Hi there, I’m Jessica. I help parents like you with online parenting support and education that changes lives.

In the past 11 years I’ve worked as a social worker, a kids yoga therapist and a parenting coach in the fields of social work, psychology, biology, complex behaviours, child development, trauma, yoga therapy and neuroscience. My passion for working with kids and families came from experiencing trauma in my own childhood.

A few years ago I realised that the homes I was entering were struggling with similar things:

  • Meltdowns
  • Big explosions
  • Communication issues
  • Disconnect
  • Parent overwhelm
  • Unhelpful ‘traditional’ parenting beliefs and habits
Through this time I worked with children who had experienced trauma and had diagnoses such as ADHD, Autism, ODD etc. And something I noticed was that as soon as the label was planted on these children, things got worse for them. It seemed to me that traditional parenting strategies were putting an extra burden on parents and kids. Why? Because often these strategies try to work with parts of the brain that children don’t even have access to yet. I knew that the body and nervous system was the key to a new, more holistic way of parenting. That’s when I started teaching it to parents and saw some amazing results. Now I have brought together my groundbreaking online parenting support courses with a trusted, experienced group of holistic practitioners (the Happy Home Network to give parents like you everything you need to create a happy home. If you have questions about how I can help you, let’s chat – book your free consultation here.
- Jess

What other parents say about working with me

““In the moment I remembered your strategies and felt well-armed…

With your advice of getting curious I was able to have a 2 hour heart-felt conversation with my 13 year old daughter and this morning I just feel so connected to her. Usually I would retreat and give her space when she felt low but I did something different. In the past the pattern would be: I become very frustrated and come in with the rules. She then becomes defiant.

In the moment you just want them to do what you want. Thank you for sharing your strategies with me. In the moment I remembered them and I just felt well-armed.

I needed to set aside my taking it personally so I could see her clearly and kindly. You reminded me that there’s always a deeper motivation behind the behaviour which helped me get curious and to stay there with her longer than I would have. Usually it felt easier for me to retreat and for her to retreat. We ended up falling asleep together and I realised that this is what counts.”
Erin
“I understand my children!

I started the program because my kids were fighting and I was struggling to understand my daughter who would shut down during times of big emotions.

There were so many ‘aha’ moments - I now understand my children! This has helped immensely in dealing with many situations and helps avoid conflict, including helping them through difficult situations by knowing what to say/do or when not to say/do anything!”
Mel
“I now know where his needs are and have learned about myself and my family on a whole new level…

My son was refusing to get ready for anything (particularly in the morning) and constantly arguing over the small everyday routine things especially when the household was running late. The explosive emotions that would result from just trying to get out the door were exhausting.

From completing Jess’s program I gained a complete insight and understanding of why these challenges existed. So many things hit home with “lightbulb” moments.

I now know where his needs are and have learned about myself and my family on a whole new level.”
Leigh

“In the moment I remembered your strategies and felt well-armed…

 

With your advice of getting curious I was able to have a 2 hour heart-felt conversation with my 13 year old daughter and this morning I just feel so connected to her. Usually I would retreat and give her space when she felt low but I did something different. In the past the pattern would be: I become very frustrated and come in with the rules. She then becomes defiant.

In the moment you just want them to do what you want. Thank you for sharing your strategies with me. In the moment I remembered them and I just felt well-armed.

I needed to set aside my taking it personally so I could see her clearly and kindly. You reminded me that there’s always a deeper motivation behind the behaviour which helped me get curious and to stay there with her longer than I would have. Usually it felt easier for me to retreat and for her to retreat. We ended up falling asleep together and I realised that this is what counts.”

 

Erin

Read Less Read More

“I understand my children!

 

I started the program because my kids were fighting and I was struggling to understand my daughter who would shut down during times of big emotions.

There were so many ‘aha’ moments - I now understand my children! This has helped immensely in dealing with many situations and helps avoid conflict, including helping them through difficult situations by knowing what to say/do or when not to say/do anything!”

 

Mel

Read Less Read More

“I now know where his needs are and have learned about myself and my family on a whole new level…

 

My son was refusing to get ready for anything (particularly in the morning) and constantly arguing over the small everyday routine things especially when the household was running late. The explosive emotions that would result from just trying to get out the door were exhausting.

 

From completing Jess’s program I gained a complete insight and understanding of why these challenges existed. So many things hit home with “lightbulb” moments.

 

I now know where his needs are and have learned about myself and my family on a whole new level.”

 

Leigh

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Jo-Gibson-(Naturopath)
Mary-Leigh-Scheerhoorn-(Clinical-Nutritionist)
Stacey-Louise-(Kids-Yoga-Teacher)

Introducing: The Happy Home Network

Ever felt like you didn’t know which practitioner was the right one for you and your kids? If you’re like a lot of people I work with, you prefer more natural or holistic options. But then who do you trust?

There are so many choices on which type of professional and then which one to work with: psychologist, psychiatrist, paediatrician, GP, counsellor, hypnotherapist, kinesiologist, reiki healer, naturopath, homeopath, nutritionist… it’s no wonder parents feel overwhelmed and confused.

And then there’s the disappointment when you waste time and money on a practitioner who doesn’t ‘get it’!

That’s why I’m excited to announce the creation of the Happy Home Network: my hand-picked group of expert practitioners. Each member of the team has at least 5 years of experience working with children and parents.

This incredible group of parenting professionals is at your fingertips when you enroll in my Happy Home Program  or Happy Home Accelerator Program.

In each of these programs you’ll have my support (as part of a small group, or 1-on-1 in the Accelerator Program) as well as access to these amazing humans:

jessicamcilveen.com_.png

My Story

A lot of people ask me, “why are you so passionate about working with parents without having any kids of your own?”

It’s because I’ve personally felt that disconnect from my parents. I’ve been the child who:

  • Watched her parents argue
  • Experienced depressed and suicidal parents
  • Knows the instability an alcoholic parent creates
  • Experienced parents who were stressed and overwhelmed most of the time.

I became the young adult who had so many unexpressed emotions that I became an angry and confused woman.

I felt so alone and depressed.

And then…

Call it what you like; destiny, fate, the universal pull, God, my higher self – I was guided to question how my childhood had created everything I hated about myself and my life.

Specifically, how my relationship with my parents in my childhood was impacting me now.

This quest has taken 10 years, hundreds of thousands of dollars, many headaches, many tears, loads of fear AND it will never end.

Having come from a Social Work system that places too much blame and expectations on children, and personally knowing what it was like to have parents who were suffering, I knew that by working with the parents, a happier family unit could be achieved. That’s when the Happy Home Movement was born.

Now I absolutely love what I do. It’s so rewarding because parents tell me all the time about how much their lives, and their family’s lives, have changed for the better.

So what’s yours and your family’s story? I’d love to work with you to create that happy ending you dream of and that every family deserves.

- Jess

Qualifications and modalities

  • Bachelor of Social Work
  • Kids Yoga and Meditation teacher
  • Adults biomedical yoga and meditation teacher
  • NLP Master Practitioner
  • Timeline Therapist
  • Hypnotherapist
  • Epigenetic health coach

Wish you knew how to help your kids when they (and you) are having a meltdown?

Get my free video series:
3 tools to get your child to listen when they’re upset, frustrated or angry
HELP ME, HELP MY KIDS