Kitty McQuaid, LPC | 484-925-0528 | 30 S. Valley Road, Paoli, PA 19301
Parent Coaching and Therapy to Create Stronger Connection
Support for Raising Resilient Children and Teens
Parenting a child, teen or young adult who struggles with mental health challenges can feel overwhelming. No matter how much love and effort you put into supporting them, you may feel uncertain about the best approach to help them manage their emotions, build confidence, and develop healthy habits. At Resilient Minds Counseling Services, I offer parent coaching to equip you with effective strategies and insights to support your child’s emotional well-being while fostering a more peaceful home environment.
Helping Parents Support Their Child's Emotional Needs
When children and teens struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, emotional outbursts, or negative self-talk, parents often feel unsure about how to respond. Many try reassurance, discipline, or problem-solving, only to feel frustrated when nothing seems to work. Parent coaching provides you with practical, research-backed strategies to guide your child or teen through their challenges while also helping you feel more confident in your parenting approach. I help parents learn how to:
- Support children and teens in managing big emotions without reinforcing avoidance or fear-based behaviors.
- Respond to anxiety, distress, and behavioral challenges in a way that promotes long-term resilience.
- Set healthy boundaries while maintaining a warm, connected relationship with their child.
- Improve communication and conflict resolution skills to foster positive interactions.
- Support their teen in building confidence and independence while reducing reliance on external validation.
SPACE: Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
One of the key approaches I use in parent coaching is SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an evidence-based treatment designed to help parents support their anxious child or teen. Unlike traditional therapy, where the child is the primary focus, SPACE works by coaching parents on how to adjust their own responses to their child’s anxiety in a way that promotes confidence and self-regulation. SPACE is particularly effective for parents of children and teens struggling with:
- Separation anxiety
- Generalized anxiety and excessive worry
- Social anxiety
- OCD and compulsive behaviors
- Avoidance of school or activities
Through SPACE, I help parents recognize how certain accommodations—such as allowing avoidance of feared situations or providing constant reassurance—can unintentionally reinforce anxiety. Together, we work on gradually reducing these accommodations while maintaining warmth and support, allowing the child to develop confidence in facing challenges independently.
A Team Approach to Growth
Because children and teens spend a significant portion of their time in school, it’s important to align parenting strategies with school support systems. When appropriate, I work closely with school staff, including teachers, counselors, and administrators, to ensure a consistent and structured approach to behavioral and emotional challenges. By bridging the gap between home and school, I help parents implement strategies that can be reinforced in both settings, leading to more sustainable and lasting change.
Supporting a child’s emotional health isn’t something parents have to do alone. Through parent coaching, collaborative care, and evidence-based strategies like SPACE, I empower parents with the tools they need to support their child’s development while also fostering a stronger, more connected family dynamic. If you’re struggling with how to help your child or teen navigate anxiety, big emotions, or behavioral challenges, I’m here to support you. Together, we can create a plan to help your child grow with confidence and resilience.