Tantrums, testing, and big feelings are the work of this age, not a sign that something has gone wrong. Still, some families find that the hard moments start to outnumber the good ones, or that discipline has stopped working no matter what they try. If daily life feels harder than it should, talking with someone can help.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy is designed for exactly this age. It gives caregivers live, in-the-moment coaching in how to respond, and most families see change within a few months. [Learn about PCIT]

Children this age are learning to manage strong emotions with a brain that is still building the equipment for it, so meltdowns and defiance are expected. Reach out if aggression is escalating, if your child's behavior is causing problems at preschool or childcare, or if you find yourself dreading parts of the day.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy works well for children in this range. A therapist coaches you in real time while you play with your child, so you practice new skills as you use them. [Learn about PCIT]

This is a stretch of rapid change: friendships get complicated, school gets harder, and children start to have an inner life they don't always share. Consider reaching out if you notice a lasting shift in mood, ongoing trouble at school, withdrawal from things they used to enjoy, or conflict at home that isn't easing.

We offer family therapy and parenting support for this age range, and can help you sort out what's typical from what needs attention. 

Pulling away is developmentally appropriate, and so is a teenager who suddenly wants less to do with you. It still hurts. It's worth talking with someone if you see persistent sadness or irritability, a drop in functioning at school, changes in sleep or eating, substance use, or if the distance between you has become something neither of you knows how to cross.

Our clinicians work with adolescents and their families, and grief support is available when a loss is part of what's happening.