Isabelle Zehnder

Isabelle Zehnder is a Certified Family Coach whose goal is to form a partnership with her clients and to help them reach their full potential.

Most people strive for a better quality of life. They want more joy and more quality time with their children and teens.

               
Clients come to coaching because they have important goals they wish to attain or they are looking for change. Coaching is a partnership. It is a journey to discover who you are and who you truly want to be. It is a process that produces profound, measurable results. Coaching can help you unleash the power within so you attain your goals and dreams!

Family Coaching – Often families of children and teens come to Isabelle because something is wrong within their family unit. Isabelle has a unique ability to tap into what’s wrong and has been extremely successful in helping to change the dynamics within the family unit to create a more positive home environment and more positive parent/child or teen relationships.

She helps parents see their teens in a different, more positive way, and to help teens see their parents in a different, and more positive way. She taps into their strengths and gives her clients the tools they need to make positive and lasting change in their lives.

Life Coaching - Isabelle works with individuals who feel something is missing and who want something more in their lives. She listens with an open heart and mind and provides positive and helpful feedback. She provides her clients the tools they need to help them in their journey to get from where they are today to where they would like to be.

Isabelle founded Positive Family Solutions™ and Parents and Teens Unite!™ She believes that within each parent lies the power to effectively and lovingly parent their teens and pre-teens, and that within each teen lies the power to be productive and loving members of their families.

Isabelle is also the Founder and President of the Coalition Against Institutionalized Child Abuse (CAICA) and is all too familiar with what can happen when things get out of hand at home and parents give up.

Tens of thousands of parents have sent their children to what they believe are "boarding schools" and "behavior modification programs" without realizing this is a completely unregulated industry where anyone can open a facility working with children and teens. We have seen where often they hire untrained, unqualified staff to work with the children and teens, and have found it to be a recipe for disaster.

There are good, safe programs for children and teens. It is vital that parents take the time to do their research and not believe everything they read on the Internet.

If you are a parent at your wits end and you would like help with resources and options, please call for a free 30-minute consultation.

Sometimes we, as parents, need outside help. But sometimes the answers lie within ourselves and all we need is a little help and encouragement to make measurable change. Coaching could not only help save families tens of thousands of dollars but it can help keep families together.
 
Isabelle offers a free 30-minute consultation. If you are interested in exploring if coaching is for you, call her at 360-723-5253 or e-mail coaching@positivefamilysolutions.com.


ABOUT ISABELLE (COACH):

Isabelle Zehnder is a proud mother of two. She has worked with children most of her adult life and has researched family/child issues for over 25 years. She is a Certified Family Coach and the Founder and CEO of Positive Family Solutions, LLC™. She is also the Founder and President of the Coalition Against Institutionalized Child Abuse™ (CAICA™).

She is an Active Member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and an active member of their local Chartered Chapter, the Northwest Coaches Association (NWCA). She completed the Advanced Coach Training course and received her coaching certificate through the Academy of Family Coach Training.

PAST EXPERIENCES:

Isabelle has researched child behavior and child development for 25 years and has authored and published a number of articles. She has also attended and participated in a series of seminars and workshops regarding families, children, teens, and child abuse & prevention. She has been invited to speak on child, teen, and family issues both on radio and at workshops and seminars.

She was awarded the TASH Award in Excellence for Public Service in 2006 and was recently asked to serve on the TASH Public Policy Committee. She has also been asked to speak at their 2007 conference.

Isabelle was a Member of the Board of Advisors, an investigator, and researcher for the Emancipation Project, working to promote regulation and monitoring of the “teen-help” industry.

Isabelle pursued her education in law and worked in the legal field for 8 years as a legal secretary and paralegal. Given her strong desire to continue learning, she attended a number of legal seminars and workshops.

Isabelle was the Founder and President of Positive Solutions (1995 to 1998) providing community workshops for parents, children, and teens, including Mommy and Me, Terrific Twos, Cooking for Kids, Parents and Teens Unite (a coaching program designed to bring parents and teens together and to help them learn new ways to effectively communicate and understand one another); Babysitting Tips for Teens.

During the mid to late 90's, Isabelle volunteered at the bi-annual Summit Meeting for Teens, a program designed to teach teens effective ways to communicate with their parents and to better understand their needs as well as the needs of their parents.

Isabelle has tutored children with learning disabilities and those who needed assistance to meet their potential. She operated a licensed day care providing a safe, loving, and educational environment for young children.

