Sandra R. Blackard

Award-winning author and master parent coach, Sandra R. Blackard, created the simple 3-part Language of Listening® coaching model in 2005 and founded the Language of Listening® blog and online training institute to teach simple coaching skills to parents and professionals working with children. Her coaching model was so effective, doable, and in demand that she now trains international parent coaches as well.

Sandy's handbook, SAY WHAT YOU SEE® for Parents and Teachers, is a NAPPA Gold Winner (National Parenting Publications Awards). She is also co-author with Drs. Landreth, Bratton, and Kellam of Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) Treatment Manual, 1st ed. (Routledge 2006) which has been used to train play therapists worldwide.

Sandy’s down-to-earth perspective helps adults see the world through the child’s eyes, making sense of what children say and do. Her writing makes complicated psychological concepts seem virtually self-evident.

As young professional, working parents faced with the challenge of parenting two children 18 months apart, she and her husband Patrick sought the assistance of a world-renowned play therapist who became Sandy's mentor, Dr. Garry Landreth, founder of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas, Denton. His approach so radically transformed her understanding of children, that her overriding thought was, "Why doesn't every parent know this?!!" She spent every year thereafter dedicated to that mission.

Through relentlessly sharing and refining what she learned - like how to help her clinging 4 YO gain the confidence to skip off to Kindergarten without looking back, and how to help her defiant 3 go brush her teeth without crossed arms or a stubborn, “No!” - the simple Language of Listening® coaching model was born. It’s a unique blend of evidence-based parenting approaches (connection-based, strength-based, needs-based), play therapy and positive psychology principles, and transformational coaching presented in a simple three-part model that always starts with one thing: SAY WHAT YOU SEE®, regardless of the behavior.

Throughout her career, Sandy has led live parenting classes at countless preschools and schools, including Austin Montessori School for five years, spoken in online parenting summits, and provided private parent coaching and online training for parents worldwide. To learn more about Language of Listening®, take online parent and coaches training, or contact the author or the coaches she's trained, you can visit her website: https://www.languageoflistening.com