Being introduced to Hand in Hand Parenting when her oldest daughter was nearly three years old was a transformative experience for Susan Derby, MSW, deepening connections within her family, making her more confident about setting respectful limits, and opening her up to the importance of securing emotional support for herself as a mom. A certified instructor of the Hand in Hand approach since 2013, Susan shares connection-building and listening tools with parents through support groups, talks, workshops, and one-on-one consultations. In addition to supporting parents, Susan is a social worker, currently working with a mostly older adult population in hospice care. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Boston University and a B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Born in Japan, raised in Southern California, and a former inhabitant of various other spots around the world, Susan presently lives in Ventura, California, with her husband, and their two daughters (ages 6 and 13).
