Our mission is to strengthen family connection.
We work with parents of teens and young adults, empowering them to support their loved ones in making healthy choices. We also provide mentoring services for teens.
Julie Merberg is a writer and book publisher who made her son’s health and safety her primary focus when he began to misuse substances at age 16. She received Level 1 certification in the Invitation to Change approach to behavior change, a scientifically-proven CRAFT-based model that incorporates motivational interviewing and acceptance and commitment therapy. (CRAFT is Community Reinforcement and Family Training.) She is also a Mayo Clinic and National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches certified wellness coach. And she has continued her training in areas that resonate and relate to families impacted by addiction including Smart Recovery and conscious parenting. Julie is an advisor to The Stream Community and a member of Selah's spiritual council. She writes a newsletter, The Opposite of Addiction, for families impacted by addiction.
Nathanael Katz completed Invitation to Change training and is studying psychology. He is an avid basketball player and fisherman with extensive experience in coaching and weight training. In addition to working one-on-one with mentees, he runs groups for adolescents who are interested in harm reduction and recovery and is developing a series of sober outings.
What parents are saying
"If your child/young adult is struggling with substances, and you are struggling just as much in knowing how to support them during this extremely painful and confusing time, I can’t recommend Julie enough. She brings significant knowledge both of the state of the art in dealing with family members with addiction issues, as well as head-spinning lived experience, which she learned to successfully navigate. The wisdom and compassion she brings to her individual and collective coaching spaces is gold."
—Catherine
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"Julie's help and guidance have truly been a godsend. I feel so fortunate to have connected with Julie and her compassion and knowledge. Her approach to teens and the family who struggle with substance use has been invaluable to us as we navigate life with a 15-year-old boy. She has first-hand experience and that is an incredible asset to her approach. I highly recommend Julie as a guide on this journey."—Kelly
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"They often say the opposite of addiction is connection and I had become so disconnected from my son. Working with Julie, I learned how to become a better listener, less judgmental and more open and in turn, I see the changes in my relationship with him. I am finally able to really CONNECT with him and it has made a world of difference not only to me, but to him!"—Kim
