NurtureNest Therapy & Coaching

04/05/2026

Real impact comes from listening, building trust, and working alongside the families and organizations we serve. Grateful to be part of work that creates lasting change.

29/04/2026

This is how we do it😊

28/04/2026

We ended the session in a simple way.

A cup of tea at hand.

Milele trainers and I settled into easy conversation after a quick debrief, that quiet moment of knowing the first session had landed.

Around us, parents were relaxed, talking and laughing with their teens before heading home.

Nothing formal. Just conversation.

The heavy lifting had been done.

What remained was what matters most.

Parents left with something real to carry forward. Conversations to continue. Work to do at home. Ready for session two.

24/04/2026

𝐘𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡
than most people are ready for.

For several years, Milele Home International has been walking with 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 of Kitale helping them rebuild identity and hope through a three month program.

The goal has always been reintegration back into their families.

But there was a quiet gap in that process.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭.

Programs that prepare children without preparing parents are only solving half the problem.

That realization shifted everything.

This is where I came in designing:
𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 8 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒖𝒎
𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝑺.𝑻.𝑨.𝑹. 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌
𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒍𝒆'𝒔 3-𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎.

Parenting support was no longer optional. It became essential.

Without this layer, reintegration risks undoing the progress made with the boys.

Yesterday was Milele’s first parents’ forum, Week 1 of 8.

I had the privilege of sitting in.

And they owned it.

They applied the curriculum in a way that fit their parents, their context, and their reality.

The room carried a mix of curiosity, defensiveness, and fatigue.

Many parents came in holding one clear narrative, that their sons were the source of the breakdown.

That belief had been reinforced over time through conflict, distance, and frustration.

But as the session unfolded, something began to shift.

Parents engaged.
They asked questions.
They sat with uncomfortable ideas.
You could see the internal recalibration happening in real time.

Then came the parent-son bonding session after the forum.

Parents sat across from their sons, some unsure where to begin.

There was hesitation.

Years of hurt do not dissolve quickly.

But something softened.

You could see it in the pauses.

In the way a father chose to listen instead of interrupt.

In the way a mother held her son’s gaze a little longer than usual.

And then came the tears.

Quiet, real emotion breaking through.

For the first time, many of these parents were not only looking at their children as the problem.

They were looking inward.

Questioning their own responses,
their patterns,
their absence,
their words.

What changed was not just the conversation in that room, but the 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.

Because reintegration is not just about bringing a child home.
It is about 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨.

As a psychologist, I have seen how powerful that moment of self awareness can be.

It does not fix everything overnight.

But it 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝.

Yesterday, that door opened in that room.

And once it opens, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.

If you work with families, or run a child-focused program or institution and want to 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝, 8 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦, alongside your work with children, comment REFLECT and I will reach out to understand your context and explore how this can fit your setting.

23/04/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞.

After handing over
a 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦
and leading a 2 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

I walked away feeling the weight and the privilege of my work with the wonderful team at 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥.

The sessions were full.

Not just in content, but in honesty.

Real conversations. Real reflections.

The team keen on connecting what they were learning directly to the families and communities they serve.

I have been in rooms where people sit through training, take notes, and leave unchanged.

This was not that.

There was a clear shift in how people were thinking, questioning, and owning what comes next.

What stood out most was the 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦.
That is the essence of a customized curriculum. To make it 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒.

The team were not regurgitating it word for word.

They were already thinking about how to apply, adapt, and carry it forward.

Today I want to share this moment of walking away at the end because it stays with me every time.

It is not just the close of a session.

It is 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔.

I leave feeling full.

Quietly content.

Not because it is finished, but because something meaningful has been received and is 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

That moment matters to me more than the delivery itself.

What is one moment in your work that reminds you what it is really about?

21/04/2026

𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦…..

I designed a 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦 for their organization; for the parents of teens and families they serve

tailored to their real challenges,
their environment,
their goals.

Because that’s the difference

Not generic advice…

But 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤.

The rain tried to slow me down - but not today.

I layered up and stepped out like a thief in the night 😄

Because these are conversations we 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 have.

I’ll share more soon…

In the meantime - let me ask you:

Are you a 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥?

A 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝-𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

A 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐆𝐎 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬?

Do you work with parents and children in any capacity?

I design and implement 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 that:
• Strengthen parental leadership
• Build consistency at home
• Improve emotional stability
• Translate child psychology into 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬

So change doesn’t fade…
It becomes part of how families and institutions operate, long-term.

“If you’re a school, organization, or institution ready to implement structured parenting support, send me a DM with the word 𝘚𝘠𝘚𝘛𝘌𝘔𝘚 and a brief note about who you serve.”

17/04/2026

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬…

Many of us parents think va**ng is something “out there.”

