Parent coaching for the mama
of an anxious kid
The goodbyes that end with you prying little fingers off your legs. The what-ifs at bedtime. Holding it together all day at school, then falling apart the second he sees you. I'm Cerissa, a licensed therapist (LCSW) and a mom that's been there, and I coach moms of kiddos with anxiety, big worries and meltdowns.
Does this sound like your house?
This is for the mama whose kiddo worries more than most. Not a crisis, but every single day.
He's not manipulating you. It's anxiety.
Oh my gosh, though, does it feel like manipulation sometimes, right? But when your kiddo is clinging and screaming, his body thinks there's a bear in the woods. He's doing everything he can to make the danger go away.
So we do what any loving mom would do. We stay a little longer. We answer the same question ten times. We skip the date night. And it works… for about five minutes. The bear goes away, so his brain learns the bear was real.
Those are called accommodations, and every single one of them comes from love. They also keep the worry growing.
"Get off me, I'm only gonna be gone for an hour."
And then the tears are in YOUR eyes, and you're standing in the driveway thinking, crap, do I even go?
Mama, I SEE you. I feel you, I have been you.
You don't need a stricter kid. You need a plan.
We're not choosing between yelling and "okay, you don't have to go." Those aren't the only choices. There are so many choices.
Understand his worry
Once you can see it's anxiety, not defiance, you stop taking every meltdown personally. That alone changes how you respond.
Slowly pull back the accommodations
One at a time, at a pace your kiddo can handle, with a plan for when the behavior gets bigger before it gets better. (It usually does.)
Know exactly what to say
Warm, confident words for the car line, the bedroom door, the Sunday night tummy ache. "I know you're scared, and you can do hard things."
Take care of you, too
Your own history, the people-pleasing, the guilt that makes "no" so hard to say. A regulated mama is the biggest tool your kiddo has.
A licensed therapist and a mom that's been you
I'm a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and I've spent my career working with kids and families, a lot of it with anxious little ones and their parents.
And I've been the mama with the velcro kid. I know the drop-offs, the guilt, and the "am I making this worse?" at 10pm. I coach moms of anxious kiddos so you both get more independent, and you get a little bit of yourself back.
More about meGood questions
Is this therapy?
No. I'm a licensed therapist (LCSW), but this is parent coaching. I work with you, the mom, not your child. We focus on what you say and do at home, at drop-off and at bedtime, so the worry stops running the house. Coaching doesn't diagnose or treat, and it isn't a replacement for therapy if your kiddo needs it.
What ages is this for?
Kids about 4 to 10. The clingy preschooler, the kindergartner who melts down at the door, the 8-year-old with a tummy ache every Sunday night.
Is it virtual?
Yes, everything happens online, so you can join from anywhere. Calls are on Google Meet, and daily support happens in Slack, right from your phone.
Does my child have to be involved?
Nope. Your kiddo never has to get on a call. You learn the tools and the words, and you use them at home.
What happens on the call?
It's 30 minutes, just you and me. We talk about what the meltdowns look like at your house, what you've already tried, and whether working together is the right fit. Come as you are, cold coffee and all.
What if my child needs more than coaching?
If your child is missing a lot of school, not eating or sleeping, talking about hurting themselves, or stuck in habits that take over their day, that's when I want you working with a therapist, and I'll help you find one.
Next meltdown, imagine knowing what to do.
Not because he stopped having big feelings, but because you know it's part of the process, it's not yours to carry, and you have a plan. Start with the free video.