About Todd
I help parents see the whole Map, so home can feel calm and connected again.
I'm Todd Sarner. I've been a parent coach for 23 years. I'm also a psychotherapist, and for 17 years my couples work has been only with parents. I've worked with more than 2,400 families, most of them in Marin County.
Todd Sarner, LMFT
Why I look at the whole family
Most parenting advice looks at one piece: the child's behavior. In my work, I've found that what happens at home grows out of three things working together: what's happening with your child, what's happening between the adults, and what's happening inside each parent. That's why I trained in all three.
Parent coaching
I trained with Dr. Gordon Neufeld, and I'm a former Faculty Member of the Neufeld Institute. That work is the foundation of how I help parents understand what their kids need.
Couples work
As a couples therapist who works only with parents, I trained for several years in Dr. Stan Tatkin's Bay Area training group, did an externship with Dr. Sue Johnson, and completed a one-year advanced training with Dr. Rebecca Jorgensen.
Nervous system regulation
I have advanced training in regulation for individuals and couples, because it's hard to stay calm with your kids when your own system is running on empty.
Where it starts
A lot of what makes parenting hard goes back to how we were raised: how we handle stress, how we hold a boundary, how we talk things through with a partner. None of that is a failing. It's what most of us were handed. Part of our job as parents is not passing those things on, and helping our kids grow up more secure than we were. I can show you how.
Author of The Calm & Connected ParentHeard on Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker, The Pediatrician Next Door, Parent Like a Psychologist, Authentic Parenting, and more.
What colleagues say
"Todd brings a sensitivity and compassion to his profession together with a strong understanding of how to help parents with their children. Parents can be assured they are in good hands with Todd."Dr. Gordon Neufeld
Developmental psychologist, author of Hold On to Your Kids
"Todd does something delicate and rare. He brings great depth, genuine expertise and practical advice and yet balances this with compassion and humility. In a field where so many parenting 'experts' unwittingly leave a parent feeling inadequate, Todd empowers."Kim John Payne, M.Ed.
Author of Simplicity Parenting and The Soul of Discipline
"The toughest part about educating parents is making sure that they leave with practical, enforceable and realistic solutions for their particular family. Todd delivers in spades."Dr. Madeline Levine
Clinical psychologist, author of The Price of Privilege
The best place to start
The free Roadmap video walks you through the whole Map in 49 minutes, with a worksheet to score your family as you watch.
Watch the Parenting RoadmapGet each new piece of the Map
I keep adding new pieces of the Roadmap on YouTube. Like the videos that help you, subscribe, and tap the notification bell so you don't miss the next one. And follow along on Instagram for short ideas you can use at home right away.