For Parents

Parenting is the hardest job there is. Yet often times parents are doing this job without support, guidance, reassurance or feedback.

Despite their best efforts, parents sometimes feel overwhelmed, worried, or at a loss about how best to help their son or daughter. Reaching out to friends and family members for support can be difficult, and complicated. It can be immensely helpful to have guidance from someone with expertise, who is outside the circle, and can assist parents in problem solving the challenges they encounter.

Parent Consultations

Parent consultations are designed flexibly to respond to the given situation and the individual family. Sometimes I meet with parents only one or two times, sometimes for a cluster of meetings over a short period of time, and sometimes I meet with parents as needed over a long period of time.

Examples of reasons that parents reach out for consultations:

• I notice changes in my child’s behavior and I am struggling to figure out what is going on.
• My young adult son/daughter is struggling to be independent; he/she is stuck and we are running out of ideas.
• I am not sure if I should be concerned about my child’s level of worry or sadness or anger or isolation? Does he/she need more support?
• We are not agreeing on expectations and consequences for our child and it is causing more and more tension and difficulty.
• My child doesn’t talk to me about things anymore and I don’t feel like we have a good relationship the way we once did.
• I need help navigating challenges related to co-parenting following separation or divorce.
• How do we give our pre-teen or adolescent some more independence, but still keep him/her safe?
• What should my role be as a step-parent? Can you help with the unique complexities that come with this role and/or with blended families?