Welcome to Rise & Thrive: Where Families Grow Stronger, Together.

Rise & Thrive is your go-to hub for family coaching and advocacy support, rooted in real-life strategies and holistic care. Whether you’re managing meltdowns, school meetings, sensory needs, or just trying to build a peaceful home—you’re not alone anymore.

Are you tired of waking up every day in survival mode?
Running on empty while trying to meet everyone else’s needs?
I don’t want you to rise and grind.

I want you to Rise & Thrive.

Are They a Tattle Tale or Do They Actually Have OCD (Morality Type)? What You NEED to Know.

When we think of children who report minor concerns or issues at school, the instinctive label often tossed around is "tattletale." But...

Samara Toussaint

May 84 min read

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Are They a Tattle Tale or Do They Actually Have OCD (Morality Type)? What You NEED to Know.

When we think of children who report minor concerns or issues at school, the instinctive label often tossed around is "tattletale." But...

May 84 min read

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Why I Refuse to Diagnosis ODD

It's Not Helpful for Anyone Involved... Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is often viewed as a controversial diagnosis. Here are some...

Apr 92 min read

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Witnessing Medical Bias Forever Changed Me and Helped Me Build My Practice as a School Psych

Story time! A few years ago, I had worked with this family for a very long time and they finally trusted me enough to see a psychiatrist...

Apr 24 min read

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Saying Yes to Everything: My Struggle with Setting Boundaries at Work and How I Finally Overcame It

Setting boundaries at work can be a challenge, especially when you want to be accepted by your peers. I spent years feeling trapped in a...

Mar 284 min read

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Unleashing Your Potential: Embracing Change with Excitement and Confidence

Change is a constant in life that can spark both fear and excitement. Whether it's a shift in your career, a move to a new city, or a new...

Mar 284 min read

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ABOUT me

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School psychologist. Therapist. Family Coach.

Neurodivergent Individual & Advocate. Mom.

I started Rise & Thrive because I saw too many families drowning in the systems meant to support them. We all deserve a space that offers real tools, compassionate support, and culturally aware coaching.

I’ve worked with hundreds of families who were overwhelmed, dismissed by systems, or simply unsure where to turn. My goal is to offer what I wish more families had: a sense of relief that they aren't alone.

Let’s stop surviving. Let’s start thriving.

DON'T MISS A POST

It’s Wellness Wednesday and here’s your reminder: Not all panic attacks are loud. Some kids and teens sit quietly in class, struggling to breathe, zoning out, or asking to leave the room over and over—and we miss it.

Let’s break the cycle of silent suffering. Educators can’t support what they don’t recognize.

#WellnessWednesday #MentalHealthMatters #SchoolPsychSupport #EducatorWellness #SilentPanicAttacks #StudentMentalHealth #teachertraining

🌿Mental Health Monday Reminder:

Just because it looks calm on the outside doesn’t mean it feels calm on the inside. If you’ve ever powered through a panic attack at work without anyone knowing—you’re not alone.

This week, let’s normalize pausing, resetting, and taking care of YOU—even during the busiest days. Your well-being isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.

#MentalHealthMonday #EducatorsDeserveCare #SchoolPsychLife #SchoolPsychologist #MentalHealth #Anxiety #AnxietyRelief #Educator #TeacherLife #SchoolCounselor #SchoolSocialWorker #PanicAttacks

This Cassie case is triggering on every level. It’s not just a headline—it’s a trauma narrative playing out publicly, raw and exposed for everyone to see and judge. And the worst part? The filth in these comments shows just how far we still have to go in understanding abuse and standing with survivors - especially since teen girls and boys are reading what people are saying!

To every survivor watching this unfold, feeling their own pain resurface—you deserved better then, and you deserve better now. Your story is valid. Your healing matters. And you owe no one an explanation for how you survived.

My heart is with you. Stay grounded. Log off if you need to. And remember: what happened to you was never your fault.

