Dr. Smith takes an action-oriented approach to parent coaching. She enjoys guiding parents to help them understand the reasons for their child's troublesome behaviors and perceptions and how influential adults play an important role in whether these issues continue.  Parents learn about the significant power they have in helping their children.

Dr. Smith and parents decide during the first meeting whether and when to include the child in sessions. With coaching, parents learn about age appropriate expectations, how to set and keep limits, how to use natural and logical consequences, and when to make children a part of rule making and potential incentives/consequences. Parents also gain an understanding of what their child is expressing via his/her behavior. The parent's positive choices that result from parent coaching naturally lead to improved parent-child communication, thus mutually rewarding parent and child.