Find Parenting Counseling

Medically reviewed by Gabriela Asturias, MD on May 23, 2025
Written by the MiResource team

Parenting is one of the most rewarding — and challenging — roles a person can take on. It brings moments of deep love, joy, and connection, but also frustration, exhaustion, and self-doubt. That’s where parenting counseling comes in. Working with a licensed parenting therapist or engaging in parent coaching can provide insight, tools, and emotional support to help you become the parent you want to be — not just the one reacting in the moment.

  • Monik Lopez, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

    Monik Lopez

    Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

    1550 Madruga Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Monik Lopez is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Coral Gables, Florida and has been in practice for 15 years. They treat Parenting, College and School Placement, Pregnancy/Loss of Pregnancy.

    The most important relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. If you’re struggling, we’re here to help! Call me anytime

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  • Nikki Moorman, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

    Nikki Moorman

    Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

    5409 Gateway Centre Boulevard, Flint, Michigan 48507

    Nikki Moorman is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Flint, Michigan and has been in practice for 7 years. They treat Parenting, Relationship(s) with Parents/Children/Family, Relationship Violence/Stalking/Harassment.

    I offer a warm and non-judgmental environment so my clients will feel comfortable to explore emotions, concerns, and other issues impacting their lives.

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  • Corinne Sundell, LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

    Corinne Sundell, LMFT

    Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

    1114 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, USA, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105

    Corinne Sundell, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has been in practice for 7 years. They treat Parenting, Panic, Burnout.

    My job in the therapy office is to support you in re-membering the person you’d like to be, warts and all.

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  • Lisa Johnson, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

    Lisa Johnson

    Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

    Remote only

    Lisa Johnson is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in undefined, undefined. They treat Parenting, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Relationship(s) with Friends/Roommates.

    Therapist + prescriber offering virtual mental health services, ADHD testing & meds for college students & adults. 100% Virtual, Evening & weekend hours.

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  • Alyssa Austern, Psychologist

    Alyssa Austern

    Psychologist

    Remote only

    Alyssa Austern is a Psychologist in Chatham, New Jersey. They treat Parenting, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorders.

    Hello! I'm Dr. Alyssa Austern and I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in couples and family therapy, as well as individual therapy across the lif

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  • OSun Yoo, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

    OSun Yoo

    Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

    Remote only

    OSun Yoo is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in undefined, undefined and has been in practice for 12 years. They treat Parenting, Sleep Concerns, Immigration/Acculturation.

    I believe that you are the expert on yourself, and together, we can work on reconnecting with that 'you' at your best. I am a therapist at Octave, a beha

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What is parenting counseling, and when should I consider it?

Parenting counseling is a specialized form of therapy that helps caregivers build the skills, confidence, and emotional awareness needed to navigate the complex world of raising children. It’s not about telling you how to parent “the right way.” Instead, it’s about working with a trained parenting therapist who helps you explore what kind of parent you want to be — and what’s getting in the way.

This kind of support is highly personalized. Some parents seek counseling to manage daily behavioral issues, while others want help processing their own childhood so they can break generational patterns. Still others come simply because parenting feels harder than they expected — and they don’t want to keep doing it alone.

What Does Parenting Counseling Help With?

  • Discipline and behavior management: Understanding tantrums, defiance, sibling rivalry, or screen-time struggles.
  • Parenting stress and burnout: Learning to regulate your emotions when you're stretched thin.
  • Emotional connection: Strengthening your bond with your child and fostering emotional safety.
  • Developmental transitions: Adjusting your approach as your child moves through stages (toddlerhood, puberty, adolescence).
  • Parental self-doubt: Replacing guilt and comparison with clarity and confidence.
  • Relationship dynamics: Navigating different parenting styles with a partner or co-parent.

When Should I Consider Parenting Therapy?

You don’t need a crisis to seek help. Consider working with a parenting therapist if:

  • You feel overwhelmed or unsure how to handle certain behaviors.
  • You and your partner are constantly clashing over discipline or routines.
  • You feel guilty, angry, resentful, or disconnected as a parent.
  • Your child is experiencing emotional or behavioral issues and you want to better support them.
  • You want to understand how your own upbringing is affecting your parenting today.

Some parents also use parent coaching — a more practical, goal-oriented form of support — when they’re looking for structured tools rather than deep emotional work. Coaching can be helpful for sleep training, screen-time limits, or school-related concerns.

The key takeaway? If something in your family life feels off — or if you simply want to strengthen your skills — parenting counseling is a smart, supportive step forward.


Can therapy help with parenting stress, burnout, or feeling overwhelmed?

Absolutely. Burnout and emotional exhaustion are incredibly common among parents, particularly in today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world. Juggling work, school schedules, social media comparisons, and the emotional demands of parenting can leave even the most loving caregivers feeling depleted.

