CUTV News Radio spotlights Susan Hope Berland Coaching

San Rafael, CA – As parents we have expectations for our children but our kids have their own ideas. Sometimes a child comes home with a tattoo or purple hair. Sometimes a child wants to choose a different path in life than what we’d imagined for them.

Susan Berland suspected for years that her son might be gay. She’d been planning a trip to visit her son in Los Angeles shortly after his 20th birthday when he called to tell her he wanted to talk to her about something when she came down.

“When he finally did tell me I handled it really well,” recalls Susan. “I wasn’t surprised, but I was shocked. It’s really different when it’s your own child. It wasn’t the image I had for his life.”

Today, Susan is a safe harbor coach for parents who are struggling with accepting their children, specifically parents of LGBTQ kids. Susan guides parents and their kids to communicate effectively, trust one another and accept one another where and as they are.

“I have a special place in my heart for parents of LGBTQ kids who are struggling to accept their kids because that’s who I was,” says Susan. “In the years since my son came out to me I’ve seen the impact a parent’s rejection, or even the perceived rejection can have on a child.”

Susan says she had all the common fears a parent has when their child comes out: Will they be happy? Will they be loved? Will they be safe?

“A lot of the conversations are about getting in touch with the emotions,” explains Susan. “We start with acknowledging their feelings and we work on getting to a place of acceptance.”

For more information on Susan Hope Berland Coaching, visit www.susanhopeberland.com