Hi, I'm Kayla!


Raised in Southern California, my journey took a transformative turn when my family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia during high school. The shift was challenging but pivotal, sparking a deep passion for diverse cultures and broadening my worldview.


In my early 20s, while juggling my bachelor’s degree and working as a nanny and at an elementary school, I took every opportunity to travel, visiting countries across four continents. Each experience deepened my commitment to global justice and cultural empathy.


In 2014, I moved to Amman, Jordan to volunteer with an NGO, where a few months later I co-founded a nonprofit dedicated to serving vulnerable refugee communities. It was during this time that my husband and I fell in love, united by our shared dedication to justice work.


We married in 2016, fueled by a shared mission to address the lack of accessible education for refugee children in the Middle East. In 2018, we launched an education initiative through Cedars Network, establishing Hope Learning Center and House of Love, which continue to serve over 350 vulnerable children in grades K-7 annually and collaborate with local educators, providing them with ongoing professional development opportunities.


Along the way, we had two children of our own, and the experience of motherhood sparked a profound shift in my life. Shocked by how parenting challenged and changed me, I discovered Montessori philosophy and respectful parenting approaches. In 2021, I completed the AMI certification for ages 0-3 through Montessori for Lebanon, which led to a partnership aimed at making Montessori and parenting resources more accessible across the Middle East and beyond.


Raising children internationally has given me strong values and a unique perspective. In a connected world, it's essential for our children to grow up with empathy for diverse perspectives, while also cultivating the confidence to stand by their values.


With training in Motivational Interviewing, Social-Emotional Learning and Resilience, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and Somatics, I offer a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach to parenting.


As a Certified Parenting Coach, I’m here to empower you to parent with confidence, connection, and joy. I can’t wait to work together to help you achieve your family’s goals!



Certifications & Trainings

  • Parent Coach Certification, Jai Institute for Parenting
  • Interpersonal Neurobiology Certificate under Dr Dan Siegel, Mindsight Institute (in progress)
  • Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate, The Embody Lab (in progress)
  • EFT & TFT Tapping Practitioner Certification, The Priority Academy
  • 0-3 Certificate, Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
  • Creating Behavioral Change Certificate, Wesleyan University
  • SEL for Students: A Path to Social Emotional Well-Being Certificate, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Psychological First Aid Certificate, Johns Hopkins University
  • Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster and War, University of Minnesota
  • TBRI & Trauma-Informed Classrooms, Texas Christian Univeristy
  • Pastoral Support Certification, Rock Church San Diego

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