photo of mother and child hugging

Child behaviour + emotions

Often, the most powerful support begins in the relationship with you.

I’ll support you to understand and connect with your child’s inner emotional world, shift your responses to match your child’s needs, and learn evidence-based strategies to create meaningful behaviour change aligned with your family values.

When your child is struggling, the impact on family life is big.

Seeing your child distressed is heartbreaking. It is also oftentimes frustrating, and can make family life feel overwhelming.

Maybe your child is struggling with changes at home or elsewhere. They might be easily overwhelmed and reactive. Perhaps they’re acting out feelings in ways that aren’t safe. They may have difficulty with separation or with doing things independently.

Regardless of the specifics, your child seems stuck and family life doesn’t feel as fulfilling or harmonious as it could. You’re feeling stressed, relationships feel strained, and you’re unsure how to support everyone or what to do.

You aren’t failing. You just need support to understand what’s happening + how to help.

Beneath your child’s reactivity and behaviour may be:

  • Fear, anxiety, or uncertainty
  • An overwhelmed nervous system
  • Difficulty solving the problem they’re facing
  • Confusion about expectations or what to do
  • Shame, guilt, self-doubt, regret or other intense emotions
  • A need for guidance, connection, and support

Drawing on my training in educational and developmental psychology, along with an attachment-focused approach, I help parents understand their child’s behaviour through a different lens.

Together, we’ll make sense of what your child is experiencing, strengthen your connection, and build practical strategies that fit your child and your family.

Support with child behaviour + emotions can help you:

  • Understand your child’s inner world and emotions
  • Recognise the needs underlying their behaviour
  • Build a strong foundation for secure attachment
  • Understand your child’s stage of development
  • Encourage their strengths and support their challenges
  • Define and develop trust in your boundaries + limits
  • Gain confidence in connection-focused discipline
  • Develop supportive rhythms + routines
  • Clarify your values + feel more aligned, even when your child is in a difficult stage
  • Manage your emotions so you can support your child with theirs
  • Learn to soothe your nervous system + ground yourself
  • Develop a shared understanding with your partner about how to support your child
  • Connect deeply with your child and find joy in your relationship

My approach

I work collaboratively with parents, building on existing strengths. You’ll gain practical tools and skills that support both your wellbeing and your child’s, while strengthening your relationship. My goal is for you to leave each session feeling supported, confident, and clear.

Though my therapeutic style is warm, and compassionate, I also offer clear structure and direction. Together, we set goals to guide our work and give us a shared focus. I may also offer helpful resources between sessions to support your progress.

At the same time, I recognise that life – and parenting – is messy, and the focus of our sessions need to respond to your evolving needs. In each session, I meet you where you are, while keeping the bigger picture of your growth in mind. This allows you the freedom to share openly, reflect deeply, and develop meaningful insights. You can find out more about my approach below.

ways to work together

Ready to find more clarity about how to support your child’s behaviour and emotions? Find out how to get started.