I wish parenting came with an instruction manual, but it doesn't. Many years ago we were having issues with our son. It wasn't that he was doing anything wrong, per se, it was just that we weren't able to provide him with the necessary tools to thrive. He's a free spirit, has ADHD, and we went down every rabbit hole looking for ways to help him. We became his biggest advocate. However, it made it difficult for him to be in school, learn how to play with other kids, etc. We didn't have enough experience to know how to help him. We tried therapy, advice from our pediatrician, etc. It was helpful, but we were never given tactics that could positively impact him (and us). This is when we met Rebecah with Wit's End Parenting. She was offering a camp for "free-spirited" kids and we just loved the way she marketed her program. We immediately enrolled our son and it was the best decision we ever made as parents. Rebecah is creative, upbeat and always sees the bright side to every situation. She's incredibly knowledgeable about what our son was experiencing, which helped guide us to guide him. I remember really wanting to take him to a fundraising event, however, I was worried how he'd act. I called Rebecah and explained the situation and she gave me a tactic to try that she knew would work well. Sure enough it did! I was so impressed by how well behaved he was that evening. It made me appreciate him on a different level than I had known to parent him. On top of it, I received an unsolicited email after the event telling me how impressed she was with our son! I'm so glad I took him because it ultimately left a lasting impression. That event was five years ago and he just mentioned it in a report he had to write for school! We're incredibly grateful to Rebecah for being there for us -- and without any judgement. She's always willing to help, especially when parents are at their wits end. I highly recommend her to anyone who feels like they need the necessary tools to help their kids thrive. read more

We struggled with our 3-year-old in multiple preschool and social settings. After a year and a half of not really interacting with others his age due to COVID, he had a hard time in group settings and was lashing out. Rebecah in the first 5 minutes connected with our kid better than 8 preschool teachers, 3 gymboree teachers, and 2 gymnastics coaches. She *GETS* spirited kids. And more importantly, she takes the time to understand the individual child as well as the family. Yes, she has many ideas and tips but she customizes recommendations based on the specific child and is able to quickly adapt and follow the kiddo's lead. Not only that, but she is available for text/email support between visits and even was able to use a visit to consult with our kid's teachers and form a game plan for success at school. She gave us a great deal of confidence and support that we desperately needed and she helped us feel like we can do this whole parenting thing. We have seen remarkable changes in our child and are blown away by how well he has taken to many of her recommendations. She even sent him a sweet certificate for being a cool down champ and he has it in his room (he points to it proudly and also takes himself to his cooldown space when he is angry instead of hitting us or otherwise lashing out). We are very grateful to Rebecah's help and wish our kid could have someone like her as a teacher. She is a wonderful support and worth the cost of visits. (Initially we were not able to consider the cost and she very kindly let us know when she was giving free workshops so that we could get support that way as well). Rebecah is a kind, brilliant, and gifted educator and child-whisperer. I am so grateful our pediatrician pushed us to reach out to her! read more

Our almost-3-year-old daughter is smart, funny, and delightful...but she has an intense strong-willed, stubborn, and challenging personality. Her defiance and tantrums had become unbearable and I often found myself feeling helpless to stop her problem behavior and not enjoying my time with her. My husband and I were at a loss for what to do, so I called Rebecah. Rebecah met with us weekly to discuss a personalized plan of action to address our issues. She helped us see that challenging personalities in children can often be tremendously advantageous when they reach adulthood, as long as the strong-willed feistiness gets directed positively and appropriately. Then, she helped us come up with strategies to do just that. We started to look forward to our weekly meetings as we began to see progress, and were always eager to discuss issues that came up with Rebecah, knowing that she would have an answer for us. By the 4th meeting, our daughter's meltdowns had reduced in frequency and intensity and we began to feel like we could manage defiant behavior much more quickly if it arose. Rebecah also gave us practical solutions for managing day-to-day life with our daughter to help her feel more in control of her environment, and a sense of responsibility and accountability for our home (who knew that toddlers can do chores...and are usually very willing to help!). Our daughter will always have a strong personality, but we feel much more confident that we can deal with her challenging behavior. Rebecah is an amazing individual- knowledgeable, non-judgmental, genuine, and professional. I'd recommend Wit's End to anyone dealing with similar issues. read more

We have been very pleased with our time with Rebecah. I wish we would have found her services sooner! We tried traditional "play therapy" with a local children's therapy center, but that didn't work for us. We also went through our state programs, but the waiting period was months. We also completed the Big Little Feelings Course, I feel like we were running out of resources! We were on the verge of getting asked to leave preschool with our 3.5 year old's strong willed behavior by the time I reached out to Rebecah. She was able to see us the same week. I was feeling hopeless, and on the verge of feeling like I needed to homeschool him. She has helped us recognize strategies and ways to help him grow his independence, and ease our frustration. Although it hasn't been easy, and we've done a lot of work at home, we have seen improvements. On a daily basis we have seen improvements in his outbreaks, and even ours as parents. We ended up leaving the preschool and she helped us transition to the next school. Change is hard, but she has been able to help us navigate and reassure us that he has so many amazing traits of being strong willed! read more