#SurvivorStrong #TraumaAwareness #EndAbuse #ProtectOurGirls #teenmentalhealth #teendatingviolence #domesticviolence #protectyourenergy

🧠A common misconception about OCD is that it's about being “neat and organized." There are even more misconceptions when it comes to kids and teens.

In the classroom, it can show up in ways that often go unnoticed. From perfectionism to moral obsessions, students may be silently struggling. Let’s break the myths and recognize the signs!

Swipe through to learn the 7 types of OCD educators need to be aware of—because early understanding leads to better support.

#MentalHealthAwareness #OCD #Childmentalhealth #teenmentalhealth #EducatorTips #neurodiversity #RiseAndThrive

✨Is it tattling… or something more?

😬Some students constantly report every rule broken, but what if it’s driven by anxiety and a need for certainty? Morality-based OCD often flies under the radar in schools, mistaken for attention-seeking or “tattling.”

🧠This Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s shine a light on the hidden ways OCD shows up in our students.

✨ Want to learn how to better support them?
Visit my latest blog for practical strategies and signs to look for!

#MentalHealthAwareness #OCD #MentalHealth #NeurodivergentStudents #Path2Growth #Educator #SchoolPsychologist #childocd #childanxiety

Let’s be real—school psych and educator moms are superheroes juggling all the things. This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate them the way they deserve!

Here are 10 things every school psych mom REALLY wants but won’t ask for (yes, we’re making it easy for you!).

Share this with friends, family, and partners—because subtle hints just aren’t cutting it this year!

Also, if Mother's Day Weekend is difficult, swipe for a tip to help you get through it!

Have an amazing weekend super moms! ❣️

#SchoolPsychMom #MothersDay #celebratemoms #educatormoms #teachermoms

Sometimes the validation you need has to come from within. Instead of waiting for appreciation, find ways to recognizing your hard work and growth, even if others don't always see it. You deserve to celebrate you! ✨

#SelfLoveJourney #Motivation #GiveYourselfFlowers #OwnYourSuccess #KeepGrowing #TeacherAppreciation #selfcare #Gratitude

To the educators who carry so much more than lesson plans, IEPs, forms, reports, documentation —you carry hope, healing, and heart. These affirmations are for you.

Save them. Say them. Believe them.

#TeacherAppreciation #SchoolPsychsMatter #YouAreValued #MentalHealthInSchools #AffirmYourWorth #schoolpsychology #schoolpsychologist #schoolpsychlife #educationalpsychology #selfcare #burnout #affirmations #schoolcounselor #schoolsocialwork #schoolguidancecounselor #mentalhealth #wellbeing #teacher #educator #education #schoollife #teacherlife

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Rise & Thrive is your go-to hub for family coaching and advocacy support, rooted in real-life strategies and holistic care. Whether you’re managing meltdowns, school meetings, sensory needs, or just trying to build a peaceful home—you’re not alone anymore.

We focus on:

✅ Conscious parenting without shame
✅ Executive functioning tools for the whole family
✅ Advocacy support that helps you get heard
✅ Breaking cycles, not breaking down

We don’t chase perfection here.

We prioritize growth—together.

Contact

Welcome to Rise & Thrive: Where Families Grow Stronger, Together.

Are They a Tattle Tale or Do They Actually Have OCD (Morality Type)? What You NEED to Know.

LATEST BLOG POST

Stay Updated

INSPIRATION

Are They a Tattle Tale or Do They Actually Have OCD (Morality Type)? What You NEED to Know.

Why I Refuse to Diagnosis ODD

Witnessing Medical Bias Forever Changed Me and Helped Me Build My Practice as a School Psych

Saying Yes to Everything: My Struggle with Setting Boundaries at Work and How I Finally Overcame It

Unleashing Your Potential: Embracing Change with Excitement and Confidence

ABOUT me

DON'T MISS A POST

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Sign up for my monthly newsletter!

SUPPORT

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