I am a certified and experienced parent trainer, offering training courses, workshops and private parenting consultations. I am trained and authorised to teach parenting courses developed by The Parent Practice in London and Gordon Training International in California.

I am also a qualified life coach offering personal coaching to help you identify and realise your goals. I am accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and abide by its code of ethics. More about coaching.

I started parent training after being inspired by the positive changes in my own family life following a parenting course. I was doing OK beforehand but had not realised what I didn’t know. I learned new strategies and practical tips for making parenting easier, more effective and more peaceful. I also learned something about my strengths and weaknesses, and started to put my own needs into the balance – at last!

Before becoming a coach I worked for the UK government both in Whitehall and overseas. I have a BA (Hons) in Sociology and Social Anthropology gained in the UK and a Masters Degree in Business Management gained in Australia. I have lived, worked and volunteered on five continents with and without children. My family and I are used to adjusting and adapting to change and have helped many others to do the same.

Despite the other things I have done, my primary identity for many years has been and still is, as a mother. I am proud of this but also grateful as it provided the motivation and rationale for combining the teaching of parenting skills with personal coaching.

After training in Australia I began teaching parenting skills in Singapore in 2012. Since then I have worked in the UK presenting courses and workshops. I started personal coaching after qualifying as a life coach in 2013.

I have direct experience of various parenting programmes and working with children, young adults and parents in several different countries and cultures as a manager, teacher, guardian, scout leader, coach and trainer.

I am the proud mother of two amazing teenagers who continue to teach and test, charm and challenge their parents! I am still far from the perfect parent but, just like other parents, I strive to do things better than I did yesterday – and sometimes better than I did ten minutes ago! I try every day to be the best that I can, regardless of the highs or lows of the previous day. I would love to help you to do the same.

I live with my family near Guildford and work directly with parents, schools and coaching clients throughout Surrey and online or by phone beyond this area.

Jill Lawrence – Founder of Parenting and You

I currently offer courses developed by The Parent Practice in London, leaders in the UK in this field.

The courses developed by The Parent Practice are accredited by CANParent which ensures that their content is of the highest quality and based on evidence.

I am also a certified instructor of Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.), the pioneering US programme from Gordon Training International which has helped millions of parents worldwide. For further information please visit http://www.gordontraining.com/