Something you hear about in other countries. Not something happening in our schools. Not something happening in our children’s spaces.

Then the same pattern starts coming up in different conversations.

Quietly.

A device found in a school bag.
A strange scent on clothes.
Longer bathroom breaks during school hours that do not quite make sense.

And one detail keeps repeating.

School washrooms.

Not playgrounds. Not after-school hangouts. Inside the school.

That is when it starts to feel closer to home.

What many parents do not realize is how easy it is for teens to normalize this. These devices are small. They do not look threatening. Some even smell sweet.

But the impact is not small.

One of the most concerning conditions linked to va**ng is bronchiolitis obliterans, often referred to as 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠.

It damages the smallest airways in the lungs.
It is not easily reversible.
It can permanently affect how someone breathes. It is already causing deaths world-wide.

This is not about fear. It is about awareness.

Because the real shift begins when we stop assuming “my child would never” and start asking questions, start talking.
Not from panic. From presence.

I'm curious, what have you been noticing or hearing lately when it comes to teens and va**ng?

16/04/2026

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨-𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

As a mum who is co-parenting, I'm well familiar with the roller-coaster of 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲.

It is referred by many names
Some call it 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 or 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭

When the kid(s) are with the other parent

The sudden silence in the house - especially THIS!

The 'not knowing what to do' with un-planned 'free' time

The disorientation from interruption of day-to-day routines

It's in the seemingly small details.

It's a 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 when separated from their children.

People who have not been through it may not understand it, and understandably so - because in a way, it seems trivial, small, illogical.

It doesn't mean that children are not perfectly ok under the care of the other parent
It doesn't mean that other parent is not a great parent
It is often not about danger or distrust

It's simply the presence of parent-child bonding
And the natural grief of distance, of separation, even when temporary.

When a parent is especially highly involved in the day to day of their children,
the brain still registers absence as a HUGE disruption from the norm.

If the bond is strong and daily contact has been consistent, the 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 reacts to the 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲.

That reaction can show up as anxiety, sadness, restlessness, or even a mild sense of disorientation during the transition period.

It is not about duration
It is about the break in proximity
and that is absolutely healthy and normal.

Empty-nest is not only experienced by parents of adult children who are transitioning out of home permanently
e.g. going off to college, getting own place, getting married etc

It is experienced in many other dynamics such as
- parents who are co-parenting and have shared custody
- parents who have lost custody of their children
- parents who are working away from their children
- parents whose jobs involve a lot of travelling

It is experienced in many situations.

My first few experiences with separation anxiety were a teary-mess!
My heart felt like it had been yanked out of my chest
I thought there was something wrong with me for feeling so sad....but with time, it got better, I got better.

How?
I started talking to other parents and realizing they could relate
I was vulnerable enough to ask how they had navigated theirs
I started trying new things/activities with my 'free' time instead of wallowing in sadness.....

It stopped being a lonely experience
I stopped sitting alone with the limitations of my experiences and emotions

I allowed it to become a shared experience
One that I quickly realized was not new to many - and I was neither the first, nor alone.

That was my turning point.

I felt normal.
I embraced the feelings.
I learnt.
I got better
I reached out when I needed help and let others hold my hand.

I would say that I am less caught off-guard
I'm definitely much better able to navigate those moments

I can now anticipate the feeling
plan for it, embrace or swiftly transition through it
and plan for myself too

It is a journey - one worth walking in community and letting others hold your hand.

Does anyone relate?

Have you experienced parental separation anxiety?

How have you managed yours?

Let me know in the comments below.

Maybe someone will have their 'aha - I'm not alone' moment today.

Stay tuned for my upcoming FREE Webinar on Parental Separation Anxiety. Let's get talking.

17/10/2024

INTERSEX CHILDREN CONVERSATION 03: 46 XX Male.

Also known as XX Testicular Disorder of S*x Development (DSD)

This is a rare condition that happens during development in the womb whereby a baby who has two X chromosomes (XX) meaning they are female, develops male characteristics due to a genetic anomaly. They therefore often appear male.

The anomaly is caused by an abnormal exchange of genetic material whereby male-determining genetic material from a Y (male) chromosome translocates on one of the X (female) chromosomes, thus triggering development of male characteristics despite baby being chromosomally female (XX).

Most babies born as 46 XX male experience normal male puberty; a few may require hormone therapy (testosterone).

Diagnosis is often missed because babies typically look male at birth unless the baby is:

- born with ambiguous genitalia (ge****ls not clearly formed as male or female)

- concerns arise during changes in puberty

- infertility is experienced in adulthood

- genetic testing is done during infancy or childhood

Some characteristics:

1. Baby is chromosomally female but physically develops as male

2. Babies have te**es due to the presence of the genes involved in male s*x determination

3. The te**es may be located in the sc***um (as should be), but in some cases might be undescended.

4. Babies often have normal external male genitalia at birth; a p***s, sc***um, and te**es and look no different from a biologically male baby. A minority have ambiguous genitalia.