Parenting counseling helps by:

  • Validating your emotional experience
  • Providing coping tools for stress and anger
  • Teaching emotional regulation techniques
  • Helping you set healthy boundaries with your children, co-parent, or extended family
  • Supporting you in making space for your own needs

Parent coaching can also offer practical tools for time management, discipline strategies, and emotional check-ins. Sometimes, even just having someone who listens without judgment can make a world of difference in reducing parental overwhelm.


How can therapy support me in managing my child’s behavioral or emotional challenges?

When your child is struggling — whether with tantrums, defiance, anxiety, or social difficulties — it can leave you feeling helpless, frustrated, or even blamed. A parenting therapist can help you decode your child’s behavior and provide insight into what might be happening beneath the surface.

Rather than focusing solely on controlling behavior, modern parenting therapy emphasizes:

  • Building secure attachment through responsiveness and empathy
  • Creating consistent routines and boundaries
  • Helping your child feel safe, seen, and emotionally understood

Whether you’re dealing with aggression, school refusal, sibling rivalry, or screen time battles, parenting counseling offers both emotional guidance and evidence-based tools to respond in ways that nurture your child’s development without sacrificing your own mental health.

This kind of therapy is especially valuable for children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, trauma histories, or sensory sensitivities. Parents learn to adjust expectations, reduce power struggles, and increase cooperation — all while strengthening the parent-child bond.


What types of therapy are used to help parents?

There are several therapeutic approaches designed to support parents. A few of the most common include:

  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT): Involves real-time coaching to improve communication and reduce disruptive behaviors.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps parents challenge unhelpful thoughts and develop more effective coping strategies.
  • Mindfulness-Based Parenting: Focuses on staying present, calm, and non-reactive in stressful moments.
  • Attachment-Based Therapy: Addresses early relational patterns that influence parenting instincts and emotional availability.

Additionally, parent coaching is a practical, solution-focused approach that emphasizes strategies and accountability over deep emotional exploration. It’s especially useful for parents looking for structured support around specific challenges.


Is parenting therapy only for families in crisis or also for preventive support?

While many parents seek counseling in times of crisis — such as after a divorce or during a behavioral escalation — parenting therapy can also be a powerful preventive tool. Much like couples counseling, it can help you strengthen your skills and emotional resilience before problems become entrenched.

Preventive parenting therapy might include:

  • Preparing for adolescence
  • Navigating transitions (e.g., new siblings, moves)
  • Learning to co-parent after separation
  • Developing a shared parenting philosophy

You don’t need to wait until you're “at your limit” to benefit. Taking the time to build strong emotional and behavioral foundations now can save your family from more distress later.


Can therapy help me understand and break patterns from my own upbringing?

Yes — this is one of the most profound aspects of parenting counseling. Many of us carry unconscious patterns from how we were raised, whether that involves harsh discipline, emotional neglect, enmeshment, or unrealistic expectations. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we either repeat these patterns or swing too far in the opposite direction.

A parenting therapist can help you:

  • Identify inherited parenting styles that no longer serve you
  • Process grief or anger related to your childhood
  • Develop more conscious, intentional ways to parent your child
  • "Reparent" your own inner child alongside parenting your actual one

This deep emotional work is a gift not just to yourself, but to future generations


What is co-parenting therapy, and who can benefit from it?

Co parenting therapy is a form of counseling designed to help parents who are no longer in a romantic relationship work together in raising their children. It's particularly beneficial in high-conflict situations or when there’s confusion, inconsistency, or resentment that impacts the child.

This type of therapy is not about reconciliation — it’s about collaboration. Goals often include:

  • Establishing shared rules and routines
  • Improving respectful communication
  • Minimizing emotional harm to children
  • Navigating transitions like holidays, school decisions, or introducing new partners

Whether you’re amicable or barely speaking, co-parenting therapy helps you move from confrontation to cooperation.


Can co-parenting therapy help separated or divorced parents work together better?

Absolutely. Separation can bring a flood of emotions — grief, anger, guilt — all of which can spill over into the parenting relationship. Co parenting therapy creates a structured space to work through these emotions while staying focused on what matters most: your child’s well-being.

You’ll learn:

  • How to shift from “spouse mode” to “co-parent mode”
  • How to reduce triangulation (putting kids in the middle)
  • How to manage differing values and schedules respectfully
  • How to create stability across two households

When kids see their parents working together — even if they’re no longer together — it sends a powerful message of safety, respect, and emotional maturity.

Find care for you

Recovery is possible. With early intervention, a supportive community, and the right professional care, you can overcome challenges and build a fulfilling life. We’re here to help you find the support you need.

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