Parent confidently.

Therapy for moms facing some of parenting’s biggest challenges in St. Louis

Parenting feels hard right now.

When our children aren’t doing well it can bring up deep feelings of worry, sadness, insecurity, and frustration.  All you want is for them to be ok but when you feel overwhelmed it’s hard to have a clear head about what they need let alone how you can help.

You might be starting to wonder if you’re doing something wrong. Why your child can’t handle the basic limits you set, or why - despite your best efforts at reassurance - your child’s anxiety seems to be growing.  You never thought parenting would be this draining but the constant demands and worry if your child is going to be okay are overwhelming.   You would do anything for them but you’re not even sure what that means.

You’re an amazing mom, that’s why you’re here searching for expert support.

Maybe you’re here because you’re…

  • Overloaded with all the advice you are getting

  • Wondering if their teachers think it’s your fault

  • Constantly fighting against the fear that you are doing it wrong.

  • Feel tension growing as you and your partner have different ideas about what your child needs.

You need individualized support that takes all of the complexities of your unique family into account.

How it works

Gain confidence and clarity to be a strong leader for your child.

You might be wondering why you should go to counseling when your child is the one who needs support. The answer is that you are the best person to effectively address your child’s struggles. You know them best, love them endlessly, and are in it for the long haul to be the one they come to when they need support. It only makes sense to set you up to help them navigate their current needs.

My approach to parenting support is

Collaborative

We will work together every step of the way.  Your family is unique and your support should be too so your collaboration is a vital part of our success.

Creative

We’ll get curious about why your child’s struggling and be open to all the different ways that you can get where you want to be and define success for your child.

Hopeful

Hope abounds in every step of the process, I’m confident we can find ways to effectively support your child and offer you this optimism when you need it most.

Realistic

All our work is grounded in honest assessment of what your needs, strengths, and goals are. Each child is different and progress looks different for each of us.

What to expect

The basic steps

  1. Assess - What are the problems, needs, and strengths?  What values and skills do you want your child to pick up?

  2. Plan - What is the goal? We will lay out the exact steps that will get us there.

  3. Implement - Take the steps we have laid out.  This time in between sessions is when the magic happens and you get to make progress toward where you want your family to be.

  4. Reassess - We will discuss how it is going and what barriers are coming up.  We will figure out what is working and what we need to rethink to make sure your child is supported as much as possible.

My goal for you and your child is for you to both thrive.

For you to be able to confidently parent in a way that fosters both independence and a strong connection with you.

Your child won’t be perfect, and neither will you; but kids don’t need perfect parents. They do need parents who step up and offer them peace and a way forward when they are struggling.. 

When you feel confident your responses are helpful, then you are able to offer this stability to your child who is probably feeling overwhelmed too.  I’ll support you as you develop strategies to effectively respond to your child not just now but as your child grows and changes so you can offer them a foundation of positive support.

Working with me might be a good fit if…

  • You’re willing to try some new ways of doing things - and find the time that's necessary to do those things.  

  • You’re ready to take an honest, vulnerable, holistic look at what your child needs.

  • Your child’s long term emotional health is a top priority for you.

Working with me is not a good fit if…

  • You aren’t willing to try new approaches to parenting.

  • You feel confident that you are doing everything already to support your child and they just need their own therapist.

  • Your top priority is your child being obedient immediately.  beliefs or values being pushed on you.

Therapy for parenting challenges can help you…

  • Realize all the things you are already doing right, and how to maximize their impact.

  • Feel confident identifying your child’s needs and advocating for them effectively

  • Respond to your child in ways to not only deal with what is happening in the moment, but also support long term emotional health and a strong relationship with you.

  • Let go of the power struggle and enjoy your child again.

Frequently asked questions about Parenting Challenges therapy

FAQs

  • I typically work with parents for 2-4 months but every situation is different and we will collaboratively decide what makes the most sense for your family.

  • Yes! I have spent over a decade implementing the evidence based treatments of Multi Systemic Therapy, The Incredible Years Parenting Program, and Parent Child Interaction Therapy with fidelity. These science backed models for addressing kid’s needs through parent interventions are based on attachment theory and have decades of research to support them. The principles these models are rooted in and my extensive real life applications with families just like yours is the foundation of all the work I do.

  • Maybe and maybe not. We will begin with at least 2 parent only sessions so I can have a full picture of what your concerns are and we can collaboratively make a plan. The decision to involve your child depends on what goals you set and what makes the most sense in terms of moving toward those goals. If you are wondering about your particular situation, set up a consultation call by clicking here and we can talk through it.

  • I work with caregivers who have kids 0-17 on a variety of struggles. Some of my areas of expertise are:

    -Anxious elementary kids

    -Little kids with big feelings

    -Disengaged and angry teens - when you’re not sure what they need.

    -Supporting your child after a traumatic event

    -Big transitions, how to best support your child through big changes like a move or divorce.

    During our consultation call, we will discuss your specific concerns to determine if I am the best fit for helping you address your particular child’s needs.

 Together, let’s discover the joy in parenting again.