When Puberty Hits...
Connection Gets Tested
You can stay present even when it's hard.
You don’t need more advice. You need a calm, steady voice in your corner—helping you parent through puberty with presence, not panic.
For parents who entered the puberty years
expecting changes - and found themselves
navigating so much more
than just physical growth.
You've read the articles,
You've saved the podcasts,
You've consumed so much information
Yet the real moments still throw you off your game.
If this sounds like you...
When your child melts down, shuts down, or finally opens up...you freeze. Or worse, you react. You say something you regret. And afterward, the shame spirals kick in. Again.
You swore you'd parent differently. You're trying to stay calm, be present, hold space - but your emotions hijack the moment. The checklist runs out. The advice disappears.
This isn't just about puberty. It's about trust. It's about not losing your voice - or your child - during one of the most defining transitions of their life.
Here's what you really need to Parent through Puberty:
Not more advice - but a steady guide in your corner.
Support in the exact moment your emotions get loud.
A way to process the hard stuff without overexplaining.
Help getting back to calm, without spiraling.
A space that honors both your voice and your child's.
A reminder that your presence is enough.
Real-time support that meets you in your real life.
The clarity to move forward-even when the moment catches you off guard.
You don't need a script - you need support that helps you lead with presence, not panic.
Because these moments? They're not just parenting challenges. They're turning points. They shape the story your child will one day tell about you - how you stayed, even when things felt uncertain. And they're shaping you too, into a more grounded, more intentional version of yourself.
This is the real work of parenting - and you don't have to do it alone!
You want to be the parent who listens - without losing your voice.
You want to hold steady when everything around you feels in flux.
You want to lead with love, not fear.
You want to stay close - even when it's hard.
Parents have told me, “I thought if I just found the right advice, I could finally feel like I was showing up the way I wanted to.”
"But no checklist could prepare me for the way real life unfolded. Here's what I've learned instead:"
Parenting through puberty isn't about always getting it right-it's about staying in it, even when it's hard.
What your child needs most isn't perfection - it's presence.
When you grow in clarity, calm, and confidence, the whole family feels the shift.
oWhy I Believe in This Worko
I've spent 25 years in classrooms - supporting students, families, and colleagues through some of the most vulnerable, defining years of growth.
Again and again, I watched good parents question themselves. Not because they didn't care. But because they cared so much and didn't know where to go with the weight of it all.
I get it.
I've had those moments too - the ones where you freeze, or say the thing you wish you hadn't, or wonder if you've already lost your chance.
I became a certified CatholicPsych mentor because I wanted to walk with parents in those moments - the real ones. The ones that shape how your child remembers you... and how you remember yourself.
Because I believe this is where lasting connection is built: in the ordinary days. The awkward conversations. The stretch between who you've been - and who you're becoming.
Parenting Through Puberty
1:1 Mentorship for Staying Close
When Everything's Changing
For parents navigating puberty's ups and downs -
who want to stay steady, present, and deeply connected.
What this Mentorship looks like day to day:
This mentorship isn't a program to complete or a curriculum to follow. It's a steady, day-by-day dialogue that meets you in the real moments of parenting. It's not therapy that mines your past, or coaching that maps your future. It's an ongoing relationship with a trained mentor who's right there with you - in the present moment - helping you navigate what's actually happening, and how you want to respond.
You have a private space to speak - up to 15 minutes a day - whenever it fits into real life. No pressure to have it all figured out. Just pick up your phone and say what's on your heart. I'll respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday - with a voice that's calm, present, and in it with you.
There's no need to save things up, book appointments, or overthink how you show up. Just speak from where you are. Whether you're untangling a hard moment, sorting your thoughts, or circling back after a breakthrough - this is your space.
This mentorship flexes with your life, and helps you grow
in clarity, calm, and connection along the way.
What Makes Mentorship Work
three essential elements:
Daily voice-message support
Personalized guidance
Growth that meets your real life
#1
Daily Voice-Message Support
Mentorship isn't just a conversation - it's a relationship.
It's built with a trained Mentor who's here to walk with you in the present moment - not to analyze your past like therapy, or focus only on your future like coaching. This is about staying grounded in what's unfolding right now - so you can grow in freedom, connection, and clarity as it happens.
