Karli Silva

About Me

At the age of 11, I discovered my passion for children when a new cousin was born into my family. It was love at first sight! And I have been working with children ever since.

While working on my college degree, I discovered that she was also deeply curious about people, culture, genetics, and neurobiology: I wanted to understand all the forces that shape human beings. I received a BA in Anthropology and I went on to earn an MA in Educational Psychology with an Early Childhood Teaching License. With these credentials under my belt, I launched my teaching career in both public and private schools. I taught children of all ages in a variety of educational settings for over a decade.

Fifteen years ago, I gave birth to my son. In many ways I felt well equipped to parent him in a meaningful way. I understood child development and how to provide my son with optimal learning experiences. But I felt unprepared to create the loving connection I yearned to have with him. More than anything, I wanted him to feel safe, secure, and loved unconditionally.

Less than a year after my son was born, I was back to teaching at an elementary school. Immediately I noticed a different orientation in my teaching as I tuned in to intricacies in the social emotional intelligences of my students. I also had a new awareness of the needs and desires of the parents of my students. In conference after conference, I heard parents express a need for support to parent with more effectiveness and confidence, especially in matters of discipline.

In this place of wanting to be a better resource for parents and a better parent myself, I came upon the Jai Institute for Parenting. Without hesitation, I enrolled myself in their next available parent coach training session. At the JIP, I studied neuroscience; specifically how to support the social and emotional intelligences through parenting practices. And I found my true calling: supporting parents (including myself) to be the parents they want to be with their children.

Now I am a mother to two wonderful boys, my fifteen-year-old son and my ten-year-old step son, both with special needs. I knows intimately the challenges that parenting children with special needs present. In many ways, my home is my classroom: I am constantly growing as a parent to meet the evolving needs of my children. I bring my experiences as a parent to the table, as well as all my training, as I work with other families to create the deep loving connections they desire to have.