5. Despite being chromosomally female (XX), these babies do not have female internal reproductive structures e.g. ovaries, uterus, or fallopian tubes because the male development process suppresses female reproductive organ formation.

6. During puberty, these children generally develop typical male secondary characteristics: facial and body hair, voice deepening, increased muscle mass etc.
- These developments occur because the te**es produce testosterone which is responsible for driving male puberty.

7. Small or undeveloped te**es and infertility.

The lack of the Y chromosome (which is crucial for normal s***m production) makes their te**es incapable of producing s***m and if any, may not produce enough functioning s***m leading to infertility.

8. Some may develop enlargement of breast tissue during adolescence (gynecomastia) due to imbalances between testosterone and estrogen levels, or reduced testosterone production by the te**es. Testosterone hormonal therapy may be recommended by a doctor.

• Most 46 XX male children are raised as boys and identify as male due to their often normal male physical characteristics.

• Gender identity is usually consistent with male development.
- It is important to remember that development is on a spectrum and individual children’s developmental experiences are unique based on each child’s hormonal proportions, physical characteristics etc.

11. 46 XX male children may have normal or slightly reduced levels of testosterone compared to typical boys. Reduced testosterone production can lead to slightly less masculinization in puberty. A doctor is usually able to assess and determine if testosterone therapy is necessary at onset of puberty

Treatment:

Treatment focuses on addressing any health or developmental concerns such as:

• Testosterone supplementation if natural testosterone levels are low, especially during puberty.

• Surgery may be required in cases of undescended te**es to bring them into the sc***um. Undescended te**es pose a higher risk for cancer. Surgery may be recommended to reduce cancer risk and for cosmetic reasons.

• Psychological support to help each child adjust to any changes and lead a normal, healthy life.

• Fertility counseling for adult 46 XX men wishing to have children, though fertility treatment options may sometimes be limited due to the absence of s***m production. Other options can be explored.

I hope this adds to the awareness and knowledge on inters*x children!

Stay tuned for more.

Happy Informed Parenting!

03/10/2024

INTERSEX CHILDREN CONVERSATION 02: TURNER SYNDROME (XO)

Inters*x is a biological gender during development in the womb.
There are three biological genders at birth. A baby could be born a boy, girl or inters*x.
Between 300,000 - 700,000 inters*x persons reside in Kenya.

During in-utero development, a baby gets 23 chromosomes from each parent making a total of 46 chromosomes. One of these chromosomal pair is the s*x chromosome; which if XY makes a boy and if XX makes a girl.
Sometimes during this developmental process, partial or complete deletion of one of the X s*x chromosome in a female baby may occur; hence XO known as Turner Syndrome.

Turner Syndrome shows up differently in different females.

Some of the common symptoms include (but not exclusive or limited to Turner):
- short stature
- broad chest and shoulders
- short and stubby hands and feet
- low hairline, low-set ears
- congenital heart anomalies
- infertility
- some learning difficulties

Mosaic Turner Syndrome can also occur whereby a baby has a mix; with some of the cells having two s*x chromosomes (XX) and others having only one (XO) - hence the term mosaic. Mosaic may show less visible symptoms than non-mosaic.

1 in every 2500 live baby girls is born with Turner. We need to share information and bring awareness.

As with Klinefelter, support for Turner is also multifaceted and is dependent on individual needs. This may include medical tests and assessments by an endocrinologist, heart surgery if born with a congenital heart disease, introduction of growth hormones and mental health support.

📢📢📢
📌Being XO is not a death sentence.
They are many XO girls, teens and adult women successfully going about daily life as seen in videos linked below.
📌Women with Turner syndrome are genotypically and phenotypically female I.e 100% female both genetically and physiologically.
📌Growth hormone may be prescribed by a doctor to help girls with Turner grow to their individual optimum (an endocrinologist is the doctor to see). Where possible, early intervention is recommended to aid in growth.
📌Most children if offered learning and social support are able to go through learning and life fairly normally.

As always, this is one more reason to desist from body stereotyping and body shaming. People look different for different reasons. Different is still normal. Different is perfect.

Amy's journey:
https://youtu.be/YdQFE4F7skg?feature=shared

What parental support looks like:
https://youtu.be/6liRnsO-05Q?feature=shared

Happy children:
https://youtu.be/VoJFs7ExYT4?feature=shared

Happy Thursday!

Links:https://www.turnersyndrome.org/learning-and-behaviorWe are 5 sisters and we love to make music together! Full story below!BUY OUR PIANO COURSE - https:...