
I'll teach you life skills that will change everything!

Meet your emotional regulation coach, Terri Kern, Clinical Counselor
Develop the mental strength you need to handle life's challenges. Consider this your personal 'gym' for the brain. Join me in cultivating a stronger mindset and unlock your full emotional potential!

What To Do Advice: Expert Guidance for Relationships & Every Part of Your Life
Evidence-based insights for adults who want truth, not spin — about emotions, relationships, and the world we live in.
We live in a time when confusion is profitable and calm is rare. WHAT TO DO exists to cut through noise and help adults think clearly, regulate emotions, and act from strength — not panic. These writings aren’t opinion pieces; they’re grounded in psychology, ethics, and lived human experience. Each article is written to help you steady yourself, understand what’s happening around you, and decide what to do next with clarity and integrity.
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Adults with ADHD
Discover valuable insights and practical tips for Adults with ADHD. Improve daily life with expert advice.
Anxiety and Depression
Discover expert Anxiety and Depression Advice from a professional therapist.
CoParenting
Navigate co-parenting with expert advice on communication, conflict resolution, and raising happy, healthy children together.
Life Changes and Identity
Navigate life changes with confidence. Get expert advice on identity, personal growth, and adapting to transitions.
Politics and Mental Health
Explore the impact of politics on mental health. Learn how political stress, media exposure, and societal changes affect well-being.
Relationships
Explore “What To Do,” a relationship advice hub for every stage of love.
From preparing for a healthy relationship and keeping intimacy alive to resolving conflict, rebuilding trust, and deciding what’s next.
Self Confidence
Boost your self-confidence with expert advice tailored for women. Learn empowering strategies to build self-esteem.
Work Stress
Struggling with work stress? Discover expert advice on managing workplace pressure, reducing burnout, and improving work-life balance.
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About Me - ADHD & Real Life
I’ll be honest with you—I’m a (lotta) bit of a hot mess. Why?
Because I'm a white cisgender GenX/Boomer suburban Ohio mother. Yes, I fit the profile of a Karen. And, while I can certainly be an asshole, those occasions are very rare because I. know that most people are doing the best they can.
Living with ADHD (since 1964) means my brain is constantly running a mile a minute, I misplace things daily, and sometimes my thoughts jump faster than I can keep up with.
My mother kept my grade cards from the 70s and they all say, "Terri has trouble staying focused." And, "Terri spends her time helping others then doesn't get her own work done." And, "Terri talks too much." I know you can relate. Some of my siblings have similar comments.
But here’s the upside: ADHD has also made me creative, adaptable, and deeply empathetic. I know what it’s like to wrestle with focus, emotion, and self-doubt because I live it, too.
That’s why I don’t just talk at you from some perfect pedestal—I meet you right where you are, messy and real, and we figure it out together.
That's not hyperbole or bullshit. I get it.
I've learned skills that help me keep the focus on me and what I'm doing, how I'm feeling, what I want and need, and asking for what I want and need. My family has responded positively to these new skills. I am now able to listen, own my behavior, and support people in a way that's meaningful to them and doesn't suck the life out of me.
I mean this from the bottom of my heart - if I can do this stuff you can too.
Where my expertise comes from:
I've spent nearly
10K hours
face to face with couples over the last 10 years.
That’s the equivalent of spending five years meeting with couples on a full-time schedule.
I've treated over
900 individuals
for challenges with focus, anxiety, depression, and communication.
It's about four full years at 40 hours a week sitting with individuals helping navigate life's shit.
I've been in practice for
10 years
and my clients are all over Ohio. During COVID I served NY, MO, CA, and GA
Up until recently I've not done a lot of marketing. Word of mouth has kept me busy - I hope to be busier!
I spent
25 years
in Human Resource Management
I worked for Hudson's/Marshall Fields, The Weather Channel, weather.com, Zurich and served on global HR teams.
Go Deeper With More Resources and Tools
My Favorite Online Tools
Some Of My Favorite Books
Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped From the Beginning is a powerful history that helped me understand how systemic racism was built into the foundations of American society and how it continues to limit people of color from fully reaching their potential, even today. Every white person should read this book—it’s eye-opening, challenging, and essential for anyone committed to creating a more just and equitable world.
Peggy Kleinplatz and A. Ménard’s Magnificent Sex is a groundbreaking book that explores what truly makes sexual experiences extraordinary. Based on in-depth research, it reveals that great sex isn’t about performance or technique, but about presence, vulnerability, connection, and authenticity. I recommend this book because it shifts the focus from “doing it right” to creating intimacy that is profound, healing, and transformative.
Emily Nagoski’s Come As You Are is one of the most important books on women’s sexuality, intimacy, and self-understanding. Grounded in science yet easy to read, it explains how context, stress, and emotional connection shape desire—while debunking myths that leave many women feeling broken. I recommend this book because it empowers readers to embrace their bodies, understand their sexual response, and build healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century is a short but powerful handbook for recognizing and resisting authoritarianism. Drawing lessons from history, Snyder offers practical steps anyone can take to protect democracy, defend truth, and live with integrity in uncertain times. I recommend this book because it’s clear, accessible, and deeply relevant—helping us find both courage and responsibility in the face of today’s political challenges.














