CAN MY THERAPIST HELP MY CHILD"S BEHAVIOR? WHAT ABOUT TANTRUMS?

 

In my practice, I see parents coming to therapy all the time due to the stress that comes with parenting. This can be parenting challenges for kids facing temper tantrums all the way through managing the needs of adult children. During graduate school, all therapists are taught methods for managing behavioral outbursts. The expertise, however, will vary from therapist to therapist. Don't choose a therapist who has no experience outside of graduate school. For the best care, choose a therapist that has experience working with kids. 

I have experience working with kids and families facing behavioral outbursts. I have spent time working with children and young adults with mental health concerns that cause even violent outbursts. I have carried a pager at night where I can be on-call to support families and parents with these challenges. I have experience creating parenting plans, reward systems to motivate kids, as well as to support with boundary setting. 

My suggestion with therapy is to always seek a specialist. There are all kinds of therapy practices and topics that are not within my expertise, and I am ethically obligated to disclose that. However, if a parent needs support with their parenting during sessions, this is one area where I may be able to help.