About

We provide the tools to help you raise the bar for your family and community.

Our mission is to educate parents, teachers, and caregivers in principles based on Adlerian Psychology that encourage young people to lead and contribute to society. Family leaders are given practical, proven tools to address challenges – whether reducing the small daily struggles like getting out the door in the morning or taking responsibility for homework and completing family chores or to shift the family climate of power struggles or sibling rivalry.

Family Leadership Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for parents, caregivers, teachers, and community leaders who want to bring out the best in children and teens. Through our programs, adults understand more about human behavior, why children misbehave, and how to best help them grow and live in positive, contributing ways.

We offer a proven, practical approach to raising a family through classes, workshops, coaching and community talks. 

Learn best practices for helping your child develop a strong self and a caring outlook on the world through: 

  • family meetings
  • chores
  • encouragement

Find support for common parenting struggles:

  • truly powerful responses to misbehavior
  • strategies for eliminating sibling rivalry
  • support for dealing with anxious children
  • and more

Learn approaches that will bring even more joy and connection to your family. 

Our work is founded on the principles of authoritative parenting and the work of Alfred Adler, Rudolf Dreikurs and the many wonderful Adlerian parenting and community workers around the world – especially the Parent Encouragement Program in Washington, DC.

For more information about Alfred Adler, visit the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP).

Location

162 Main Street
Yarmouth, ME 04096

phone: (207) 847-3031

Our coaching, courses and workshops are all available online.

FLC Staff

Louise LeBlanc, Bookkeeper
Marjie Longshore, Executive Director
Lara Ratkovic, Communications
Wendy Tracy, Chief of Staff

Board of Directors

Andrew Hooper (Swarthmore, PA)
Marjie Longshore (Yarmouth, ME)
Darrin Moore (Louisville, CO)
Marike Pienaar (Apex, NC)
Robert Saxner (Newton, MA)
Lucinda Stamboulian (Blue Bell, PA)
Laura Towle (Denver, CO)

Marjie Longshore, Founder & Executive Director

Marjie read her first parenting book when she was nine and her interest in child and adult development continues to grow. With a masters in education from Harvard,  Marjie has worked in the field of education for her whole career as a teacher in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school, curriculum developer, educational consultant and, her favorite jobs: mom and parent educator. Her work in schools continually brings her back to how important it is to give support and encouragement to families.

As founder of the local non-profit, Family Leadership Center, and trained in Adlerian parent education at the non-profit, Parent Encouragement Program based in Washington DC, Marjie leads workshops and courses internationally with parents, teachers and community members. She is a member of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology and also holds certifications from Northeast Foundation for Children — Responsive Schools, Encouragement Consulting with Lynn Lott, Global Learning Partners, and Nonviolent Communication.

Advisors

Family Leadership Center Advisors & Mentors

Betty Lou Bettner, Ph.D., LPC

Dr. Bettner has been in private practice for over 30 years working with individuals, couples, teenagers, children, social workers, educators, counselors and therapists. She has given talks, courses, and workshops for thousands of professionals, parent groups, educational in-service training, couples, and the workplace, She trains graduate students to facilitate parent education groups in schools and communities, as well as advanced training in Adlerian psychology. To learn more about Dr. Bettner, check out her website. To learn more about the many books she has authored, check out her Raising Kids Who Can book series. The Family Leadership Center is proud and grateful to have the guidance and support of Dr. Bettner.

Patti Cancellier, Parent Educator

Patti Cancellier is a leader at the Parent Encouragement Program in Washington DC as well as a mentor and friend. She is a constant source of inspiration and humor. A lifelong scholar, Patti lives Adlerian ideas as she continuously grows in them. She is currently sharing terrific parenting webinars available through the PEP website.

Linda Jessup, Author and Educator

Linda Jessup founded the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP), an independent non-profit family education center located in Kensington, Maryland, in 1982. During her more than thirty years’ experience as a parent educator, radio talk show host, author and mother of seven children–biological, foster and adoptive–she developed the curriculum that forms the core of her wonderful 2014 book, Parenting with Courage and Uncommon Sense, co-authored with Emory Luce Baldwin. Family Leadership Center is grateful to have the support and friendship of Linda Jessup.

Karen John, Ph.D.

Dr. Karen John is a developmental psychologist who works in the United Kingdom as a trainer, researcher, consultant, and Adlerian psychotherapist and supervisor of therapeutic and work-based practice. Over the past 25 years she has designed and facilitated mental health, group dynamics, supervision and leadership programs, and supported agencies, leaders and staff involved in integrating educational, social care, health and community services for children and families. Having begun her career and worked for 22 years as a researcher in academic psychology and psychiatry, she has published scores of scholarly articles, chapters and practice guidance booklets. Her abiding aim is to help individuals, families, organizations, and professionals to recognize and overcome internal and external obstacles that interfere with their healthy functioning.  Family Leadership Center appreciates Karen’s wisdom, support and guidance.

Amy Lew, Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT

Amy Lew has a private practice in couple, individual, and family counseling in Massachusetts. She was on the faculty of the Family Institute of Cambridge, MA. Amy served as the vice president of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. Amy began her career as an early childhood educator. She is the co-author, along with Betty Lou Bettner, of The 4 Crucial Cs, which were first authored in the book, Raising Kids Who Can. 

Ted Wohlfarth, Ph.D. and Founder of EnTeam Organization

Ted founded and is the executive director of EnTeam organization. EnTeam is an educational organization that offers a toolbox of collaborative learning strategies that help people win together.  By providing stimulating and educationally sound activities in the classroom, EnTeam programs:

  • Increase the fun in reading, math, and other subjects by providing stimulating and educationally sound activities in the classroom.
  • Improve student behavior by meeting their need for social interaction with their peers by engaging them in collaborative learning activities.
  • Give teachers more ways to differentiate instruction and reach diverse learning styles — especially teaching methods.
  • Engage parents and families in working together with school staff to support academic achievement. Students, teachers, and families improve their skills in working together through EnTeam activities.

The vision of EnTeam is that people can create a more peaceful and productive world by learning to win together.

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