Founder of Together We NavigateTM | PhD in Community Psychology | Parent Who’s Been There
I created this space because navigating mental health resources shouldn’t have to be as hard as it was, even for someone with 25 years of professional experience in public health.
When it was my family
There’s often not a single moment when you realize your child may be struggling. Sometimes, it’s more of a slow, quiet knowing that begins to build. An unsettled feeling that something’s off. Maybe it starts with a few small concerns that don’t go away. Maybe it’s noticing that your child is pulling back or reacting more strongly than expected. Maybe it’s just a growing sense that you’re carrying more worry than you used to.
That’s how it was for me.
When our family began facing mental health struggles, I leaned on everything I knew professionally. I had strategies, I knew how systems worked, I understood research, and yet it was still really hard. Really, really hard.
I learned three critical truths in those early days that changed how I understand what parents need:
1. Finding trusted information quickly was harder than it should be
There is A LOT of information about mental health these days. Despite my professional training, I found myself overwhelmed trying to find what I actually needed, scattered across the vastness of the internet, books, blogs, and social media sites. The questions were coming faster than the answers I could find. I spent countless hours searching, only to feel buried under information that wasn’t always helpful, trying to make decisions without clear answers, and wondering if I was doing enough, or the right things for my family.
If I struggled with this, what about parents without a health or research background?
2. Not knowing where to start was overwhelming
Even with all of my experience, the sheer number of options, or sometimes the lack of clear ones, left me stuck in decision paralysis.What’s the right first step? What if I make the wrong call? Should I wait and see, or act now? Which professional should I contact first? That feeling of not knowing where to begin is real, and it can keep you in limbo longer than you’d like.
3. This kind of parenting is incredibly isolating
I felt very alone at times. I was apprehensive about sharing what was going on with too many people, both because I worried about my family’s privacy, and if I’m honest, because of what it might say about me as a parent. The fear of judgment is real. Even when people mean well, it can feel easier to stay quiet than to explain something so personal and complex. I realized how often families are left to figure things out alone, especially in those early days of uncertainty, when support matters most.
That’s Why I Created Together We NavigateTM
I created this space to be the support and the guide I wish I’d had, a no-judgement, no-agenda resource for parents finding ways to support their children’s mental health.
Most resources in this space offer one of two things: clinical information from practitioners who haven’t lived the parent experience, or personal stories from parents who don’t have a research or health background. Together We Navigate brings both.
I have a PhD in Community Psychology and spend 25+ years in public health research, specializing in evaluating evidence, translating complex research into practical information, listening to real people’s experiences, and figuring out what is actually working versus what just sounds good. I know how to read a clinical study, assess whether a resource is genuinely evidence-based, and translate what experts are actually saying into language that’s useful when you’re sitting in a waiting room or up at 2am searching for answers.
And I’ve sat where you’re sitting. I’ve navigated the system as a parent. The waitlists, the appointments, the conflicting opinions, the paperwork, the moments of not knowing if I was doing the right thing. That experience sits alongside the professional training, not instead of it.
By “the system,” I mean the parts that tend to feel most overwhelming: finding the right therapist or specialist, working effectively with schools, managing insurance and waitlists, and knowing what questions to ask at every step. Whether you’re just starting to worry, or already deep into the process, that’s the territory this space covers, for parents of school-age children and teens.
This isn’t about me having it all figured out. I don’t. But I do know how to find trustworthy information, ask meaningful questions, organize complex information, and hold space for uncertainty. And I know what it is like to be in your shoes.
What you’ll find here
This is NOT a therapy practice. I am not a therapist, psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist. I cannot diagnose your child, provide medical advice, or replace professional mental health care.
What I DO provide is something harder to find: research expertise applied to the real questions parents are actually asking, updated regularly as the field evolves.
Trustworthy information, faster – vetted resources that cut through the noise, so you’re not spending hours trying to figure out what’s credible and what isn’t.
Practical organizational systems – templates, trackers, and frameworks to help you manage appointments, questions, symptoms, and decisions. When your brain is already overwhelmed, having systems in place makes everything more manageable.
Guidance for better conversations -question guides and preparation tools so you can walk into appointments with therapists, doctors, and school counselors confident and ready.
Navigation through the next steps – help with the “what do I do now?” moments, whether you’re just starting to worry, or already deep into treatment. Clear pathways forward when you’re stuck.
Honest writing about the emotional side – the uncertainty, the self-doubt, the small victories, the hard days.
A starting point when you are overwhelmed – because sometimes the hardest part is just knowing where to begin.
This space is for you if…
- You’re starting to worry about your child but don’t know if it’s “serious enough” to seek help.
- You’ve decided to look for support but feel overwhelmed by where to start.
- You’re already in the system but struggling to stay organized and feel in control.
- You want to make sure you’re asking the right questions and advocating effectively.
- You need someone who understands both the emotional and practical sides of this journey.
- You want to feel less alone without having to share your story with everyone you know.
Wherever you are in this journey, this space is here to meet you there, without judgment, without an agenda, and without pressure.
You’re Not Alone
I know how isolating this journey can feel I know the weight of wondering if you’re doing enough, doing it right, or doing it at all. I know the exhaustion of endless searching and the paralysis of too many choices or no clear answers.
You’re doing important work. You’re showing up for your child and family even when it’s hard. You’re seeking information and support. You’re here, and that matters.
I’m so glad our paths crossed. I hope this space becomes somewhere you return to, a place where you know the information is solid, the perspective is real, it helps lighten the load, even just a little.
You’re not alone, and we are here to help.
Warmly,
Laurie
We are just getting started. I publish a new blog post here every Wednesday.
I also write a weekly letter on Substack – No inbox clutter, just one letter a week that shares important updates and information to support you and your child.
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