WHAT A FEW PEOPLE WHO KNOW HER HAVE TO SAY:

"Hi Isabelle, Your insight is empowering. You have helped put things into perspective for me. Reminding me to take a deep breath & not make rash decisions was just what I needed to hear. Thanks again for your time & help."

Suzanne
Mom of 17-year old

"Our son was 17, exerting his own independence, taking risks and making mistakes along the way ...

Our old ways of discipline weren't working anymore, we were suddenly in transition and didn't know how to handle ourselves. Isabelle made it click. 

Through coaching we learned how to respect our son, listen to what he had to say. I know there will be other challenges along the way but practicing the coaching techniques definitely helps. Isabelle's listening skills, warm and caring personality helped to put us on the right path."

Mom of 17-year old son

"Isabelle started coaching me several months ago and the results have been amazing. One of the things I've learned from my coaching experience with Isabelle is that it's not only helping my kids but it's really helping me. I feel calmer and more assured of myself and my parenting abilities.

I have a deeper level of respect for my kids and I think they have a deeper level of respect for me. I just approach things differently and it's working. The added bonus is that it’s helping me with other relationships too, like with my fiancé and other family members."

Teresa
Mom of two teens

"My experience with Isabelle was great! She listens really well. She is not a judging or a controlling coach. She helped me see different perspectives of a situation and that helped me to make the right decision."

Elizabeth
13-years old

"My work with Isabelle has spanned the last two years. I found her to go above and beyond for parents and children.

Since becoming a Coach, she has worked closely with myself and daughter. The results acheived within our family mirror Isabelle's honest, open communication.

Her style give way for families to giving families back the love, care and integrity lost as a result of many of life struggles and hardships. She is a close friend and confidant. My gratitude to her for being available when I was searching for answers. Thank you, Isabelle.

Carol B. Wright
Mom of 13-year

I would like to take a moment to recognize the most dedicated child's advocate I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

I have known Isabelle for the past 8 years when my young daughter was having difficulty reading. Isabelle was her private tutor and with the most tender approach helped my struggling 2nd grader achieve miraculous advancement in her reading ability.

My daughter's self esteem in reading was built in whole by the patience and understanding Isabelle used in her technique. In short a wonderful relationship has been built between her and my entire family.

In terms of the teen incarceration efforts that she has displayed as an advocate for freeing both known friends and perfect strangers I have never seen such a gallant effort on any single person’s part. This woman has opened her home and heart working literally thousands of hours of her own time including evenings, weekends, and holidays even when I knew she was completely exhausted.

I must also say that she has done this without a single penny of reimbursement to herself.

In fact I know she has spent thousands of dollars of her own hard earned money towards this cause. I could never in this short amount of space convey to any person how deeply committed to children and their rights she truly is.

What's going on in these facilities is simply horrifying! She has taken each and every child into her heart and has helped numerous families by taking the time to both explain conditions and opening their eyes to the true disgusting conditions these children are being put into.

I am so very proud to know such a dedicated human being. What she has accomplished in a very short amount of time I am sure will help thousands of children and their families. She has touched all of us with her kind actions.

- Yours Truly,
Donna Rutherford
California

* * *

Having worked closely with Isabelle Zehnder for some time, I can attest to her deeply held convictions about the rights and well-being of children.

She possesses a true zeal for this work that brings her seemingly endless energy, compassion, and empathy. I cannot think that there are many better advocates for the countless voiceless children and teenagers that have been thrown away into behavior modification camps.

She has my trust and respect, and believe that she has the fortitude to continue to work to educate parents, children, and communities about the danger and moral repugnance of these behavior modification programs.

- Anthony Suter
Performance Librarian
University of Texas at Austin

* * *

In the ten years I have known Isabelle I have never known her to lie and she is always a champion of what is right, especially when it comes to the welfare of children.

I have seen her go to extraordinary lengths in this regard.

When she says this needs doing, I believe her.

Judy Hill
Washington

* * *

Isabelle and I have been neighbors for almost three years. Soon after moving into the neighborhood I was in a serious car accident.

She called and came over often to see if I needed anything. I knew I could count on her and from there our friendship flourished.

As a mother, grandmother, and educator of young children I recognize and understand Isabelle’s passion to protect children and their rights.

As a society we tend to forget that children have inalienable rights before they turn 18. Isabelle is trying to make a difference for children in such situations and to educate the public as to these injustices.

She is a sincere, caring, trustworthy, and dependable person trying to make a difference in our society.

Friend and neighbor,
Sally Shooter
Washington