Are you feeling overwhelmed as a parent—filled with questions but unable to find the answers you seek? Many moms and dads are turning to parent coaches, a trend that offers both support and solutions for many family problems.

When I took my daughter to her pediatrician a few months ago, I noticed a flier in the office announcing the addition of a parent coach to the office staff. Ballplayers have them, executives rely on them, so why not a coach to help you navigate one of the most challenging positions you will ever have? Parent coaches are a growing segment in a profession no longer just limited to sports. This new trend of coaching can help you start a business, fix your marriage, or get a promotion. A natural outgrowth of the American trend toward seeking personalized solutions to some of life's toughest problems, parent coaching has a lot to offer moms and dads looking for extra guidance. But, what are parent coaches, and exactly how do they help parents?

What Are Parent Coaches?

Parent coaches are not licensed or certified by any government agency, so individual coaches have widely varying qualifications. Some are parents themselves but have no additional training or qualifications. These parents see a need for their wisdom and want to share their experiences to benefit others. Other coaches may come from a variety of professional backgrounds. Amy Speidel, a parent coach in Cleveland, Ohio, was a former early childhood educator and preschool director before she decided to use her skills and knowledge for coaching. "I noticed that parents had many questions about how to become better parents, and I realized that I had discovered an approach that could help many families. So I began coaching parents on an individual basis."

Kathy Masarie, a parent coach in Portland, Oregon, is a former pediatrician. She, like Speidel, realized that parents had many questions about parenting. In her busy pediatric practice, it was difficult for Masarie to find enough time to help all of her families. "Helping families deal with parenting issues was one of the aspects of pediatrics I loved the most," says Masarie. So she started Balance in Life coaching to help more families deal with parenting strategies and philosophies.