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.
My Professional Background
I hold a PhD in Community Psychology and have spent over 25 years working in public health, with a focus on improving the health and wellbeing of communities and the people they serve. My career has been built on a few core beliefs: that health systems should work for the people who need them, that lived experience matters, and that the right information at the right time can change everything.
Throughout my career, I’ve specialized in:
- Understanding community health challenges and translating complex research into practical, accessible solutions.
- Listening to real people’s stories and using those insights to make health information and efforts more relevant and useful
- Helping others to understand what is working and what is not and making suggestions for improvement.
I’ve worked with diverse communities, helped shape public health initiatives, and spent countless hours figuring out how to improve public health programs and systems so they meet the needs of those who use them.
And then it was my turn to navigate the system as a parent.
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, especially friends and family, because I didn’t want to risk anything that might harm my family. And if I’m honest, that was mixed with worry about what it would 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.
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.
Together We Navigate exists to bring together three things that are rarely found in one place:
- Professional expertise in navigating health systems and finding reliable information
- Real parent experience with the emotional weight and practical challenges of this journey
- Practical tools that make the overwhelming feeling more manageable.
What you’ll find at Together We NavigateTM
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:
Trustworthy information, faster – I want to cut through the information overload to bring you vetted research, reliable resources based on current research and established best practices.
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 make the most of appointments, with therapists, doctors, psychiatrists, and school counselors. Walk in confident, walk out with what you need.
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.
Real stories and reflections – Honest writing about the emotional side of this journey, the uncertainty, the self-doubt, the small victories, the hard days. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to pretend this is easy.
A starting point when you are overwhelmed – Sometimes the hardest part is just knowing where to begin. That’s exactly what I’m here to help with.
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’re trying to get on the same page with your partner about next steps.
- 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.
How I approach this work
Stories matter. In my professional life, I’ve always specialized in work that is rooted in listening to real people’s experiences. That belief, that individual stories and lived experience matter, is at the heart of everything I do here.
Systems matter. Mental health care and support services shouldn’t be this hard to navigate, but until these systems change, we need tools and strategies to work within them effectively.
You matter. You’re doing important, brave work, even on days it doesn’t feel like it. My job is to remind you of that, and to make the journey a little less overwhelming.
Transparency Matters. I’ll always be clear about what I can and can’t help with, what my qualifications are, and when you need to consult a licensed professional instead.
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 a resource you return to, a place that helps lighten the load, even just a little. We are just getting started so please check in frequently for updates. You can also let us know what you are looking for by contacting us using the Contact Us button below.
You’re not alone, and we are here to help.
Warmly,
Laurie