A father and young son building with blocks on a playroom floor

Therapy

Help for Child Behavior Problems

Every child has hard days. When tantrums, hitting, defiance or meltdowns are happening most days and nothing you try is working, it is reasonable to ask for help.

Request an Appointment

Behavior is a message

A child who melts down at transitions, hits a sibling or refuses every request is usually telling you something: they are tired, overwhelmed, anxious, struggling with a skill, or have learned that big behavior gets results. Therapy helps figure out which, so the response fits.

What brings families in

Tantrums that last a long time or happen many times a day
Hitting, kicking or biting
Refusing instructions at home or at school
Calls or notes from teachers
Trouble with transitions, like leaving the park or turning off a screen
Behavior changes after a move, divorce, new baby or loss

What treatment looks like

1.
Assessment
Your clinician meets with parents, then with your child, and asks about home, school, sleep and development.
2.
Parent tools
Clear expectations, consistent follow-through and plenty of positive attention.
3.
Child skills
Through play, art and practice, your child learns to name feelings and calm down.
4.
Track progress
Simple tracking shows whether things are improving.

A mother kneeling to talk with her young daughter in a hallway

Play and art in sessions

Young children rarely talk through problems the way adults do. Nikki Holmes uses play and art in sessions, and Michelle Mitchell uses play with young children and includes parents. Kids often look forward to coming.

When it might be more

Sometimes behavior problems are linked to ADHD, anxiety, autism, learning differences or a hard experience. If your clinician thinks an evaluation would help, our testing team is in the same practice.

Siblings and the whole family

Behavior changes faster when the whole household responds in the same way. Family sessions can include siblings and other caregivers. A brother or sister who has been on the receiving end of hitting may need reassurance too, and grandparents who help with pickup can learn the same calm responses parents are using at home.