guidance, encouragement, and hope to parents.

In addition to being a mother and writer, Colleen is a former elementary teacher who holds two Master’s Degrees in Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She also holds certification as a child anxiety expert through 25 hours of graduate level chid anxiety classes, as well as training as a special education advocate. She draws from her expertise as an educator to coach parents and teachers in ways to make school successful for children with anxiety.

Beyond writing, Colleen finds happiness in life’s simple joys—her children’s laughter, waves crashing on the beach, the wide-eyed excitement when students experience an “ah-ha!” moment, and fresh baked cookies.

Former Professional School Counselor
Connie Collins is a professional school counselor who worked in public education for 35 years as a teacher and counselor at the middle school and secondary levels. She currently works as a consultant and trainer on the topics of diversity, equity, at-risk adolescents, and peer mediation. Collins worked daily with the parents of the students in her various schools, and has facilitated several parenting groups.

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Experts in Early Learning and Educational Content
Curious World is an award-winning early learning mobile app designed to boost academic skills, fuel curiosity and encourage a lifelong love of learning. The Curious World team specialize in developing fun and educational content and technology for kids aged 2 - 7 (toddlers, pre-k, preschool and kindergarten) by focusing on eight key learning areas: creative expression, math, science, executive function, family and community, language and literacy, health and wellbeing and social and emotional development.

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Founder of Moms Mentoring Circle, Life Coach, Author
Deborah is a certified life coach and regular contributor on CBS Virginia This Morning.
Her advice column, Balance Life with Coach Deborah in Washington Parent, helps parents navigate the chaos, find their balance and not lose themselves in the role of mom.

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Professor of Genetics, Nutrition, Microbiology, and Immunology at University of Phoenix
Dana has a MS in Molecular Genetics. She has 10 years of experience working in government, university and private industry as a bench scientist. She moved into education after the birth of her twins in 2003 and has taught online for the University of Phoenix for 14+ years in nutrition, microbiology, genetics and immunology.

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Parenting Blogger and Genetics Expert
Elisa is a well-known parenting writer and the creator of Mom Life According To Elisa. She is an expert on child behavior and certified in Positive Discipline.

A bookworm from an early age, Elisa has always sought to grow her knowledge on topics that interest her. Through a combination of self-study and college classes, Elisa has developed her expertise in Genetics and Linguistics, among other subjects.

Elisa taught elementary school several years before having her first child. Early in her teaching career, she conducted field research on children with challenging behavior problems. She later led teacher trainings based on her research. She spent the second half of her teaching career working with gifted children.

Currently, Elisa reports news for Moms.com, writes here on FamilyEducation, and contributes regularly to the San Francisco Moms Blog.

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Security Specialist
Gavin de Becker is widely regarded as the leading U.S. expert on the prediction and management of violence. He is the best-selling author of The Gift of Fear and Protecting the Gift. His work has earned him three Presidential appointments and a position on a congressional committee. He was twice appointed to the President's Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Justice, and was a principal advisor on a federal research project into mentally ill people who stalk public figures.

He served two years on the Governor's Advisory Board at the California Department of Mental Health. He is currently co-chair of the Domestic Violence Council Advisory Board, and a Senior Fellow at the UCLA School of Public Policy.

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Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Postpartum Doula, Positive Parenting Expert
Heather Wallace is a former Early Childhood Educator, a Love and Logic Parent Facilitator, and a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Postpartum Doula. 

Over the last 9 years Heather has been educating parents on the positive parenting method, Love and Logic, while also experiencing firsthand what it is like raising 3 curious, creative, and SPIRITED boys. She has been a certified sleep consultant for the last 2 years which is fulfilling her dream of creating peace in homes of chaos by teaching parents how to help their newborns, infants, and toddlers sleep better. 

In Heather's spare time, she enjoys reading the latest research-based articles on education, parenting, and neurodiversity, designing and printing mugs for her small business on Etsy, and snuggling with her kitten who is known as the "therapy cat" of the family.