You'll send voice messages from wherever you are - while driving, walking, or tucked in a corner of the house for a moment of quiet.
I'll be there to respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
What daily support looks like:
Send up to 15 minutes of voice messages per weekday
Get responses within 24 hours, Monday-Friday
Share in real time - not weeks later in a session
Speak freely without needing to book a time
Be heard and accompanied by someone trained to walk with you
Sort through confusion, regret, or questions without pressure
Build momentum as your needs, questions, and confidence shift
This is support that meets you in the present - while gently helping you grow toward what's possible.
#2
Personalized Guidance
There's no one-size-fits-all strategy here.
This mentorship is shaped around you - your child, your values, your real life - so you can find your footing in the moments that matter.
What personalized guidance looks like:
Rooted in your parenting style, values, and relationships
Adapts to what you're navigating day to day
Helps you name the emotions beneath the surface
Clarifies what matters when things feel overwhelming
Responds to what you bring - not a script or system
Lets you guide the conversation, at your pace
Offers honest, grounded reflections you can trust
You're not following a formula - you're becoming more fully yourself, with someone walking with you.
#3
Growth That Meets Your Real Life
This isn't about fixing everything overnight.
It's about building rhythms of reflection and connection - so you can respond with confidence, even when emotions run high.
What long-term growth looks like:
Grows alongside your child - and your evolving relationship
Strengthens your ability to pause before reacting
Helps shift patterns of shame, self-doubt, or spiraling
Builds connection through everyday conversations
Makes space for your growth - not just theirs
Supports emotional clarity and steady leadership
Helps you parent with intention - not just instinct
Because when you feel anchored, your child feels safe to come closer.
That’s the heart of this mentorship: helping you stay connected, confident, and grounded - right when it matters most.
Hi, I'm Cathie!
Cathie Swanson
Certified Mentor
In the 25 years I've spent in the classroom, I've walked alongside students, parents, and families through seasons of growth and challenge.
During this time, I didn't just teach - I listened. I stood in the hallway after hard days, sat beside students in moments of uncertainty, and partnered with parents trying to make sense of what was happening beneath the surface.
In addition to the many years teaching middle school, I've worked with children with autism, mentored new teachers, supported parents during difficult diagnoses, and accompanied people through spiritual discernment, international transitions, and life-altering decisions. Whether it was in a classroom , a chapel, or a quiet conversation after school, I've spent my career creating safe spaces for people to be seen, heard, and supported.
Now, as a Certified Mentor through the CatholicPsych Institute, I bring that same presence into mentorship - helping parents stay steady and grounded as they navigate the emotional and relational shifts of the puberty years.
This isn't about being perfect.
It's about showing up, honestly and consistently.
It's about building the kind of connection that helps your child grow - and helps you grow, too.
If you're ready for real, daily support from someone who's walked with families for decades, I'd be honored to walk with yours.
oLet's take the guesswork out of ito
Frequently Asked Questions
You don't have to know everything before you begin.
These FAQs are here to help you feel more
clear, confident, and comfortable
before taking the next step.
What is mentorship, exactly?
Mentorship is daily support through voice messages - real-time accompaniment that helps you process what's happening in your parenting life and respond with clarity and connection.
It's not therapy, coaching, or advice from a book.
It's a steady, personal guide who meets you where you are and helps you move forward - based on who you are, what you value, and what's unfolding in your real life.
This approach is rooted in the CatholicPsych model of Integrated Dialogic Daily Mentorship (IDDM) which sees the whole person - not just their role as a parent.
What kind of support will I get - and how does the voice messaging work?
We use the voice messaging app called Voxer, which is like a walkie-talkie, but smarter and more private. You speak when you're ready; I listen and respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
You don't need to block out time or sit down for a session. You can leave a message while driving to work, walking the dog, or finding a quiet moment after the kids go to bed.
Whether you're reflecting on a breakthrough, reacting to something unexpected, or simply unraveling a moment that didn't go the way you hoped - this is where you can process in real time, and receive thoughtful, grounded support in return.
How much time does this take each day?
You have up to 15 minutes per day to use however you want. This might mean sending one longer message, or breaking it into a few quick updates throughout the day. Some days, you might have a lot to process. Other days, you might just need to check in.
