Laura Goodavage

About Me

I began to study forms of parenting which included emotional regulation and learning how to cope with trauma due to my personal experience as a chronically ill mama with 2 young sons who had to navigate growing up in a home where mom would often (and unexpectedly) end up in the hospital for months at a time or was often bed bound when at home. Developing a rare neurological autoimmune disorder has led me down a path of learning through necessity.

Our whole family had to learn to adapt to the unexpected, we had to learn how to communicate, learn how to establish and reinforce boundaries, learn how to function as a TEAM, in order to survive. I wanted my boys to feel heard, seen, valued, and supported. My condition has been the hardest, yet greatest, blessing as it has lead me to recognize the importance of the mind-body connection. I studied Ayurvedic medicine and counseling as well as gentle parenting techniques because I wanted my Boys to reflect back on their childhood with a perspective of the ability to overcome every obstacle life throws at us... we have the choice to be victim to our circumstances OR the choice to use our circumstances to be WHO we DESIRE to be.

In a world where so much is out of our control... the one thing no one can ever take from you is the power of perspective. If we learn how to process through the trauma of experience with radical acceptance and forgiveness we have the ability harness the power of perspective. It is our super power. It is now my greatest honor to help other families cultivate a loving environment that promotes team work, mutual respect, and the ability to bask in all that life has to offer.

Outside of working with families I enjoy living in a small beach town in souther New Jersey. My boys are now high school students (eek time flies). As a family we enjoy going to the beach, surfing, spending time in nature. I also absolutely love to read everything from historical non fiction and fiction, books on psychology and philosophy. and mythology. My husband and I both love playing music. You can often find us at a local open mic. I play the violin, which has become a treasured hobby/therapy. Music has such healing powers.

After years of waiting for my neurological autoimmune condition to go away and for life to return to what it was, I realized I was wasting the life I do have and made a effort to embrace what was within my control and make peace with what is not. I wake up every day with one question: When It's Time to Live, What kind of life do you want to live? I strive everyday to life the best life I can for my boys, my spouse, my family and friends... but most importantly, FOR ME.