Visit BraveHeart Consulting and connect with Heather on  on Facebook at BraveHeart Consulting and join the Sleep Training Group, BraveHeart Sleep Training.

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Doula and Maternity Concierge
HeHe is the founder of a Maternity Concierge, Doula and Birthing Service in the Boston area. Through an approach of mindfulness, relaxation, and customized care, HeHe views her role as the guardian of the energy of your birth experience.

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Celebrity Stylist
Behind every “It Girl” in Hollywood is a talented fashion stylist that... well makes “it” happen. Jeni Elizabeth burst into the world of celebrity styling faster than a stampede of shoppers at a sample sale. After snatching her degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Jeni found herself running the Women’s Department for New York’s most luxurious boutique Henri Bendel. In between styling Park Ave socialites and Upper Eastside tastemakers, she worked her way to the top of the fashion game by using the one thing no one else has: her charm.

With 20 years of experience in her back pocket, this LA girl is now one of Hollywood’s most sought after stylists. Jeni is a contributor for Vogue, Glamour, The New York Times and many others. Her work is everywhere from televisions top shows, music videos, red carpets to celebrity editorials. From the lead stylist for FOX’s #1 hit talk show to VH1’s Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party styling Martha Stewart.

Most recently Jeni can also be found as a regular on WTNH News Chanel 8 Good Morning CT reporting Lifestyle & Fashion.

Founder and CEO of BabyNames.com
Jennifer Moss is the founder and CEO of BabyNames.com and author of The One-In-A-Million Baby Names Book and The Baby Names Workbook. With a background in data mining and information technology, Jennifer uses her expertise to calculate the most popular names of the year and determine which baby names are currently trending--to the minute.

Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Founder of Sleep Wise Consulting
Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science and a dual Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Educational Administration. She has worked as a speech-language pathologist in a school setting for 7 years, working with children ages 3 to 21.

Katie is also a Certified Sleep Consultant and has undergone a comprehensive training and mentoring program which has given her the very best tools and knowledge available to help you get your little one sleeping through the night. She started Sleep Wise Consulting to help moms like herself (and their little ones) get more sleep!

Licensed Social Worker
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Chemical Dependency Professional Kristen Arquette is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Chemical Dependency Professional with experience working in hospitals, community mental health, partial-hospitalization and residential treatment, school-based programs, higher-education, and research. Kristen possesses expert knowledge in providing diagnosis, brief and long-term therapies, and referrals for clients of diverse backgrounds. Kristen has completed specialized training in treating addiction and eating disorders, doing drug and alcohol prevention, and in working with couples using Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

Kristen is certified in a variety of evidence based practices including motivational interviewing, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), SBIRT, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT+) to treat posttraumatic-stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and behavior problems. Kristen also utilizes acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Kristen meets state requirements as a mental health professional, developmental disabilities mental health professional, and child mental health specialist.

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Financial Blogger
In 2007, when Marc was 28 years old, he started a side hustle designing websites and blogging about design. At the time, he was really just looking for some extra money, but that side hustle quickly CHANGED EVERYTHING. After a year and a half of hard work, in 2008 he left his job as an auditor to pursue self-employment full-time.

He’s now been self-employed as an internet marketer and blogger for more than 10 years, and has been blessed to work from home and have more time with my wife and our two kids. During that time he’s learned not only how to make more money, but also how to manage what he has and invest with the goal of early retirement.

Director of College Prep Content for UWorld
Philip Bates served as a school principal for nearly two decades and developed a passion for helping youth learn how to use active learning and other proven techniques after seeing the first-hand struggle of students preparing for the most influential exams of their lives. He obtained a B.S. from Texas State University in Interdisciplinary Studies and an M.Ed from the University of North Texas in Educational Administration. He holds a Texas Education K-12 lifetime certificate and Principal Certification. Philip has presented at numerous educational conferences across the country, and in his spare time, loves to travel with his family and volunteer at Feed My Starving Children in Richardson, TX. He currently serves as the director of college prep content for UWorld, an online learning resource that has helped more than 1 million students prepare for their high stakes exams.