We sought Rebecca's help because our kids were becoming defiant, not listening, and refusing to follow directions. I was genuinely worried about their future and their ability to succeed. On top of that, their teachers had also raised concerns about their attitude in school. From the moment we met Rebecca, she was incredibly welcoming. She took the time to understand both our concerns as parents and, most importantly, our kids' feelings as well. What stood out the most was her lack of judgment toward our parenting style. Instead, she provided practical suggestions and guidance to help us improve as parents. With her support, not only did our approach to parenting transform, but our kids' attitudes improved significantly. They became more responsible, started listening better, and even began enjoying house chores. We've noticed how much happier they are overall. Rebecca's impact goes beyond the sessions; now, whenever I face a difficult situation, I pause and ask myself, "What would Rebecca do?" She's been an incredible guide, offering valuable lessons that have made a lasting difference for our family. read more

We came to Rebecah after some simmering behavioral issues with our four year old came to a boil on a holiday break. He was combative, defiant, and sometimes violent towards me, my partner, and our younger child. Rebecah gave us insight into how our son processes information, so we are now able to give clearer instructions in ways he will understand. And we use her framework to give fair consequences. The things that motivate him aren't always the things that motivate me, which was a big lesson to learn and has helped me understand him better. It's not perfect, but it's so much better. There were also some techniques Rebecah suggested that didn't work with our son. I appreciate that she didn't push us to keep trying or insinuate we were somehow wrong. Instead, we tailored a set of techniques that really do help our whole family relate to each other with less stress and more confidence. I highly recommend going through the program with your partner, if you have one, to both get on the same page and hear their perspective as you share it with Rebecah. Good luck. It gets better! read more

Rebecah is great and easy to work with. My husband and I had no problem scheduling sessions and appreciated the encouraging text messages and suggestions between sessions. Rebecah had insightful advice and suggestions that were tailored to our kids and their unique strengths and challenges. My husband and I had read many parenting books and I myself had taught classes on children's behavior and parent/teacher management and guidance strategies. However, my husband and I were at a loss given the specific challenges we were handling with our kids that did not fit neatly into the "typical" child development parenting practices. After listening to my husband and me describe our three kids and where we were struggling as parents, Rebecah helped us develop and implement strategies and then worked with us to fine tune or adjust them based on how they worked in our family. Rebecah, especially helped us with our morning routine to successfully get three kids 5 years and younger off to school and parents to work. This has greatly reduced morning stress and struggles. read more

We reached out to Rebecah during lockdown, as some struggles with our "spirited" kids (6 and 10) really seemed to be getting away from us. Six weeks later and our house is a different place, for both parents and kids. Rebecah gave us concrete steps to work on every week, which helped my wife and I get squarely on the same page and act as a team. Agree with others here that her approach is very specific to the issues you are facing - she is a very thoughtful listener, and chances are anything you might bring up she has thought through and handled before. She'll ask pointed questions that help bring out the core of the issue and what to do. For example, she helped us with a specific technique to handle cases where kids fight over who "goes first" - involving questions aimed at getting them see it as a problem they needed to figure out a solution to. A problem in our house since the dawn of time - seemed to evaporate when we stuck to her advice. This is just one example. It's hard work, but if you are feeling lost, this gives you a path that we swear by. read more

We worked with Rebecah after receiving feedback from our daughter's teachers about her having difficulty with transitions at school and being disruptive during circle time. From the very beginning, Rebecah was thoughtful, grounded, and incredibly practical. What we found most helpful were her boundary basics and her guidance on collaboratively approaching emotional regulation. She also helped us develop a very effective framework for managing sibling conflict. We appreciated how she helped us understand what was driving our child's behavior and gave us concrete tools to respond in ways that were calm, consistent, and developmentally appropriate. Her approach helped us feel more confident and aligned as parents, and we saw meaningful improvements both at home and in school. Rebecah strikes a rare balance between empathy and clarity. She is deeply respectful of the child and the parents, and her advice feels realistic to implement in daily life. We're very grateful for her support and would highly recommend her to families navigating similar challenges. read more

We've read countless parenting books, blogs, and articles, but nothing has been as transformative as working with Rebecah at Wits' End Parenting. She has been an incredible source of knowledge and support, helping us navigate the challenges of parenting our very sweet yet sensitive 5-year-old. Despite all the research we had done, we still found ourselves struggling with emotional outbursts and frustration, unsure of how to respond in a way that truly supported our child. Rebecah's guidance has been a game-changer--her advice is not only insightful but also incredibly practical. She has helped us reframe our approach and given us tools that actually work. Thanks to her, we feel much more confident and empowered as parents. Our home is now a calmer, more connected place, and our child feels more understood and supported. If you're feeling stuck despite all the parenting resources out there, do yourself a favor and work with Rebecah--she is truly exceptional! read more

