Donna Holloran, MSW

I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the oldest of six children—an experience that gave me an early education in family dynamics, relationships, and the wonderfully complicated world of children.

My greatest influence, however, was my younger sister, who was born with Down syndrome when I was 13 and passed away four years later. Her short life had a profound impact on me and continues to shape the way I understand families. She remains, in many ways, the angel on my shoulder—a reminder of the vulnerability, hope, anxiety, and extraordinary love parents carry for their children.

That experience helped inspire the path I ultimately chose. I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Child Development from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and moved to Los Angeles in 1984. Before graduate school, I gained invaluable hands-on experience caring for infants and young children, including working as a nanny to twins and as a newborn care provider.

I later attended UCLA, earning my Master of Social Work in 1994. I am also a Certified Infant Mental Health Specialist.

My education gave me a strong foundation in child development and family relationships, but much of what I know has come from decades of working directly with parents and their children. I remain humbled by the trust families place in me and endlessly fascinated by the ways young children grow, communicate, test boundaries, and develop into themselves.

My work is rooted in helping parents better understand what is happening beneath their child’s behavior—and in helping them feel more confident and connected along the way. Parenting can be challenging even on the very best days. Sometimes we simply have to move through the phases so we can more fully appreciate the moments.

Parents often tell me how much they have learned from me. The truth is that I have learned just as much from them—and from the thousands of little ones who have been part of my journey.

After all these years, I remain as passionate about this work as ever, and I look forward to all that is still to come.