Evonne is a professional speaker, a family consultant, and an award-winning parenting author. She has had numerous guest spots on The Today Show, Good Morning America and the Oprah Winfrey show, plus being featured in Family Circle, McCall's, Woman's Day, Working Mother, Selling Power and showcased as a teacher in the movie- Breakthrough: A Conscious Documentary. Her books Stop Struggling with Your Teen and Stop Struggling With Your Child have together sold more than a quarter of a million copies worldwide plus Stop Struggling With Your Child won Child's Magazine award for Excellence in Family Issues.

My Story

There have been several pivotal moments in my career...

Many years ago I met with a Dad and his high school senior son in a joint session. It wasn’t going well at all. I saw them each try to have a one-upmanship — they were in the throes of what I would call then a power struggle. The dad became so irate that he got up to leave the session.

At the moment, the teen said the words that are etched in my heart. "If you ever gave a sh*t about me, you will sit down and listen."

His dad turned around, saw his son's face and sat back down.

"Dad, sometimes I don't even want to live anymore. Nothing makes any sense to me.

Last week when you were gone, I went searching for your guns."

The dad’s face was one of anguish and fear. His anger was gone. He moved his chair closer to his son and at that moment, the road of recovery had begun.

And for me, that was the moment my life changed. I wanted to help both parents and teens never to feel so hopeless, so desperate. How? By educating parents to develop a way both parents and teens feel empowered. Not just one or the other, but both. Empowered Parenting, Empowered Teen.

Then came the year 2000 and I heard the words, "You have a brain tumor." Instantly, my life changed. With that said— I am forever blessed-I made a full recovery and, at the same time, I was forever changed. Before brain surgery, fear eluded me. After brain surgery, fear gripped me. Unbeknownst to me, the golf ball and a half size tumor had blocked me from experiencing feelings. Now, I am learning to let my feelings/emotions guide me along with what my thoughts are. It has been as if a whole new world has opened up for me.

The next pivotal moment happened when I was working with a mom and I wanted to show her a copy of my book Stop Struggling With Your Teen. I couldn’t— it was out of print. And, it really didn't matter. My book was of the "old world". It didn't deal with this new digital age we are living in. That was the moment, my emotions kicked in…I made a promise to myself to update Stop Struggling With Your Teen, to combine the time-tested and proven parenting principles of the "old world" with the new current problems we are all facing, be it being a teenager, a parent, or a grandparent.

I realized my mission of Empowered, Parent, Empowered Teen was more important than ever in this day and age.