Meet Kara Friedman
Making the Middle™ founder
A therapist, former middle school counselor, and anxiety specialist helping parents make the most of the tween and teen years.
Hi, I'm Kara. I'm so glad you landed here.
I created Making the Middle™ because I kept seeing the same thing over and over. In my therapy practice, in middle school hallways, and in conversations with really great, thoughtful parents, I kept meeting families who just wanted more support during these years.
With 25+ years as a private practice therapist, anxiety and OCD expert, and middle school counselor, I understand both sides: the inner world of kids, and the parents trying to support them.
Making the Middle is the toolbox I wish every parent had. So that's why I made it.
Let's turn the "worst years" into the best years!
~Kara
Why I do this work
I didn't come to this work as a parent. I came as the kid.
I had significant hearing issues early in life, which meant I missed important early language development. I was later diagnosed with a language processing disorder in fourth grade. At one point, a specialist told my parents I most likely wouldn't go to college.
Thankfully, they didn't accept that prediction.
With tutoring, dedication, and a whole lot of hard work and real effort, I not only learned the academic skills I needed. I learned something far more important. I learned that I was capable.
The adults who ran toward me instead of away from me changed the entire shape of my life. They taught me what it looks like for a kid to be truly seen during the years when their identity is being shaped in real time.
That's the reason Making the Middle exists. I've spent 25 years making sure the middle schoolers and clients I worked with had someone in their corner. Now I'm making sure parents know how to be that person for their own kid.
I speak regularly at schools, parent communities, and national conferences on topics including adolescent anxiety, the middle school developmental window, and the parent-tween relationship. To inquire about booking, please use reach out here.
Kind Words
What I bring to this work
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor with 25+ years of experience supporting kids, teens, and families. After 18 years as a middle school counselor and more than a decade in private practice specializing in anxiety and OCD, I understand both sides of these years: what kids are experiencing internally, and what parents are carrying at home.
I'm also the creator of Porch Parenting™, a way of stepping back with intention so your child builds independence while you stay close enough to guide. It's at the heart of Making the Middle, and parents tell me it's changed how they show up at home.
My Approach
My work is backed by evidence-based practices and my many years of experience working with middle school-aged children and their parents. I believes parents are the most important influence in their child’s world, and that confidence grows when you feel informed and supported.
After years of working with families, I noticed a consistent gap.
Parents were doing their best. But they felt unprepared for the leap from childhood to adolescence. They wanted clear guidance, not judgment. Real tools they could actually use, not theories that sounded good but fell apart in practice.
I believe this work isn't about fixing kids or waiting until something goes wrong. It's about helping parents raise capable, grounded kids by understanding what's really happening during the middle school years and learning how to respond with intention and care.
The best time to start this work is before you hit a hard moment. The second-best time is right now. Whether your kid is just stepping into middle school or you're already in the thick of it, you're in the right place.
Inside Making the Middle™, you’ll find:
clear explanations of what’s typical and when to pay closer attention
practical tools and frameworks you can use in everyday parenting moments
honest conversations about anxiety, social pressure, and emotional development
guidance that feels calm, reassuring, and realistic
Free Download
Start with a simple chat in the car.
Car rides can be a great opportunity for kids to open up, but many parents get stuck with one-word answers. You know: "How was school?" "Fine."
Kara's Glovebox Scripts give you simple, supportive language for prompting conversation about 10 of the most common situations that come up with middle schoolers in the car. You’ll know exactly what to say in the moment and can keep these scripts right in your glovebox for when you need them most.