Parenting Support

What might this look like?

In sessions you will be provided a supportive space to process emotions experienced in relation to parenthood. We will identify your specific needs, discuss effective evidenced-based parenting strategies that meet those needs, and set goals to implement strategies at home. Caregiver support might also include psycho-education about development & mental health and identifying how your child’s emotions and behaviors are triggering you in the moment. These both can help increase parent self awareness and emotion regulation in order to respond in a helpful way that models emotion regulation skills to your child or adolescent. It can also be helpful for caregivers to reflect on how they were parented as children and how this contributes to their parenting style and triggers. For an easy starting point in supporting your child’s mental health watch this TedTalk: Igniting Greatness.

How does this work if you are also seeing my child?

These services may be in conjunction with counseling for your pre-teen or adolescent OR independently (if I am not seeing your child).

If I am also providing services for your child, the appropriateness of these support services will be determined depending on each families’ needs. Building rapport with the child will be priority for the first 3-5 weeks. Then, if caregivers would like support services, child will be informed that these parent support sessions are occurring, they will be given the chance to express which topics they would like to be held confidential, and sessions will be focused on the caregiver’s processing and skills building rather than what the child or adolescent has shared with the clinician. Furthermore, the appropriateness and need for *combined family sessions will be determined individually for each family as often pre-teens and adolescents benefit from a fully confidential space, however increasing parent support can also be extremely beneficial.