About Dr. Amy

Dr. Amy Fortney Parks describes herself as a life-long educator, a passionate psychologist, and often stressed-out, but mostlyhappy, mom of four!  She is the Executive Director of WISE Mind Solutions, LLC, a Northern Virginia-based group psychotherapy practice focused on children, teens, and families.  She is also the owner of The Wise Family – a comprehensive brand for kids and parents designed to inspire, educate and energize families!

Dr. Amy Fortney Parks brings with her over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families as both an educator and psychologist. She is a passionate “BRAIN – trainer” and strives to help everyone she works with understand how their own unique brain works!

Dr. Amy holds a Doctorate in Educational Psychology and specializes in individual counseling for kids, tweens, and teens, parent coaching, and educational consulting. She also provides consulting services to families, parent groups, local independent schools, and public systems.

Dr. Amy has served as a speaker for conference groups including the Virginia Counseling Association, the Virginia Psychological Association, MARFY, She Rocks the World, The Center for Adoption Services and Education, and many, many more.  More information and how to chat directly with her about your family are on her website, www.thewisefamily.com or connect SOCIALLY @wisefamilies!

Amy has over 30 years of experience through her work in Northern Virginia schools, adoption agencies throughout the US, and private practice with countless families.  Her most valuable experience, however, is the day-to-day parenting of her own four children, three dogs, and husband.

Speaking

Amy also speaks throughout the Metropolitan DC area AND across the country, on child, education and parenting-related topics and is available to speak to parents and teachers!  Amy is known for her humor, real-world wisdom and brain-based approach in her workshops!

The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Function Skills in and Out of the Classroom

Teaching young minds to think—clearly and efficiently—is a universal goal of parents and teachers alike. Thinking skills such as planning, goal setting, organizing, prioritizing, self-monitoring, accessing working memory, inhibitory (impulse) control and sustaining focused attention are critical to success at every age.

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Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind

Ever think the adolescent mind was impossible to understand? Recent discoveries in neuroscience offer exciting insights into how the brains of our teens really work and the special “brain-based” challenges facing adolescents as they mature.

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Jack’s Brain, Jill’s Brain: Gender Differences and Why They Matter

Did you ever know deep down that your girls and your boys learned differently? Are you frustrated with traditional limitations and constraints and yearn to teach each gender in the most effective way possible?

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Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What You Can Say Differently Today To Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youths

Neuroscience discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of how the brains of our children learn and grow. In particular, brain research reveals how the specific language used by adults who teach, mentor, counsel and parent youth has a much more profound effect on their development than previously realized.

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My Awesome Brain (For Middle School and High School Students)

This 12-session series introduces students to the structure, function and development of their own developing brains. Students learn to love and take care of their brains through a series of interactive, multi-media lessons.

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Conquering Boredom, Apathy and Indifference in the Classroom: Strategies to Engage, Excite and Motivate Your Students

Do you have students who appear to have no interest in their own education? Do they appear dull and lifeless in class? Are teachers frustrated with how to reach these students and break through the apathy? Today’s student brains are different than in past generations. Raised on technology, socially connected via multi-media, and with an entertainment orientation toward learning, these brains are easily bored by traditional lecture-based learning. They present in the classroom as unmotivated, apathetic and indifferent to their educational career.

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Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty

Poverty has a synergistic and pervasive negative impact on children’s brains. Given the many developmental windows occurring in childhood, poverty often wreaks havoc on the brain’s ability to grow and function optimally.

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Many of these workshop titles and their content have been created by The Upside Down Organization.  UDO is the external training arm of The Children’s Guild of Maryland and offers a unique blending of insights from educational neuroscience with practical tools for constructing organizational culture!  This creates powerful learning experiences for the adults and institutions to serve our children and youth.


Recent Testimonials

  • “One of the least boring brain education seminars  I have ever attended.  In her presentation, Amy helps participants by connecting and helping us to remember the different parts of the brain with action and building a neuropathway. Her energy matched her presentation.” ~Seminar attendee 

 

  • “Amy is simply amazing in her ability to weave the functions of the brain together in a way that anyone can apply it and teach it to clients. And- she makes it fun.  I can’t recommend both her knowledge and her skills enough.” ~Workshop attendee