Welcome to

The Connected Family

Creating families kids want to come home to

A collaboration between:

Kerry Stutzman

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Parentologist and Parent Coach for 25+ years

Palmer Skudneski

Youth Vision Coach and Northwestern University Masters in Family Therapy Graduate Candidate

— JOIN OUR FREE CLASS —

Create The Family That Inspires You

You don’t find a close, connected family; you create one.

This class will help you: 
  • Create a plan for family fun, warmth, and closeness this next year
  • Lead your family with values and beliefs that you feel good about
  • Invite your kids into the conversation 
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Your teens: You want them to thrive. And you’re trying to survive.

Welcome to The Connected Family. We’re a mother-son duo collaborating to help you navigate your kids’ tricky teen years and create a close, connected family where everyone feels loved, known, and honored. A family where your grown kids want to come home for the holidays. 

We’re so happy you’re here! 

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Palmer is a certified youth success coach. Kerry, a licensed marriage and family therapist.  They are true experts in parent-teen relationships.

Together they bring a unique perspective as a mother and son who walked through some exceptionally tough teen years and found their way back to a close connection and their meaningful work at The Connected Family.

Join us in a movement where both parents and teens are honored and seen as learners in the process of navigating the adolescent years

HERE'S HOW WE WORK WITH PARENTS

Presentations that Transform

Kerry and Palmer's journey from alienation to connection will captivate an audience. Learn more about their unique insights and the story that now feeds their passionate commitment to healthy relationships.

Therapy for Individuals and Families

Work individually with Kerry or a licensed therapist on her team to create more connection in your family.

Tween and Teen Coaching

Have your kiddo work individually with Palmer to navigate the road ahead. For ages 9-22.

HERE’S HOW WE WORK WITH SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS

Public Speaking and Workshops

Palmer and Kerry help families find connection, give parents the tools they need to show up well for their kids AND themselves, and provide mental health support to parents and teens

We would love to hear more about how we can help you
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Join our Sunday newsletter

Hear from Palmer and Kerry on Sunday mornings with stories from the heart, and thoughts about parenting teens, creating strong family relationships, and taking care of yourself in the process.

We’d love to have you join our community 😊

We don’t like spam any more than you!  We will never, ever share your email…and you can unsubscribe anytime if what we are sharing isn’t helpful.

A Seemingly Unfixable Relationship...

Kerry and Palmer had some years where things were about as bad as they could be. In an interview with CNN, Catherine Soichet dives into how a once seemingly unfixable relationship between this mother-son duo is now stronger than either of them ever imagined. While their relationship really turned around when Palmer was 16, COVID shed light on how close they could truly become.

There’s another side to those slamming doors and silent treatments

A sampling of reactions from people who attended a recent presentation where Kerry and Palmer shared stories from their journey through the teen years.

They have a unique way of sharing their story. You walk away with some very useful skills that you can incorporate today. Whatever you do, do yourself a favor and get connected to Kerry and Palmer.
Susu
Susu
The Connected Family is an organization that you definitely want by your side as you go through the teen years.
Francisca
Francisca
So thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for all the work you do. I'm already signed up on all of your websites and I can't wait to continue learning from you both. Just a blessing. Wow.
Coleen
Coleen
The biggest takeaway from me was the significance of journaling because hearing both Kerry and her son Palmer, reading from their journals, it's making me think as a mom, there's so many things I would like to remember and capture
Julie
Julie
What Kerry and Palmer they have been doing for kids, for parents, it's so amazing and it's so much in need right now.
Duan
DuanEducational Psychologist
Just hearing Kerry and Palmer's story, I'm so inspired, so encouraged about what is possible and just especially about having a connected family
Sarah
Sarah
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Closeness and Connection Are Possible

On a real note, your teen is struggling to figure out who they are in the world. And family conflict precedes suicide in roughly 40% of cases. We’re not saying this to scare you, but to be aware that your relationship with your teen isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s a way to help them feel secure, loved, and safe as they navigate these tough years.

Through skilled parenting focused on secure attachment and attunement – you can show up as the parent you want to be. This way, they’ll see you as a safe space to open up to. And you’ll navigate these complicated years together instead of at odds with one another. 

Meet Kerry and Palmer

We may look like a sweet mother-son duo now, but it wasn’t always pretty during Palmer’s teen years. You’ll hear more about that, but first here’s a bit about us. 

About Kerry

As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Parent Educator, Public Speaker, and Clinical Supervisor, I’ve dedicated my life to helping parents be the best version of themselves so that their children feel seen, cherished, and loved.

I have 3 boys, and am the stepmom of 2 boys and a girl. When it comes to raising kids, especially navigating the teen years, your mental health is important. And it’s easy for that to fall by the wayside if you’re giving, giving, giving, to a teen who won’t budge.
Let’s work together to help your teen feel closer to you. It’s time to create a loving relationship that brings the family together.
LMFT, MSW, AAMFT Fellow/Supervisor, EMDR certified

About Palmer

Hi there! I’m a 25-year-old Teen Success Coach who attends Northwestern University’s Graduate School of Marriage and Family Therapy. And I have to tell you a little secret.

I was ‘that kid.’ The one who broke rules for the fun of it and rebelled (hard!) against his parents. I have ADHD and a knack for creating mischief. Sometimes I marvel that I survived some of those crazy teen-year decisions that I made.

After a big interruption in life, I made it my life’s work to help teen boys navigate their path through adolescence with success and better decisions.

Please Join Our Newsletter

Hear from Palmer and Kerry on Sunday mornings with stories from the heart, and thoughts about parenting teens, creating strong family relationships, and taking care of yourself in the process.

We don’t like spam anymore than you! We will never, ever share your email…and you can unsubscribe anytime if what we are sharing isn’t helpful.