Gals Institute staff page

Hi Gal's Institute team!

Melissa here, from Inner Wisdom Parenting. I've partnered with Gals Institute to help support the meaningful work you are already doing with families...

I invite you to watch this short video, where I introduce myself - so you have an idea of who I am, who I support, and therefore, how I can be a resource to the parents you either work with directly, or parents of the kids you are working with.

Who I support:

I work with parents who have kids who are experiencing big, baffling and challenging behaviors, such as:

Acting out
Excessive irritability, and BIG reactions to small things, going from zero to sixty instantly
Heightened impulsivity
Erratic mood swings and/or problems with mood
Defiance and pushback
ODD, ADHD diagnoses or tendencies
Aggressive behaviors, like hitting, biting, pushing
Sass, talking back, not listening, stonewalling
Tantrums
Crying episodes, meltdowns and hysterics
Checked out, numb, withdrawn, unreachable

I have education and expertise (and in some cases, personal experience!) in supporting parents of kids who:

were adopted or are (or were) in the foster care system
are neurodivergent, such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder
have received behavioral diagnoses, like Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), or Conduct Disorder
experienced trauma

Free Resources:

For you, and for your clients!

Free eBook: The NEW Roadmap to Parenting Today which highlights the new path to parenting... based on the last four decades of neuroscience research, to bring more ease, joy and resilience to the parenting journey. Access the book directly here.

Free, online, on-demand Masterclass, that introduces the "Beneath the Behaviors" Approach: The Most Important Paradigm Shift in Parenting Today".

This short video walks through why the "behavior management approach" proves to be ineffective and outdated in most cases of challenging behavior... and what works instead!

Click here to view video.

For both free resources above, those links bring you directly to these resources. But for your clients, please just direct them to my website. Then they can complete a short form to get access.

One-to-One Coaching:

I offer options ranging from a 30-minute strategy session to a four-month coaching package.

The four-session, and four-month coaching packages also include access to online, on-demand video courses, to support their parenting experience.

I have made exceptions if parents are feeling like they need some immediate support, right now and would benefit from just one or two sessions, and would prefer to pay for each session separately (not a part of a coaching package). The parent(s) can simply reach out via email and we will make a plan!

Click here to learn about coaching options at Inner Wisdom Parenting.

Online Courses:

I offer both live, online courses and on-demand courses, available immediately as well as occasional live workshops and masterclasses on specific topics.

I'm offering a ten-week, live, online course called "Calm the Challenging Child: The Parent Course" starting February 27, 2024.

This is a hybrid course, with 2-3 videos offered each week, along with a Zoom meeting, to provide support, education and co-regulation.

Click here for more information about Calm the Challenging Child: The Parent Course.

Click here for more information on the on-demand, online courses available immediately.

About Melissa

Melissa Holland is the founder of “Inner Wisdom Parenting”. She supports parents in addressing their children’s challenging behaviors, with online courses, workshops, coaching and consulting in the essential areas of emotional and self-regulation, self-compassion and mindfulness. She is a certified Parent Coach, as well as a certified Self-Regulation Specialist. In addition, she's an experienced coach and teacher, previously in the areas of positive psychology, career and life transitions.

She lives with her boys in Boulder: the big one (husband), the little one (son) and the fuzzy one (Rocket, the Cat). When she’s not creating courses or supporting parents, she’s reading, learning, drinking coffee, feigning interest in Minecraft and Star Wars, reading about trail running (not actually running – yet) and hanging out with her favorite boys. Her motto to live by – lately – has been “hold it lightly”. She’s still learning how.

Read more.

Contact me: