For Parents
SONIA'S VILLAGE TALKS...
EDUCATE . ENCOURAGE . EMPOWER . E3
Frequently Asked Questions - Parents
Why should I choose Sonia’s Village Talks (SVT)?
Sonia Marshall-Brown is passionately committed to assisting and supporting families in achieving their desired outcomes and improving their overall family’s well-being. She works with families to identify and address challenges, enhance communication, set goals, and develop strategies for positive change based on their value system. Sonia holds a Master’s Degree in Education, with a Dual Certification in Special Education and General Education. With over 17+ cumulative years in K-12, higher education and the Founder and Executive Director of a non-profit, It Takes a Village to Educate a Child and a mother of two teens, she holds the experience and knowledge to become your family coach. She has received accolades from members of the community for her advocacy work: President Bill Clinton, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, superintendents, family members and most importantly the children.
Her areas of expertise and background revolve around parent-child dynamics, teen/tween parenting, navigating the complexities of raising typically developing childrent, children with different abilities, child advocacy, partnering with schools to ensure a win/win relationship and transitioning from high school to the real world.
While Sonia has the expertise and background to work with families of typically developing children, many of her years were spent working with families of children who learn differently: Asperger’s Syndrome (high functioning Autism), ADHD, learning disabilities and related disorders. Fortunately, the strategies that are used to help individuals with different abilities, can also be used successfully with typically developing individuals. Unfortunately, the strategies used to help typically developing children are often unsuccessful with individuals with different abilities (special needs).
What makes SVT different from other coaching services?
What sets SVT apart from other coaching services is Sonia’s unwavering belief in the transformative "power of collaboration". Drawing upon her extensive experience in both education and business, she has cultivated a diverse network of skilled professionals and abundant resources within the realms of education and family support services. Affectionately known as "The Connector" among her colleagues, Sonia leverages her broad professional community to serve as a catalyst for her clients' success, seamlessly tapping into “collective knowledge and resources” to facilitate desired outcomes and foster meaningful relationships. Who will benefit from SVT's Services? Parents and Caregivers: Family coaching can provide parents and caregivers with essential support, guidance, and coping strategies. It helps them navigate the unique challenges associated with raising a child with “different abilities”, such as developing effective communication, managing stress, self-care and fostering a positive family environment.
Siblings: The siblings of a child with “different abilities” may also benefit from family coaching. It can help them understand their sibling's condition better, cope with any feelings of frustration, jealousy, prevent sibling rivalry and develop a supportive relationship within the family.
Individuals with Different Abilities: While family coaching primarily focuses on supporting the family unit, it indirectly benefits the individual with different abilities by creating a more understanding and supportive environment. This can contribute to the individual's overall well-being, which trickles into the family unit. Typically Developing Individuals: Generally speaking, many of the strategies used to help "individuals with different abilities" can also be used on individuals who are "typically developing". Unfortunately, the reverse is may NOT be true. The strategies used to help a "typically developing individual" succeed may not be as effective with an "individual with different abilities"; as most practictioners will confess, it is more complex. Extended Family Members: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other extended family members can benefit from being a part of the coaching process to enhance their understanding of the challenges faced by the family and the individual with different abilities. This can lead to a more supportive and inclusive family environment. Employers of Individuals with Different Abilities: Coaching supervisors in the professional workforce on how to work with individuals with different abilities is essential for creating an inclusive and equittable work environment. This is often overlooked in the workforce and contributes to the alarming statistics of only 15-21% of individuals with disabilities being gainfully employed.
Educators and School Personnel: Coaching can be valuable for educators and school personnel who work closely with the student. Understanding the family dynamics and challenges can enable them to provide more effective support within the educational setting.
Healthcare Professionals: Professionals working in the healthcare field, such as therapists, counselors, or social workers, can benefit from family coaching by collaborating more effectively with the coach and family. It helps tailor their support to the unique needs of the family unit.
Community Support Providers: Individuals or organizations providing community support services can also benefit from collaborating with the coach and family. It helps them tailor their services to meet the specific needs of families with different abilities, fostering a more inclusive and supportive community.
What is the difference between coaching and therapy?
Family coaching is often goal-specific, with the aim of helping the family set and achieve specific objectives. These goals may include improving communication with my teen, advocating for my child’s needs, parenting without fear, balancing family time with social media, getting the most out of my child’s IEP, transitioning from K-12 successfully. With coaching the emphasis is often on helping families develop effective strategies, communication skills, and problem-solving techniques.
The primary goal of family therapy is often to bring about emotional healing and promote healthier relationships within the family. It may involve resolving conflicts, improving communication, and fostering a supportive environment. The focus is on exploring emotions, addressing underlying issues, and facilitating change through insights and understanding.
Family therapy is very interested in the “why”, whereas coaching is less interested in the “why” and more focused on creating specific strategies that will lead to a desired outcome.
Sonia Marshall-Brown is passionately committed to assisting and supporting families in achieving their desired outcomes and improving their overall family’s well-being. She works with families to identify and address challenges, enhance communication, set goals, and develop strategies for positive change based on their value system. Sonia holds a Master’s Degree in Education, with a Dual Certification in Special Education and General Education. With over 17+ cumulative years in K-12, higher education and the Founder and Executive Director of a non-profit, It Takes a Village to Educate a Child and a mother of two teens, she holds the experience and knowledge to become your family coach. She has received accolades from members of the community for her advocacy work: President Bill Clinton, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, superintendents, family members and most importantly the children.
Her areas of expertise and background revolve around parent-child dynamics, teen/tween parenting, navigating the complexities of raising typically developing childrent, children with different abilities, child advocacy, partnering with schools to ensure a win/win relationship and transitioning from high school to the real world.
While Sonia has the expertise and background to work with families of typically developing children, many of her years were spent working with families of children who learn differently: Asperger’s Syndrome (high functioning Autism), ADHD, learning disabilities and related disorders. Fortunately, the strategies that are used to help individuals with different abilities, can also be used successfully with typically developing individuals. Unfortunately, the strategies used to help typically developing children are often unsuccessful with individuals with different abilities (special needs).
What makes SVT different from other coaching services?
What sets SVT apart from other coaching services is Sonia’s unwavering belief in the transformative "power of collaboration". Drawing upon her extensive experience in both education and business, she has cultivated a diverse network of skilled professionals and abundant resources within the realms of education and family support services. Affectionately known as "The Connector" among her colleagues, Sonia leverages her broad professional community to serve as a catalyst for her clients' success, seamlessly tapping into “collective knowledge and resources” to facilitate desired outcomes and foster meaningful relationships. Who will benefit from SVT's Services? Parents and Caregivers: Family coaching can provide parents and caregivers with essential support, guidance, and coping strategies. It helps them navigate the unique challenges associated with raising a child with “different abilities”, such as developing effective communication, managing stress, self-care and fostering a positive family environment.
Siblings: The siblings of a child with “different abilities” may also benefit from family coaching. It can help them understand their sibling's condition better, cope with any feelings of frustration, jealousy, prevent sibling rivalry and develop a supportive relationship within the family.
Individuals with Different Abilities: While family coaching primarily focuses on supporting the family unit, it indirectly benefits the individual with different abilities by creating a more understanding and supportive environment. This can contribute to the individual's overall well-being, which trickles into the family unit. Typically Developing Individuals: Generally speaking, many of the strategies used to help "individuals with different abilities" can also be used on individuals who are "typically developing". Unfortunately, the reverse is may NOT be true. The strategies used to help a "typically developing individual" succeed may not be as effective with an "individual with different abilities"; as most practictioners will confess, it is more complex. Extended Family Members: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other extended family members can benefit from being a part of the coaching process to enhance their understanding of the challenges faced by the family and the individual with different abilities. This can lead to a more supportive and inclusive family environment. Employers of Individuals with Different Abilities: Coaching supervisors in the professional workforce on how to work with individuals with different abilities is essential for creating an inclusive and equittable work environment. This is often overlooked in the workforce and contributes to the alarming statistics of only 15-21% of individuals with disabilities being gainfully employed.
Educators and School Personnel: Coaching can be valuable for educators and school personnel who work closely with the student. Understanding the family dynamics and challenges can enable them to provide more effective support within the educational setting.
Healthcare Professionals: Professionals working in the healthcare field, such as therapists, counselors, or social workers, can benefit from family coaching by collaborating more effectively with the coach and family. It helps tailor their support to the unique needs of the family unit.
Community Support Providers: Individuals or organizations providing community support services can also benefit from collaborating with the coach and family. It helps them tailor their services to meet the specific needs of families with different abilities, fostering a more inclusive and supportive community.
What is the difference between coaching and therapy?
Family coaching is often goal-specific, with the aim of helping the family set and achieve specific objectives. These goals may include improving communication with my teen, advocating for my child’s needs, parenting without fear, balancing family time with social media, getting the most out of my child’s IEP, transitioning from K-12 successfully. With coaching the emphasis is often on helping families develop effective strategies, communication skills, and problem-solving techniques.
The primary goal of family therapy is often to bring about emotional healing and promote healthier relationships within the family. It may involve resolving conflicts, improving communication, and fostering a supportive environment. The focus is on exploring emotions, addressing underlying issues, and facilitating change through insights and understanding.
Family therapy is very interested in the “why”, whereas coaching is less interested in the “why” and more focused on creating specific strategies that will lead to a desired outcome.