nice to meet you
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nice to meet you -
Hi! I’m Mariel.
My mission is to create a strong community of parents & caregivers
empowered to reimagine how we connect & engage with our little ones.
My approach is guided by empathy & grounded in evidence-based practice. I value respect, trust, compassion, & connection.
I guide my families on a more confident, joyful, wholehearted parenting journey by blending my intimate knowledge of and experience with dynamic child development with attachment theory, neuroscience, and sensory processing.
I also collaborate with local preschools, childcare centers, and schools to share my expertise and passion for a holistic perspective that acknowledges each child's unique differences. My educational programs cover topics such as the impact of sensory processing on learning, nervous system functioning in the classroom, social engagement, and attachment theory in action with teachers and assistants.
I have learned in the last 12 years as a pediatric occupational therapist that while much progress can be made within the clinic, there is absolutely no substitute for the impact that is possible when supporting parents and families on their unique journey from the comfort of their humble abode. There is a beautiful shift that occurs across the whole family unit and that is the driving force behind my services.
Certified Parenting Coach with the Jai Institute of Parenting
The mission at The Jai Institute for Parenting is to teach parents how to raise emotionally healthy children,
without compromising limits, boundaries and values.
Vision: A world where children grow into emotionally healthy, confident
and empowered teens and adults.
Jai Certified Parenting Coaches support parents to heal generational patterns of power-over and/or power-under parenting to provide parents with the ability to parent effectively without using punishments, consequences, threats, bribes or other manipulative tactics that cause emotional and developmental harm to children.
My free time is filled up with loving on my nieces and nephews, keeping a ball at my feet on the soccer field, sipping a brew in the warm sunshine, or indulging in some sort of creative pursuit!
“The point of parenting is not
to have all the answers before
we start out but instead to figure
it out on the go as our children grow.
Because as they do, so will we.”
Background & Experience
I am a licensed and registered occupational therapist within the state of Minnesota, having earned a master's degree in occupational therapy and a minor in psychology from the College of St. Scholastica.
My extensive experience in the field of pediatric occupational therapy spans across multiple settings, including a Level 1 Trauma Center, a multicultural therapeutic preschool, various outpatient clinics, and an intergenerational, nature preschool.
With this diverse background, I bring a wealth of knowledge and skill to my practice, allowing me to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to my families. I am committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and best practices, in order to provide the most effective interventions and coaching.