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Promoting well-being of children and their caregivers through relationship-based approaches and the best available science
Helping Enhance Connection, Resilience & Well-Being NEW ON THE BLOG
designs that encourage children and adults to grow by exploring the world with a spirit of adventure Heart-happy TAKE A PEEK Inspiring children through worldwide adventures – learning about themselves as they experience something new EXPLORE MORE Helping children live by using clinical psychology, story and wonderfully cute characters emotion-fully ENJOY THE SHOP
Paratus logo and definition.

Welcome!

I’m so glad you’re here!

I’m Kristin, a psychologist, consultant, writer and adventure-seeking wife and mom based in Michigan. I work with children, families, educators and other clinicians using a developmental relational approach. This means we work together to understand countless moment-to-moment (sometimes messy) interactions. We give time to listen, understand behavior, and use what you know and observe. Plus, we apply science in ways that help you enhance resilience to move through difficult moments and stay connected to those you care about. Together, we’ll create a clearer path, one moment and decision at a time.

ABOUT

What do you want to explore?

Graphic element.
The word therapy.
Graphic element.
The word resources.
Graphic element.
The word blog.
Graphic element.

Paratus (the idea of being ready) is more about what happens on the inside to help us on the outside. It isn’t about “advice,” a specific set of strategies or checklists -- it’s about experiences and relationships. An adventure, if you will, that includes what we know, what we do, and how we are with others.

GET STARTED

What You'll Find

Graphic Element "Know."

key information and engaging ways to learn about a topic

Graphic Element "do."

activities and experiences to help learn and practice skills

Graphic Element "be."

opportunities to discover and explore what you bring to interactions (how you ‘show up’)

Hello, Heart!

Monthly adventures delivered by mail

Both children and teens are inspired to learn about emotions, explore within, and connect with the world around them with the support of monthly engaging adventure stories. Discover a new way to share emotional learning with a child or teenager in your life.

Each month’s adventure includes an illustrated letter and story, field notes, a heart map, and postcard for sending to someone special. Each adventure letter invites children and teens along the emotional growth journey of various explorers and is inspired by a new skill and heartfelt tale. Choose your plan and never miss an adventure!

  • Subscribe: Subscribe for $6 to receive an illustrated adventure story, postcard, heart map, and a collection of field notes to learn about emotions and explore within. Hello, Heart! supports a strong foundation for lifelong emotional wellness.
  • Check Your Mailbox: Your letter will be mailed between the 12th and 15th of every month in a custom-addressed envelope specifically for you.
  • Explore Together: Each monthly adventure helps children and teenagers explore and build emotional skills.
Start Your Adventure

Be Ready Explorers

A guide for discovering, exploring and growing emotion-fully.

Be Ready Explorers is for girls and boys ages 5-12 years and features a different adventure each quarter to:

  • Introduce children to different explorers and their resilience traits,
  • Share educational content,
  • Introduce children to the beauty and diversity of the world,
  • Give opportunity for connection and reflection, and
  • Help cultivate well-being in children and their caregivers. 

In kid-friendly ways, it offers targeted experiences that help children feel ready for life’s adventures and grow emotion-fully. It follows the principle that emotional well-being can be cultivated through practice (connection + intention), which is something I have been studying and researching for over twenty years now.

CHOOSE AN ADVENTURE
Be Ready Explorer feeding a squirrel.

Kind Words From Others

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Connection as a Habit

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