Melissa Benaroya MSW, LICSW, Certified Gottman Educator  is a licensed clinical social worker with an emphasis in working with children and families.  She is the co-founder of Grow Parenting and the co-founder of the award winning Mommy Matters workshop series for mothers of toddlers and preschoolers. Her book The Childproof Parent was released in December 2011.  Additionally, Melissa offers private family coaching,  consulting services to organizations interested in reaching out to the young mother demographic, parent education to the families at the Madison Park Cooperative Preschool, and training programs for the PEPS organization. 

Committed to supporting her own community, Melissa  founded  The Green Lake Moms, a 3400+ member community group dedicated to sharing resources, offering support, and making connections for local area moms.  Green Lake Moms has been recognized as a top parenting resource locally by Parent Map Magazine & Red Tricycle readers and nationally as the #4 Parenting Listeserve on the west coast by Babble.com. 

Melissa has a Masters degree and is a Liscensed Clinical  Social Worker, is a Credentialed School Counselor and is trained in Positive Discipline.   She is also a Certified Gottman Educator offering the Bringing Baby Home Program for families with young children and workshops on Emotion Coaching.   Melissa practices as a parenting consultant to groups and individuals by blending her clinical training with her knowledge of child development and discipline. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children and keeps her sanity with an active lifestyle of running and Crossfit!