Deanna Walheim helps parents with the inevitable challenges of raising children. As a Phoenix parent consultant and licensed associate marriage and family therapist, she observes parents in their own homes so she can recommend strategies to help them improve family dynamics.

“There are a lot of opinions about raising children,” says Walheim, who is the mother of two girls: Michaela, 6, and Cheyenne, 4. “I offer parents methods that have been researched and are known to be effective [and help them] integrate this information into their unique parenting style.” She specializes in working with families with children 6 and younger, as these are the most crucial years for laying the foundation for healthy, happy people.

Through January, Wahlheim is offering free parenting groups (called Latte Mornings) for stay-at-home parents. She also schedules Wine Nights for working parents and parenting classes based on the book Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun! (which uses the “love and logic” method). For information about these programs or in-home parenting consultations, visit phoenixparentconsulting.com.

This article first appeared in the November 2008 issue of Raising Arizona Kids magazine. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast or redistributed without permission of the publisher. For more information, write to editorial@raisingarizonakids.com.