Hi, I’m Peta Kerr!

I’m a Parent Coach, Parenting Coordinator, and Family Mediator dedicated to supporting families through challenging times. After moving to the United States and reentering the workforce, I quickly realized that every family’s experience in crisis is unique. I wanted to offer support without limitations—and creating my own practice allowed me to do just that.

My Journey

I was born and raised in Canada in a family of passionate educators. My mom was a special education teacher, my dad taught high school math and later at the local college I attended, and both of my sisters followed in their footsteps—one as a principal and former kindergarten teacher, the other as a biology teacher. Education was deeply valued in our home.

From a young age, I loved working with children. I spent years as a camp counselor and later provided in-home respite care for children with special needs. I knew I wanted to work with families, but not in a traditional classroom setting.

Over the years, I held various roles supporting families, including:

• Behavior Consultant with a school board
• Applied Behavior Analyst Consultant in a clinical setting
• Intensive Behavior Interventionist in a segregated preschool setting

Eventually, I began the next chapter—starting my own family. After 14 international moves and welcoming three children in three different countries, I returned to work. Reentering the workforce in a new country as a single mom came with challenges. Licensing requirements in Ohio were vastly different from Canada, and my post-graduate studies didn’t transfer. I committed to retraining and learning the U.S. systems, and was hired as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist.

I immersed myself in training and earned several credentials, including:

• Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist
• Certified Trauma Practitioner – Clinical
• Ohio Infant Family Practitioner – II
• Trust-based Relational Intervention Practitioner
• Numerous other recognitions

Most importantly, I discovered I could truly make a difference.

The Birth of Parent Coaching

In 2017, I received my first referral for “Parent Coaching.” The role wasn’t clearly defined, but after my first Parent/Child visit, I knew this was my calling. I wanted to shape this role and continue supporting parents within their unique family dynamics.

As referrals increased, my coaching caseload began to surpass my Early Childhood Mental Health work. I was passionate about developing this new role and tailoring my support to each family’s needs.

In 2019, I founded Passcode to Parenting, an LLC designed to reach more families with fewer limitations. I continued building a diverse caseload and expanded my expertise by becoming:

• A certified Ohio Supreme Court Family and Divorce Mediator
• A Parent Coordinator
• A New Ways for Families Coach (High Conflict Institute)
• A Certified Supervised Visitation Monitor
• A Coparenting Specialist

I also became a National Trainer for the Paxis Institute, training professionals nationwide in trauma-informed, prevention science-based programs.

Today

My recent focus has been on parent coaching, co-parenting, high-conflict divorce, and understanding Resist and Refuse dynamics. I collaborate with child welfare agencies, juvenile and domestic relations courts, school boards, and other organizations that support families.

Passcode to Parenting continues to grow and now includes:

• A Childhood Trauma and Attachment Therapist
• A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst
• Family Connection and Reunification Interventions
• Guardian ad Litem Services
  
  …and more. Click here to view all of our services.

We’re here to support families during difficult times. Our goal is to reach the entire family system, collaborate with service providers, and offer wraparound support. We stay informed on social issues affecting families and walk alongside them every step of the way.

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Passcode to Parenting provides a safe and judgment-free space for children and families in Northeast Ohio to repair, rebuild, and reconnect their relationships and move forward together. If you or someone you care about is experiencing difficulties in parenting, family stress, mental health concerns, high-conflict divorce, trauma, or crisis — we can help. Contact us today!