Founder and CEO of Story Terrace, Family History and Heritage Expert
Rutger graduated with a degree in Business Economics from the University of Amsterdam and an MBA from Columbia University. After working in finance and private equity, Rutger quit his job to focus on his love for history and stories. Rutger founded Story Terrace, a service that helps people to capture their life story using professional writers, editors and software, in 2014 with the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to pause, reflect and relive their life stories to document and pass on throughout generations to come.

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Public Relations Manager, Childhelp
Childhelp is the nation’s largest and oldest nonprofit advocating for abused and neglected children. They deal with the prevention, intervention and treatment of abused, neglected and at-risk children. They also operate the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD), the nation’s only 24/7 hotline dealing with child abuse and operated by professional crisis counselors.

Creative Director at Connection to Creativity
Stephaney Davis started Connection To Creativity when her eldest son faced difficulty developing his reading skills. His challenges with reading were negatively impacting his schoolwork and sparked. On her journey, she discovered that because every child learns differently, presenting reading opportunities with a creative, inspired and the interactive lens allowed them to connect with the content better, ultimately achieving a richer and more comprehensive reading experience.

Stephaney believes that every child should learn how to read and comprehend what they have read at their grade level or higher. Connection to Creativity strives to create youth programs that inspire, provoke and build imagination and spark reading comprehension. Stephaney has 13 years of experience activities for children at the Atlantis Resort.

Co-Founder of Stowaway Collection Maternity
Stephanie Manganelli is part of the mother-daughter duo that founded Stowaway Collection Maternity. After searching for on-trend, figure-flattering maternity options for her pregnancy, they were left disappointed by the quality and offering in traditional maternity retail and vowed to change it. Together Stephanie & her mother, Debbie created a collection that celebrates the pregnant bump rather than hiding it beneath a tent. All pieces are made to be worn desk to dinner and manufactured in the USA.

Stephanie’s career began in fashion, when she landed a position in Nine West’s Executive Training Program out of college. After working in sourcing and production and realizing it lacked the creativity in which she craved, she moved to a creative marketing role under the Jones New York brand. There she learned the ins and outs of the fashion industry from photoshoots and runway shows to non-profit work. This is when she fell in love with fashion. She honed in on her writing abilities by ghost writing for the brand and perfected her styling skills by learning how to dress real women with real bodies. This important skill is how she’s been able to design for the pregnant body so well. Stephanie continued her career in marketing with the Swatch Group and eventually moved into food and wellness marketing with Organic Avenue before starting Stowaway Collection.

Stephanie currently lives and works in Hoboken, NJ with her husband and two kids.

Financial Blogger
Tom has worked in the marketing industry since 2006, partnering with multiple Fortune 5000 companies and even selling personal projects for a hefty sum.

Aside from talking finances, he loves sports, exploring the great outdoors, traveling and even testing out new restaurants in town.

Working in the finance industry for more than a decade now, he has always loved to save money, talk about money and look for additional ways to save.

Co-founder and CEO of Family Engagement Lab
Vidya Sundaram is co-founder and CEO of the award-winning nonprofit, Family Engagement Lab, which uses tech tools to help families and students communicate and connect in more than 100 languages to improve student outcomes. She has an extensive background in business leadership and program strategy and most recently led GreatSchools' market research and social impact assessments. Joining GreatSchools in 2005, she has also been responsible for new product development and fund development activities. Prior to GreatSchools, she drove new investment opportunities in internet media and also founded a teen media website. Vidya has led software development at both consumer and enterprise Internet start-ups. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA and her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Vidya is mom to two kids and proud to be part of a lively multigenerational household.