Parenting Counseling
“The worse curse upon a child is the unlived lives of the parents.”
- C.G. Jung
Do You Feel Insecure In Your Role As A Parent?
Are you exhausted and burnt out from caring for your children? Do you find yourself prioritizing everyone else’s needs and neglecting your own? Are you struggling with feelings of insecurity and wondering if you have what it takes to be a parent?
Maybe you feel unsure of your ability to set boundaries and enforce rules. Perhaps your children are not developing in the ways you hoped and expected, which makes you question your effectiveness as a parent. Maybe they’re experiencing social or academic issues at school that remind you of your own struggles as a kid. You might feel like you’re at the end of your rope trying to help your children. Deep down, you probably wish you had a more supportive community to help you raise them. You may also wish you had had more caring and compassionate parents as role models when you were growing up.
Exhaustion And Burnout Can Make It Difficult To Practice Self-Care
Parenting is tough—there’s no sugarcoating it. Because of how hard you work to support your kids, your health may deteriorate and you may be too exhausted to take care of your own needs. After a while, it may feel like you don’t even have needs and you exist to please everyone else. You might feel unsure of who you are outside of parenthood, as if you’ve lost touch with your identity.
As a parenting counselor, my goal is to help you care for your kids and learn to prioritize your own needs at the same time. I want you to value yourself as much as your value your children. When you do this, I believe that you will be able to parent more effectively and achieve a healthier balance in life.
Many Parents Face Unrealistic Demands And Feel Like They’re Not Good Enough
According to a study done by Ohio State University, roughly two thirds of parents in the US experienced burnout in 2021.¹ None of this is surprising. Many parents are so exhausted from taking care of their kids that they have no energy left. They have to juggle parenting on top of work, finances, family obligations, and stress related to societal and economic issues.
The pressures placed on parents are high and not all of them have the resources to meet their demands. As a result, a lot of parents worry that they’re just not good enough. Many of them have a hard time trusting their intuition, especially when their kids have unique or unusual needs. For instance, if a child has a disability and requires a parenting style different from the norm, it’s hard for parents to trust their parenting instincts and believe that they’re doing the right thing.
This is why seeing a parenting therapist is so important. It’s a chance to have someone in your corner who will validate you, recognize all your hard work, and give you the tools for becoming the best parent you can be.
Counseling Can Help You Become A Better Parent And Still Prioritize Your Own Self-Care
Let’s face it: if you’re coming to counseling for parenting help, part of you probably worries that you’re not doing a good job. I’m here to tell you that you are doing a good job. After all, if you’re concerned about your parenting, that shows you care. That shows you want the best for your children and your whole family.
At the same time, therapy has the potential to make you an even better parent. I want to help you learn new skills and teach you to trust your own parenting instincts. My sessions provide a safe, supportive space for you to explore areas of stress and insecurity in your parenting. Additionally, therapy is a chance to decompress from the pressures of raising children. You have enough on your plate as it is. You deserve to have some time to slow down and relax.
What To Expect In Parenting Counseling Sessions
Every family is different and every child has different needs, so you get to lead the way and decide what to discuss and explore. Together, we can figure out steps you can take to foster your children’s development and support your wellbeing as a parent.
Sometimes we may dive into the past, exploring how you were raised and what you chose to do differently from your parents. We can also look at any trauma in your child’s life that may be triggering you and reminding you of trauma from your own childhood, such as bullying or rejection. This can help you increase your sense of empathy so that you can connect with your children on a deeper level.
Additionally, parenting counseling is as much about you as it is about your children. It’s okay to prioritize self-care—you don’t have to feel bad about taking time out of your day to focus on yourself. Instead of running yourself ragged and trying to be the perfect parent, I want you to learn to be okay with doing your best.
Ultimately, parenting in the 21st century is extremely stressful. It’s so important to have someone who can be your ally on your journey. I am here to help you manage your child’s emotions and behavior and prioritize your own self-care at the same time.
You May Have Some Questions About Parenting Counseling…
I hate parenting and I’m afraid that you’ll judge me for that.
As a parent myself, I get it. Raising children is no cakewalk. Together, you and I can explore why you don’t like parenting and what you can do to change that perspective. I also want you to know that you are not alone in these feelings—it is perfectly normal to get discouraged, feel frustrated, and even dislike parenting (I speak from experience).
Why can’t I just talk to friends and family about my problems?
If you have loved ones whose opinions you respect, that’s awesome! At the same time, only you know what is best for you and your child. What’s more, the people in your life may be a little biased when it comes to raising kids. This isn’t to say that they’re wrong, but their ideas might not always be right for your child. Your parents may tell you “We did this with you, so you should do it with your child” without understanding that your child has different needs than you did.
I’ve been so busy taking care of my kids that I feel like I don’t know who I am anymore.
It’s very common to feel this way. Prioritizing your child’s needs and not having time to take care of your own can make you feel lost or unsure of yourself. Therapy is a chance to reclaim your sense of self and invite a healthier balance into your life. Together, we can explore who you are, what brings you happiness, and what steps you can take to achieve your goals as a parent and as an individual.
You Deserve A Space Where You Can Decompress And Focus On Yourself
Whether you’re a new parent, a single parent, or anyone else seeking help with parenting, I encourage you to pursue counseling with me. To get started, you can call me at 917-819-5014 or use the contact page to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation.
Have any questions? Send us a message!
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