Alyson Schafer is one of Canada’s leading parenting experts. She promotes a firm but friendly “democratic parenting” style and offers practical solutions backed by extensive evidence based research.
Alyson is an Adlerian family counsellor, author and internationally acclaimed expert who empowers families by sharing her principles, rules and tools for raising co-operative and resilient kids. Armed with years of research, clinical and field experience, Alyson can provide a new, positive understanding of your current family dynamic with actionable solutions that will give you the hope and confidence needed to transform your family.
Whether you are looking for a bite size tip to see you through a melt down or you’d like to delve further to transform your family life, Alyson can help. Her style is fast, witty, warm and encouraging. Alyson delivers her deep insights in ways that today’s busy parents can easily understand and apply immediately.
Education – B.Sc., M.A. Counselling; OACCPP (Masters of Arts – Counseling from the Adler School of Chicago, and an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo)
International Speaker – Alyson is a highly sought-after speaker who presents at conferences and corporate events around the globe. She is a three time TEDx speaker, including the inaugural TEDxKids in Brussels, Belgium. She has also spoken at The World Trade Organization in Geneva Switzerland, and events in Uruguay, Bulgaria and more.
Best-Selling Author – Alyson is the international best-selling author of three parenting books published by Harper Collins Canada: Breaking the Good Mom Myth (2007), Honey, I Wrecked The Kids (2009), and her latest Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2011). Her books have been translated into Russian, Korean, Spanish and Bulgarian.
On TV – Alyson is creator and host of The Parenting Show and the resident expert on such notable national media outlets as The Marilyn Denis Show, The Global Morning Show and CBC Radio.
In Print – Alyson has appeared in a host of popular publications such as Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, Parent Magazine, Reader’s Digest, The Washington Post, Canadian Family, Oh Baby, Canadian Living, Toronto Star, Globe & Mail and many more.
Online – Besides being the resident expert at HuffPost Parents, Canada’s go-to portal for parenting info, Alyson has also appeared as a guest-blogger on PTPA.com, Mabel’s Labels, Yummymummyclub.ca, ParentingPink.com, Wellness.com, HealthyWealthyWIse.com, EverydayHealth.com, Sharecare.com, Parentingbookmark.com, Pregnancy.org and more.
Family Counsellor – Private Practice – Alyson is currently seeing clients in person and via Skype. Please visit the Counselling page for more information or to request an appointment online.
Social Enthusiast – An early-adopter, Alyson has pioneered parenting advice in social media. She has been a panelist at Social Media Week, BlogWest, Blissdom and #140 NYC. She engages parents on Twitter and Facebook and through her own parenting blog, as well as guest expert blog posts.
Family – A lover of books, art, music, food, travel and the great outdoors, Alyson lives in Toronto and has two young adult daughters who are finishing their university studies in business and the social sciences . . . just like their mom.
