Colorado Springs Parent Counseling
Takeaway: Our team of parenting experts can help you navigate co-parenting challenges, strengthen your relationship with your child, and take care of your mental health. Connect with us today to learn more about how parental counseling can help your family.
“The parent-child connection is the most powerful mental health intervention known to mankind.”
There are a lot of factors that impact how we parent our children. Maybe you have an idea of how you want to show up for your family, but something always seems to get in the way. It could be health problems, mental health issues, personal issues, financial concerns, or a host of other things.
As a parent, you are responsible for the emotional temperature in your home, and that is no easy task. Some days it may feel impossible. Through individual counseling or couples counseling, we provide parents with the space and supportive environment to address all parenting issues.
In this post we will discuss the benefits of parent counseling and co-parent counseling, and how Exploration Counseling can provide the support you need to become the parent you want to be.
Our approach to parental counseling
At Exploration Counseling, we adopt a holistic and personalized approach to parent counseling, recognizing the unique journey of each family. Our method is grounded in the belief that understanding and self-awareness are foundational to effective parenting.
One of the core aspects of our work involves educating parents about the four main parenting styles: authoritative parenting, permissive parenting, authoritarian parenting, and uninvolved parenting. By gaining insight into these distinct approaches, parents learn their own parenting styles, understand the impact these styles have on child development, and consider adjustments that align with their desired family structure.
Through parent counseling, parents are encouraged to identify what truly matters to them in their role as parents. This valuable education is crucial for building a parenting style that is not only effective but also authentic and fulfilling.
These strategies are selected to help parents deal with stress, communicate more effectively, and foster a positive, nurturing environment that supports the emotional and psychological well-being of both the parents and their children.
Ultimately, Exploration Counseling’s approach is about empowering parents to create a cohesive family unit (no matter what the family looks like) where children feel valued, understood, and supported. By working to uncover and refine your parenting values, you will learn to navigate the complexities of raising children with confidence, compassion, and clarity.
This journey not only strengthens the parent-child bond but also enriches the family’s collective experience, making everyday interactions more meaningful.
Meet 3 top-rated parent counselors in Colorado Springs
1. Shaye Meissen, LPC, PMH-C
Shaye is the owner of Exploration Counseling and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado and Missouri. She is a clinical supervisor, and a certified perinatal mental health therapist (PMH-C). She has been working with individuals and families for over 10 years to navigate life's struggles and live more fully. Shaye believes that healthy relationships are the foundation of a beautiful life and she is committed to helping you become the person, partner, and parent you want to be.
Credentials: LPC, PMH-C (Shaye is licensed in both Colorado and Missouri)
Colorado License Number: LPC.0012830
Shaye holds a master's degree (MS) in Clinical Psychology from Missouri State University.
Shaye offers both online therapy and in-person therapy in Colorado Springs.
Providing parent counseling since 2010
Shaye utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), outdoor therapy, and mindfulness skills in her work.
2. Melanie McQuiston, LPC
Melanie is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in the state of Colorado. She takes a direct and solution-focused approach to helping you move in the direction you want to go. Melanie has a knack for supporting people through difficult life changes and transitions in a way that is both effective and empowering.
Credentials: LPCC
License Number: LPCC.0019310
Melanie holds a Master's Degree (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Oakland University.
Melanie offers online therapy to clients throughout Colorado.
Providing parent counseling since 2022
Melanie utilizes ACT, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and solution-focused therapy in her work.
3. Paige Lloyd, LPC, PMH-C
Paige is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate and Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate in Colorado and California. Paige is also a certified perinatal mental health counselor (PMH-C). She is here to help you in the evolution of becoming the person you want to be. She loves working with parents and couples as they discover their new world and work to balance the demands of everyday life.
Credentials: LPCC, MFTC, PMH-C
Colorado License Number: LPCC.0018129, MFTC.0014116
Paige holds a Master's Degree (MS) in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA.
Paige offers online therapy to clients throughout Colorado.
Providing parent counseling since 2022
Paige utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness techniques in her work.
Why choose Exploration Counseling & Consulting
We believe that you are the parent your child needs. This belief forms the base of all of the work we do.
Not only are we a team of highly qualified mental health professionals, but our practice is designed with parents in mind. We want to make accessing support simple and easy. Here are a few reasons Exploration Counseling is designed to fit your needs.
We're focused on YOU: Our focus is on making sure we are going in the direction you want to go. We help overwhelmed parents address barriers that are getting in the way of connecting with your child. You should leave each session feeling valued, encouraged, and hopeful because you'll be confident you are moving in the right direction.
Online scheduling: You can schedule an appointment directly through our website by visiting here. No need to play phone tag or email back and forth.
Telehealth: All of our clinicians offer telehealth to anyone living in Colorado. We have learned that parents love the accessibility of telehealth. You don't need to block extra time for travel, arrange childcare, or take more time off work than needed. Online therapy makes parent counseling more accessible to parents.
Accessibility: Our goal is that no client should have to wait more than two weeks for an intake appointment. When you're ready to connect, we'll be ready to welcome you. No long waits!
FAQs about parental counseling
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The essence of parent counseling lies in focusing on the parents (individually or together) rather than the family unit as a whole, to foster a healthier family dynamic. One or both parents can participate in parent counseling. Parents may decide to do some individual and some joint sessions.
Parent counseling can help with learning to regulate your own emotions, navigating difficult child behaviors, working through parent child conflict, making a difficult parenting decision, or discovering how to best support your child when they are struggling.
Whether through individual sessions or co-parent counseling, the objective is to provide the emotional support and parenting skills needed for effective parenting.
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Many parents struggle with healthy communication skills or mismatched parental expectations. For children, consistency from their parents is crucial for their well-being.
Co-parenting counseling assists parents in aligning their different parenting styles and values, improving communication, and functioning cohesively for the benefit of their children.
Co-parent counseling sessions can also help address issues around substance abuse, financial difficulties, mental health issues, or concerns with children's development in a healthy way.
Married parents, separated parents, divorced parents, and single parents all find benefits in co-parent counseling to improve family relations.
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Parenting can put a strain on relationships. Co-parenting therapy is an opportunity for parents to address conflicts that come up around raising children. Some topics parents may want to discuss are specific parenting styles, conflict resolution skills, mental health issues, learning appropriate behaviors, teaching effective life skills, or working through a child health concern.
This is not an all-inclusive list and many parenting therapists suggest co-parenting counseling to improve communication and connection so that parents may work together in the best way possible, no matter the status of the parenting relationship.
Our team is here to empower you in your parenting journey.
It doesn't matter if you have an infant, a toddler, or a teen. There is never a bad time to begin parent counseling. Each season of life can come with its own set of struggles. Working with a specialist can help improve your well-being so that you can be the parent your child needs.
Our mental health professionals are trained in parent and co-parenting counseling and look forward to working with you. We believe that you are the parent your child needs and we want to support you in being the parent you want to be. Learn more about our practice by visiting our homepage.
Contact us here to schedule directly online or reach out to see how we can help.
