I’m Rachel Donnelly, a U.S.-based psychologist, writer, and mom of three. For more than two decades I’ve worked with families in clinics, schools, and living rooms—helping parents lead with connection, set kind limits, and build homes that feel human on ordinary weekdays. I’ve coached new parents through sleep-deprived seasons, supported co-parents across two homes, and guided teens and their adults through the crosswinds of screens, school stress, and big feelings.

“Connect with Your Child: The Foundation of Love, Trust and Happiness” gathers the best of that work—age-by-age guidance, screen sanity, sibling peace, safety and consent, and a 90-day plan to turn ideas into habits. I write the way I practice: warm and firm at once, with lots of repair and zero theatrics.

I live in Cary, North Carolina with my family, an elderly dog who thinks he’s a therapist, and more library holds than I can possibly read. When I’m not meeting with parents or writing, you’ll find me walking at dusk, baking on Sundays, or losing at board games to people I love.

What I’ve learned is simple and stubborn: connection comes first. When kids feel seen and safe, they cooperate more, recover faster, and tell us the truth sooner. My approach blends evidence-based tools with real-life rhythms—short scripts, tiny routines, and one-page plans you can use between soccer practice and dinner. No shame. No perfectionism. Just practical steps that respect both the child and the adult in the room.

(Educational content only; not a substitute for personalized medical or psychological care)