Testimonials

My son and I often fought about the fact that he was rude to other people.  He only wanted to play video games and wasn't interested in hanging out with others. Keith would not even engage in a discussion about his social skills. That is when we found the Play Better Plan.  I worked to learn to coach my son rather than telling him what to do.  After a few weeks, he became willing to try doing a polite pretend where he pretends to be polite even when he feels bored or frustrated. Our communication about his social struggles improved and I used the coaching technique to help Keith try to follow through on what we learned in the coaching sessions. As a parent, I have learned that you have to continually follow through with what you and your child learn through coaching.  It is a process that, given time, patience and effort will be worth it both for your child's social skills and for your parent-child relationship.  

— Jennifer, Mother

There was a lot of frustration and anger on my side before I went to see Caroline. I was getting calls from my son’s school about him upsetting other kids. I thought I was doing something wrong—that I was a bad parent and that my son’s behavioral problems reflected poorly on me. What really helped me was understanding how the brain works. I learned how his brain worked. And I learned that there were ways I could help him. I used to fight with him every day about piano, about karate, about not being on the iPad. He would be rude to other adults or he’d push around another kids at soccer practice. And I did not know what to do. Now, I am able to handle these situations. Because of the coaching program, I have made real progress with Andy. We no longer fight. He is also doing better with other kids at school, and I am happy to say he hasn’t had any incidents in the last month. We are still using the program today, and I have so much more confidence as a parent.

— Iris M, Mother

I was leery of the Play Better Plan. I felt overwhelmed and felt sure there would be no way I could do this, much less that it would be something my kid would agree to do. At first he was resistant but we learned how to have fun with it and laugh when we stumbled. Using coaching to talk about hard things with my son Andy made the conversations less antagonistic— and it worked.

— Patrick, M, Father

The biggest gift the coaching program gave all of us is that of recognizing Gracie's strengths and uniqueness, and helping us to acknowledge and accept that her ways of moving through the world are always going to be different. Caroline helped us figure out which battles were worth fighting, and where I (in particular) could ease up... I only wish that there was enough of Caroline to go around to all of the other moms, kids, and families who struggle with this same stuff. 

— Gretchen L., Mother, Play Better Coaching Graduate

But, the biggest gift the coaching program gave all of us is that of recognizing Gracie's strengths and uniqueness, and helping us to acknowledge and accept that her ways of moving through the world are always going to be different. Caroline helped us figure out which battles were worth fighting, and where I (in particular) could ease up. Today, Gracie is in 4th grade. She is succeeding at school, with some accommodations, and has been able to make and maintain friendships. She still gets herself into trouble from time to time, and she has to work to bring her best self to school each day. But she now has the tools to do that, and we are better able to support that effort. She has been working very hard, and she feels proud of her progress. Gracie now sees herself as capable of trying and succeeding. She gets asked for playdates and activities, and is able to reciprocate invitations. What a difference! I only wish that there was enough of Caroline to go around to all of the other moms, kids, and families who struggle with this same stuff.

— Gretchen L, Mother

My daughter Jenny was struggling with ADHD and anxiety. Our relationship was breaking down, and her other social relationships were becoming challenging. She was overly sensitive to what kids and teachers had to say. Every minor conflict blew up into a giant problem in her mind. Her emotions got the better of her, and she would lash back at her friends. People started leaving her out of group events, and her grades were suffering as her anxiety grew. I was really starting to worry about her future. When we started Caroline Maguire’s coaching program, we saw a huge improvement right away. The program helped me communicate better with Jenny. I was able to help her look at those minor problems more objectively. Very quickly, Jenny learned to pause and problem- solve instead of overreacting. She learned strategies to cope with her emotions, and she learned to calm herself. Now, many years later, she is a successful college student with a strong group of friends. The coaching model helped Jenny develop life skills to manage emotions and get along with other people.

— Pam K, Mother