Rebecah has been an absolute game-changer for our family dynamics in parenting our deeply feeling son. During the very first Zoom meeting, we felt welcomed, understood and hopeful. Rebecah's empathetic nature and deep expertise immediately put us at ease. She took the time to listen to our struggles without judgment and provided us with practical strategies that have had a profound impact on our parenting journey. What truly sets Rebecah apart is her genuine commitment to her clients' well-being. She goes above and beyond to ensure that families feel supported and empowered. Under her guidance, we've witnessed incredible growth in our son's emotional resilience and our own parenting skills. Rebecah is truly a safe haven for families seeking compassionate and effective support. We are forever grateful for her dedication and highly recommend her services to anyone navigating the complexities of parenting a deeply feeling child. read more

Rebecah was recommended by a friend when we realized we needed help in better understanding and communicating with our kids. We had an introductory call with her where she listened to our concerns, learned about our family and chalked out a four week plan. She brings her calm demeanor along with her wisdom, wit and humor to every conversation. She helped us understand how to deal with kids who have different personalities than us, how we can handle a given situation from a place of calm that would still help our kids learn and grow in a loving environment while maintaining our sanity and peace. As full time working parents we wanted to be effective while maintaining the quality of the few hours we got to spend together as a family every day. One of the most helpful takeaways after each session was that Rebecah sent us pointers to approaches and ideas to work on and try. We couldn't recommend Rebecah highly enough! read more

I've been asking for help with "Spirited Kids" for years, Rebecah has given me solid advice and tools that actually make sense and work. She has devoted her life to these "challenging" kids and is a God send through and through. I met Rebecah through a friend who was needing her help with her two daughters and Rebecah has helped me immensely with my students. Giving me tools to empower these kids and show them that they are in control of themselves and can change the world (but also leaving me in control of the classroom!). In working with Rebecah I am learning so much about these Spirited kids, and they love her (even when she helps make Rules). The kids and families that go through her program and get advice from Rebecah will change the world for the better, I can't wait until my students grow up to make this a better place to live in. read more

My threenager was throwing the family for a loop, I had skimmed the parenting books, listened to podcasts, google searched galore and finally decided to seek professional help. I cannot tell you how helpful Rebecah and her sessions were, my husband and I were finally a united front with tips/tricks and tools for taming the beast. The hitting stopped, the negotiations lessoned, the household volume quieted a bit. We were connecting more with our son while feeling less desperation and disappointment and instead more empathy and empowerment. I truly feel like we have the tools to navigate most situations and finally feel like WE CAN DO THIS!! I look forward to seeking Rebecah's advise in the future. THANK YOU!!!!! read more

We scheduled a few sessions with Rebecah Freeling to address challenges with our teenager: a surly, oppositional attitude, power struggles at mealtimes and with certain chores, worrisome behaviors. Our son also agreed to meet with her; to our surprise, he genuinely liked and trusted her. Not only did Rebecah offer surprisingly simple and practical suggestions that immediately created a positive shift in the quality of our family's connection, she helped us pivot from our defensive parental position into understanding our son's needs better--which has helped all of us enjoy each other's company more. She's a child-whisperer, and a gifted parenting coach. read more

I took Rebecah's course "Working with Spirited Children" and it was hands down the best professional development I have ever done (I'm a preschool teacher). Rebecah is incredibly engaging and introduces ideas in a relatable way. She makes sure that all types of learners in her class have an access point to the information (e.g. visual, auditory, ...). Most importantly, I left each session feeling energized and with a bunch of new strategies I was eager to bring into my classroom. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend taking any of Rebecah's courses. read more

We felt relieved and supported in our work with Rebecah. She was not fazed by any outrageous thing we reported our kids did and she offered a framing and direction that felt comforting. While she has her approach, she's also very willing and ready to help you customize if certain aspects just don't fit for you. We got a follow up email each session about what we had agreed to do/focus on and this made the work really practical and doable for us. We have seen big changes and have gained some skills that have made our house happier! read more

We worked with Rebecah for our spirited son after researching for an experienced parent coach. Immediately after the initial consultation, we knew Rebecah was going to be fantastic for us. Throughout our coaching journey, Rebecah never once failed to be positive, non judgemental, understanding and knowledgeable about any situation. She has seen it all yet you can tell her love and compassion for helping families are stronger than ever. She truly believes in her work and if you decide to work with her, you will too. read more

Rebecah is incredible. With her background in teaching and education, she has a particular insight into the needs of children. She is compassionate. She is constantly learning. She has an immense passion for passing on her knowledge and skills to parents so that they are empowered to create a home life and relationships they desire. If you're looking for support as a parent, you will be so grateful you chose to work with Rebecah. read more