Parent coaching

evidence-based strategies to transform your family

for tics and anxiety

Parents have a major opportunity to help transform the lives of their children. Even when the child is not directly involved in treatment, modeling healthy and appropriate strategies for tics and anxiety can have a large impact and reduce negative symptoms. Tics and anxiety affect the person living with the condition as well as the people around them. Both conditions are highly responsive to environmental triggers or routines. Changing the language we use, the way in which we respond to tics and anxiety, changing our routine, and encouraging various activities can help reduce symptoms. Direct treatment with the child and family is always encouraged, but if the child is not ready or cannot participate in therapy, this is an excellent option that uses evidence-based strategies to help you help your child.

managing tics

Indirect strategies can help reduce frequency and severity of tics. Having the knowledge and confidence to understand the condition and implement inconspicuous tools, makes you and your child more powerful and in control of the tics. Parent coaching strategies you can expect include. . .
  • Understand the cause and cyclical pattern of tics
  • Learn environmental influences on tic frequency and severity
  • Recognize the child’s specific tic patterns on a daily and yearly basis
  • Modify how others respond to the tics when the child is around
  • Incorporate specific movement strategies to reduce tic frequency and severity
  • Implement breathing techniques that can pause tics 
  • Recognize signs when it’s appropriate to start CBIT therapy for major tic reduction
Modeling the appropriate responses to anxiety is one of the key factors in promoting change and decreasing the hold anxiety has over your child or teen. When they witness a parent and/or guardian responding to anxiety with a problem solving approach rather than a reactive response, they will replicate that action. Consistent use of appropriate language and skills will yield a different, more appropriate response from the child or teen. Anxiety management is skill building. Just like you teach your children to ride a bike or learn to drive, we teach them to strengthen the skills they already have within them that combats the power of anxiety. Parent coaching strategies you can expect include. .  .

managing anxiety

  • Understanding the cycle of anxiety and recognize it as a whole process 
  • Learn the 6 major patterns of anxiety
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses within your child’s skill set to manage anxiety
  • Use language that promotes skill building and decreases the control of anxiety
  • Implement strategies to strengthen the skills needed for effective anxiety management no matter the age of the child or teen

Structure of Coaching Sessions

Parent coaching sessions are slightly less formal than traditional one-on-one therapy. All sessions are completed virtually via video chat, and are one hour long. After each session you will have activities and strategies to implement as a family. Together, we will determine when our following appointment will be (usually between 1-3 weeks). This gives you as a family the opportunity to implement the strategies consistently, problem solve through any challenges, and identify growth and the next area for skill development. 

The first appointment is structured like an initial evaluation in which we discuss in detail how tics and/or anxiety is specifically impacting your child and the family. Education of how tics happen in the brain and how anxiety operates happens within the first appointment.

Initial session

follow-up sessions

The subsequent appointments are focused on the specific need and skill development. We identify the current challenge and problem solve which skill development is necessary and how you would implement it in your family dynamic. 

get started

Parent coaching Cost

150.00 per session. All sessions are scheduled for 60 minutes. We meet as needed according to your goals and needs

If you cannot afford the cost of therapy, please let me know. I accept a few sliding scale clients each month.