Helping adults better understand kids so kids and their caregivers thrive.

We believe behavior is communication.

We stand against the lie that some kids are simply bad.

We are here to give adults the tools, language, and clarity to respond to what kids are really saying.

Hey — I'm Stu.

(Or Mister Stu, if you've spent time around kids who've decided that's my name now. They usually win that one.)

I'm a children's therapist, keynote speaker, and author, but the short version is this: I've spent my whole career working with kids in the hard moments. Psychiatric units. Public schools. Summer camps. Therapy offices. Conference stages. I've watched a lot of kids get labeled "bad" by adults who were just out of ideas — and I've watched what happens when those same adults get the right tools.

So that's what I do now. I help adults — teachers, parents, leaders, anyone who's around kids — actually understand what behavior is trying to tell them. Then I give them practical ways to respond, the kind of stuff you can use on Monday morning, not just nod along to during a keynote.

I've gotten to do this work with Netflix, the YMCA, Head Start, United Way, Georgetown College, Indiana University, and a lot of other folks who care about kids. I've got a few books out, with another one on the way.

The whole thing rests on one idea: “bad kids don't exist”. Misunderstood ones do. And the adults around them deserve better tools than what we usually hand out.

Here's what I believe about this work.

AUTHENTICITY

Same Stu, every audience.
Whether I'm in front of a school board, a camp staff, or a corporate room — you get the same guy.
I figured out a long time ago I'm a terrible actor.

CONNECTION

I read every email that comes in.
I respond to every booking inquiry myself.
No booking agent in the middle.
No auto-reply pretending to be me.
If you reach out, you're talking to me.

SERVICE

I want this work to be useful, not just inspiring. That's why most of what I make is FREE — the lesson plans, the fridge sheets, the videos, the activities. You can use it whether you ever book me or not.

JOY

Heavy topics, handled with humor.
I refuse to believe that being credible‍ ‍downer about it. The kids deserve adults who can hold the hard stuff AND still laugh about Costco pizza.

“He has a great sense of humor and the ability to break down complex topics — such as brain science — into practical, easy-to-understand concepts that caregivers can use to help understand and regulate children's behavior. I have never met anyone more passionate about children's mental health advocacy.”
Cindy Raymond
Program Director
Scotty County, VA Head Start

The actual human, off stage.

I live in Louisville, KY with my dog Stark — who, as I'm writing this, is likely waiting for his daily walk or dramatically begging me for a snack.

Other things, in no particular order: I am a former competitive wrestler. I taught myself piano. I'm a board game nerd. I find sand tray therapy fascinating (and yes, that's a real thing — and yes, it goes with everything else I do more than you'd think). I'm convinced the best ideas come from play, which is probably why I do what I do.

Featured & trusted by

Netflix
YMCA
Catholic Charities
United Way
Georgetown College
Head Start
JCPS
Indiana University
Clarity
Seven Counties Services
Oklahoma Mental Health & Substance Abuse