Parenting and Family Therapy
You don’t need more parenting advice.
Between social media, your friends and family, parenting books, podcasts, AI, and those annoyingly “perfect” parents next door, access to parenting advice is unlimited. But no one else has your children combined with your personality.
You need someone who takes time to get to know you and your kids, and who can provide specific support for the details of your situation.
Children and adolescents are not just mini-adults.
Their brains are still traveling through developmental stages, which can create significant conflict, misunderstanding, and stress in families.
One minute your 5 year old seems so independent, and then next minute they want you to carry them around.
At dinner your teen discusses the derivatives they are learning in calculus, and an hour later they are having a total meltdown because you asked if they had homework.
Child/Teen behavior can feel like a foreign language.
Under-developed brains often communicate distress through behavior and emotions rather than words. Therapy provides “behavior translation” for adults that can bring the whole family back on the same page. Progress toward goals can start in family therapy, but real change happens when adults implement strategies at home.
You need a parenting philosophy.
Parenting is made up of a thousand tiny decisions every day, and we make decisions based on our beliefs, values, and emotional states. Informed by child development research and all of the information out there, we will work together to identify and perhaps modify your parenting philosophy by asking:
What do I believe to be true about all children?
What is my role as a parent in this phase of parenting?
What does success look like when my child is grown?
Therapy for Teens and Kids
“My kid is struggling.”
When kids are struggling, it’s important to look at the whole situation including family dynamics, school, social variables, and traumatic experiences. Kids and teens need a unique approach to therapy because they experience the world differently than adults. Common concerns include:
Anxiety, worry, or school stress
Emotional outbursts or withdrawal
Trauma or significant life changes
Social difficulties or bullying
Identity development and self-esteem
Behavioral concerns
Non-compliance/ obedience issues
Verbal and Physical Aggression
Toileting problems in potty-trained children
Family conflict
Can’t you just fix my kid?
Well… you’re going to have to be more involved than just dropping them off for therapy every so often. No matter the age of the kid, usually the kid-parent relationship needs repair, improved communication, and new rhythms outside of the therapy office. The therapist’s role is not to “tell kids to listen to their parents,” but to work collaboratively with the family system.
What do you even do with kids in therapy?
Sessions for younger children may include play-based interventions, creative expression, skill-building, trauma therapy, and talk therapy. For adolescents, therapy often emphasizes identity development, emotional regulation, communication skills, and healthy coping strategies.