There's no pressure to use every minute, and the rhythm can shift as your needs do.
How is this different from therapy or coaching?
You don't need a diagnosis. You don't need a 12-step system.
You need someone who actually sees you - and helps you stay grounded in the middle of everything life throws your way.
It's not therapy that mines your past.
It's not coaching that maps your future.
It's an ongoing relationship with a trained mentor who's right there with you - in the present moment - helping think through the hard moments, make decisions with confidence, and growing into the kind of parent you want to be.
It's for the real-life stuff: the awkward conversations, the emotional spirals, the second-guessing after a blow-up.
It's not about fixing you. It's about helping you be you - with clarity, calm, and connection.
The word Catholic comes up a lot - should that matter to me?
You'll see references to Catholic language here because I'm certified through the CatholicPsych Institute, which trains mentors to serve the whole person - emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and relationally.
That said, this isn't religious membership. There's no expectations that you share my beliefs.
This is a space for you to be seen, heard, and supported - without pressure, preaching, or performance.
If your faith is important to you, it's welcome here. If it's not a focus right now, that's okay too. This mentorship starts with you.
What if I don't know what to say?
That's actually the perfect place to start.
This isn't about having the right words - it's about having a space where you can stop holding it all together.
You can show up overwhelmed, unsure, or just stuck in your head. I'll meet you there. This mentorship is a real-time conversation - back and forth voice messages that help you process what's happening, clarify what matters, and decide what to do next.
Whether it's a blow-up with your child, a moment you're replaying in your head, or something deeper you didn't expect to surface...you don't have to sort it alone.
You just have to show up. I'll walk with you from there.
Is there a minimum time commitment?
This mentorship is month-to-month. There's no long-term contract, no pressure to commit beyond what you need. You can step away at the end of any month cycle.
That said, real growth takes time - and most parents stay longer than they expected. Not because they have to, but because it's helping
This isn't a one-and-done fix. It's a space to slow down, process what's actually happening, and shift how you're showing up - day by day, conversation by conversation.
You're not locked in. But once you feel the difference - less reactivity, more clarity, deeper connection - you'll understand why so many choose to stay.
What if my situation feels too specific - or too small - for mentorship?
You don't have to be in crisis to reach out.
This mentorship is for parents navigating the emotional storms, awkward moments, and quiet worries of raising a child through the puberty years - but it's also for the deeper questions that can surface along the way.
Maybe what you're carrying feels hard to name.
Maybe it feels too personal - or not "big enough" to bring up.
Maybe you're wondering if it even counts.
It does.
This is a space to sort through whatever's coming up for you - whether it's a parenting pattern, a moment that won't leave your head, or a shift in how you see yourself. If it matters to you, it matters here.
Can I talk about things beyond parenting?
Yes - because parenting doesn't happen in isolation.
Your identity isn't limited to "mom" or "dad," and this mentorship is designed to support you - the whole person. If what's weighing on you is about work, marriage, friendship, faith, or just the quiet of feeling of "I don't feel like myself lately," it's welcome here.
We start with parenting, because that's where the tension shows up.
But if we're going to strengthen how you show up for your child, we also have to make space for what's showing up in you.
This mentorship helps you connect the dots, clear the noise, and navigate it all with more clarity, calm, and confidence.
Is this confidential?
Yes. Your privacy matters - and your story is safe here.
Mentorship is built on trust. Everything you share in our conversation stays private.
And with the voice messaging app's end-to-end encryption, your messages are secure from the moment you send them.
You can speak freely - knowing your words are both protected and respected.
oYou already know what's not working.o
oWhat if this is the momento
othat changes things?o
Your child is growing fast.
Everyday life is getting more complex.
What do you want to remember?
The chaos. The confusion. The deep love behind the overwhelm.
Or the moment you reached for support - and everything started to shift.
This is your chance to become the kind of parent your child will look back on and say, "They were there, even when it was hard."
And as you build connection with your child, you'll grow too - in clarity, in calm, in confidence.
That growth?
It's part of the gift you'll carry with you after this season ends.
Book your free consultation call today.
Because this work matters - and you don't have to do it alone.