Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Rouse.
Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“Why don’t you apply?”. This question ended up changing my life several times. The first was shortly after I acquired my marketing degree from Hamline University but wanted to move closer to my family. Unfortunately, my family lives in the middle of nowhere and options for marketing roles were pretty slim. But after a brief meeting with the local school superintendent, I was encouraged to apply and, ultimately, offered a position as a paraprofessional. I fell in love. This was it. This was my calling.
I enrolled in school to become a special education teacher before the year had even ended.
Eventually, I moved back to the twin cities and was asked again “why don’t you just apply?” This time it was for a position within a Montessori school. Again, this changed my life. I went from being an assistant teacher with a flexible schedule so I could continue on with my SpEd degree to the Head of School in a relatively short amount of time. But I missed teaching – so back into the classroom I went. This time as a special education teacher for upper elementary and middle school students at a charter school in North Minneapolis. It was incredible (and I’m lucky to still get calls from my scholars from time to time).
But I noticed a gap – a gap in the information the general education teachers and the parents/caregivers of these children had in helping my group of scholars be successful.
My scholars often were autistic, had ADHD, sensory processing disorders, or “behavioral challenges”. I saw my students flourish academically and socially and wanted to ensure they had that opportunity to feel successful everywhere. I saw the parents and caregivers of my scholars doing their very best but being so frustrated because those typical parenting tactics just would not work.
I had to reflect on how I best could support the young people I love to work with and I quickly came to realize I could make the biggest impact through helping educators and their primary caregivers gain the knowledge and develop the skills to help these children flourish.
So I took a parent coaching course and founded Emerge Family Coaching in 2020. I help the grownups have a deeper understanding of brain development and the implementation of that knowledge in order to create a happier home life with deeper levels of trust and connection with the children they are raising.
I now do 1:1 coaching with families as well as corporate presentations for family and caregivers of major organizations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Managing my self-doubt was the biggest struggle I had to overcome. I was constantly asking myself “is this even helpful?”. I didn’t want to waste people’s time or money. But after working with my first few clients and seeing huge improvements in their level of happiness within their home lives and the deeper connections they were able to make with their children I began to believe in myself more. Putting myself out there is still a huge challenge as someone who always liked to stay in the background and manage things from “behind the scenes”.
Trusting in yourself is so vital – but it can be so uncomfortable
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Emerge Coaching works with parents/caregivers who are struggling (oftentimes with big behaviors from their children) and helps them to understand brain development and gain tools to make stronger connections with their children – therefore decreasing negative behavior.
I specialize in working with families who’s children are autistic, have ADHD, sensory processing disorders, and families who’s children are adopted.
My background in special education, Montessori education, and parenting a child with ADHD allows me unique perspectives and experiences to pull from. I am able to problem solve with you to create a plan that will work for your family.
I am most proud of the fact that my coaching is not a “one size fits all/do exactly as I say” style. While there is information on brain development and specific tools I encourage I take the needs, values, and experiences, of each family into consideration – helping them develop systems that will truly work for them and their children.
I offer large. group presentations for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), educator trainings, and 1:1 coaching for families (my favorite!).
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
As a business owner “success” to me is understanding how to balance managing a healthy life and healthy business without abandoning your values.
Having a deep connection with your personal values allows you to make decisions easier and helps you naturally flow into “success”.
As a parent/caregiver, “success” is laughing every single day. Building time in to play and building those strong connections so the hard things don’t feel so detrimental.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: emergefamilycoaching.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergefamilycoaching/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emergefamilycoach/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/EmergeFamilyCoaching
Image Credits
Emme Callahan
