SALEM —   Marsha Finkelstein thinks people have the wrong impression of teenagers. “People think they are irresponsible, but my experience is that they are creative, energetic and want to do something important. They have lots of positive qualities that tend to get lost,” she says.

Desperate parents contact her for help in understanding their teens. “They usually want me to ‘fix’ their kids. When I first got into this field, I thought I was going to coach youths, but what I actually wind up doing is coaching the parents,” Finkelstein added.

Practical and down-to-earth, Finkelstein is part therapist/part Jewish mother. After years working to improve communication within families, the 42-year-old has come up with what she terms “The Six C’s of Effective Parenting.”

“The six C’s are caring, connection, communication, creativity, curiosity and compassion. But there is actually a seventh ‘C’ — consistency. It’s the cement that holds it all together,” Finkelstein said.

According to Finkelstein, the aforementioned “C’s” are the essential building blocks for creating a strong parent/teen relationship. “I liken it to a foundation of a house. If the basement leaks, it will cause problems throughout the house. With a strong foundation, the family can help the teen grow into a successful adult,” she said.

Finkelstein, who is unmarried with no children of her own, has worked for years with young adults in many capacities. She is currently under consideration for inclusion as a member of the Commonwealth’s new Parent and Community Involvement Advisory Council, a group formed by Governor Deval Patrick to help the Massachusetts Department of Education identify ways to improve education in the state. She has also served as a consultant to the Department of Youth Services in Boston.

She holds an undergraduate degree in communications from Brooklyn College, a masters degree from New School in New York, and a coaching degree from Cambridge College. She is the owner of Moving Beyond Coaching in Salem.

“I primarily consider myself to be a parent educator and facilitator,” says Finkelstein, emphasizing that she is not a licensed therapist. “My focus is on communication. I help parents establish goals, and create steps to achieve them. I basically help them change their family dynamics,” she said.

She charges a monthly stipend of about $400 for her services, which include a comprehensive intake, and weekly sessions conducted over the phone. Most clients work with her for a period of three to six months.

Finkelstein grew up in the Bronx, the youngest of seven children. She acknowledges that achieving family harmony can be a challenge in today’s fast-paced world, where many families are fragmented.

“It’s hard for parents, especially those with dual households, to spend quality time with their kids. Parents must initiate interaction with their teens because chances are — the kids just aren’t going to do it,” Finkelstein said.

The irony, according to Finkelstein, is that “teens need parental involvement now more than ever.”

Although Finkelstein doesn’t like to generalize, she notes that parent/child relationships can be particularly strained in Jewish families. “Oftentimes, Jewish parents are overachievers who want their kids to be the best. They expect their kids to go to college and do extracurricular activities. That’s a lot of pressure and stress for a teen. Through a coach, they may learn to let go a little,” she said.

Marsha Finkelstein will speak Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead, and March 25 at 6 p.m. at Veterans’ Memorial High School in Peabody. For more information about her work, visit http://www.movingbeyondcoaching.com.