You love your child, but parenting is HARD and your kid didn’t come with an instruction manual (neither did mine)!
Your child is struggling with life’s many challenges. Perhaps it is one of these:
- Social or generalized anxiety
- Bullying, social skills, and friendship issues
- Changes in the family (including divorce, blending 2 families, new child being born, etc.)
- Difficulty identifying and managing emotions
- Self-esteem
- Executive functioning skills (focusing, organization, etc.)
You always imagined yourself being a parent, but you had no idea of some of the challenges!
Maybe… you are the parent of a strong-willed child- this child has opinions about everything and is not afraid of sharing them or speaking their mind! He/she/they drive you CRAZY by arguing with EVERY.SINGLE.THING you say or do, and at the end of the day, you feel exhausted and frustrated.
Maybe… your child used to be friendly and outgoing, with lots of friends and seemingly un-ending confidence; but something changed (Covid, anyone?!) and now your once-bubbly self-assured child is spending more time at home, isolating in their bedroom, instead of playing sports, doing theater, or going to the mall with friends.
Maybe…your child is dealing with a bully or a “frenemy”…kids can be MEAN to each other, causing hurt feelings and low self-esteem. Unlike years ago, when I was a child having endured bullying, kids today can be victimized by bullies around the clock, thanks to social media, video games, and use of other technology. Because your child is feeling upset and frustrated by their peer relationships, they take out their frustration on you.
Maybe…your child is dealing with changes in their family dynamic; when parents separate or divorce, and when new families are formed. Kids can also struggle when a new baby joins the family. Sibling rivalry may become an issue, which can result in increased tension and fighting in the household.
Maybe…your child is having a hard time managing BIG feelings, and you don’t know how to help them. At school, they are often described as being “sweet” or “easygoing” but these same kids fall apart when they get home. At home, they have temper tantrums complete with screaming, crying, and back-talk. Occasionally, kids struggle in the very same ways in school, making it difficult for them to learn.
If you’re reading this and nodding your head or thinking, THIS LADY IS READING MY MIND, then I can help.
Parenting can be rewarding again!
- Your child will spend time outside of their room actually talking to you and their siblings- with RESPECT! Decreased yelling and attitude- who doesn’t want that?!
- Improved self-confidence and grades, leading to more HAPPINESS
- Your child will sleep better, maybe even in their own bed instead of in yours
- Your child will know how to express their thoughts and concerns in a way that makes people actually want to listen
- Your child will be able to understand how to manage their feelings surrounding scary events which they may have experience
My approach
- Providing compassion and validation- giving kids a safe place to discuss school, family, friends, and anything else on their minds
- Identifying feelings and emotions, and learning what to do with these (coping strategies)- kids often know what they’re feeling, but lack the language to adequately put these feelings into words or identify WHY they’re feeling this way
- Building self-esteem- one of the most important life skills that can be taught, this includes discussing and identifying cognitive distortions and practicing resilience
- Practicing social skills- can set the stage for establishing and maintaining positive relationships for life
Therapy can help…
- Set your kids up for future success
- Increase parental figures’ understanding of, and ability to, support their children
- Teach kids to feel better about themselves by building their self-confidence and emotional regulation skills
- Learn how to manage difficult situations at home and school
