Confident parents. Capable teens. Homes that work.
Personalized coaching for parents and teens, offered in-person in St. Louis or virtually nationwide.
Helping create strong
Parents
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Homes
•
Teens
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Parents • Homes • Teens •
Most parents want the same thing: to raise capable, confident kids inside a home that feels steady. Most teens want something similar- to feel sure of themselves and prepared for what comes next. What gets in the way is rarely effort. It's the absence of a clear plan, practical systems, and someone who believes in you while you figure it out.
That's what coaching is for.
It's time for things to change.
Sound familiar?
For Parents:
Are you tired of nagging about screen time but the boundaries never hold?
Does allowance feel like a daily negotiation instead of a system?
Has your tween or teen pulled away and you're not sure how to stay connected?
Do you doubt your own parenting instincts, even after decades of getting it mostly right?
Are you parenting an age that no one prepared you for?
Do you want a home where your kids feel both supported and capable, but you don't know how to build it?
For teens:
Do you want to feel more confident and in control of your life?
Is communicating with your parents harder than it used to be?
Do you have goals but can't figure out how to actually start?
Do you sometimes feel like you don't know what you want or who you are?
Are you tired of feeling like you're behind, or stuck, or not enough?
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor and a coach with 25+ years of experience working with teens and adults in St. Louis and around the country. My background includes specialty training in evidence-based clinical approaches and I've presented at national conferences including the American School Counselor Association and the International OCD Foundation. I contributed to The Drama Years (Simon & Schuster) and served as a consulting editor on The BFRB Workbook for Teens and Young Adults (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2025).
My coaching practice exists to do one thing well- help parents and teens believe in themselves. I work with parents to build the kind of homes where teens can grow into capable, confident young adults, and I work with teens to build the inner skills and self-knowledge that make navigating these years feel possible. The work is practical, personalized, and grounded in 25 years of clinical experience.
Kara Friedman, LPC
How we'll work together
1st
Learn.
We start by getting clear on what's actually going on, what you want to change, and what's been getting in the way. No assumptions, no generic frameworks.
2nd
Plan.
Together we build a plan that's specific to you, your family, or your life. Real systems for real homes. Real skills for real teens.
3rd
Act.
Then we put the plan into motion. You leave each session with something specific to try, not just something to think about. I believe in you, and I'll help you believe in yourself!
My Approach
Coaching with me is warm but direct. We do the real work, but we have room for laughter, honesty, and the occasional good cry along the way. I bring clinical depth and 25 years of experience working with families, paired with practical strategy and a fundamental belief in the people I work with.
My job is to help you do the work, not to do it for you. My promise is that I'll be fully present, prepared, and committed to your growth.
Yep! I have been a licensed therapist for over 25 years and I love it.
Wait, aren’t you a therapist?
How are coaching and therapy different?
Therapy is for people who need to work with a licensed mental health clinician on challenges that fall under a diagnosis such as anxiety, depression, OCD, or eating disorders. Coaching is for people who want to build skills, establish systems, and grow in specific directions, but don't need clinical-level mental health support.
Will I also get therapy if I work with you?
Because of professional ethics, once you're a coaching client, I won't also serve as your therapist. However, if you are looking for a therapist we can discuss you becoming a client of my therapy practice. More information can be found on my therapy website. If you become a client of my coaching business and find you need therapy services, I will be happy to make an appropriate referral to another provider who might be a good fit for you. Are you unsure if you are looking for a coach or a therapist? Reach out and we can have a discussion about what is going on and I will make a recommendation based on your needs.
Parenting a middle schooler?
In addition to coaching, I created Making the Middle, an online masterclass for parents navigating the middle school years. Making the Middle teaches the framework. Coaching is the 1:1 support that makes it real for your family. Many parents do both, but you can also start with either one.
A safe space to do the real work.
You don't need to come in with everything figured out. You don't need to be polished. You just need to come as you are, ready to do the work. Together, we'll figure out where you're going and how to get there.