Therapy for Parents - what is it really?

Parenting is one of the most demanding, identity-shifting, emotionally-loaded experiences a human can have. This can feel even more overwhelming when we are parenting kids with added needs (neurodivergence, trauma, adoption, foster care, divorce… you name it). .

We know the cultural narrative: parenting is supposed to be joyful, fulfilling, and instinctual. But what happens when it's also lonely, confusing, and filled with moments where you don't recognize yourself?

That’s where therapy for parents comes in.

Not Just About Your Kids

When parents come to therapy, the first thing they often say is something like, “I don’t know if I need this — my kid is the one struggling.”

We get it. Most of us were raised in systems that taught us to put ourselves last. But the truth is: you matter. Not just as a caregiver, but as a person. Your emotional world, your past experiences, your relationships — they all show up in parenting, whether you realize it or not.

Therapy for parents isn’t about learning how to “fix” your child or become a “perfect” parent. It’s about getting curious — about your triggers, your values, your hopes, and the parts of you that show up under stress.

It’s a Space for You

Therapy gives you space to unpack the invisible labor, the emotional weight, the identity shifts that come with parenting. Maybe you’re navigating:

  • The grief of having a different parenting journey than your friends

  • The loss of who you were before kids

  • Guilt or shame when you don’t respond the way you want to

  • The pressure to do everything “right”

  • Generational patterns you're trying to break

  • Co-parenting tension or disconnection

  • The deep grief of watching your child struggle

Whatever it is, we believe you deserve support — not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because you’re doing something incredibly hard.

Parenting Through an Attachment Lens

At With Connection, we work from the belief that relationships heal. That includes your relationship with your child — but also with yourself.

We use attachment-based, somatic, and emotionally-focused approaches to help you:

  • Understand your own emotional responses

  • Make sense of how your past may be showing up in the present

  • Build more connection and repair with your children

  • Reclaim your own sense of self in the process

We’re not here to hand out one-size-fits all parenting advice or judgment. We’re here to sit with the complexity of your experience, and walk with you as you create more spaciousness, intention, and compassion in your parenting journey.

You’re Allowed to Take Up Space

Parenting doesn’t come with a pause button. But therapy can be a place to exhale — to say the things you can’t say out loud, to cry without having to hold it together, to be seen not just as a parent, but as a person who’s doing their best.

If you’re curious about what therapy for parents could look like for you, we’re here. With gentleness, with curiosity, and with connection.

Finding A Child Therapist In Portland Oregon

Find a Child Therapist in Portland, Oregon: Nurturing Emotional Well-Being with Connection

As parents, we want our children to grow up emotionally resilient, confident, and capable of managing the ups and downs of life. Sometimes, children need extra help to navigate these challenges.

At With Connection we believe in the power of therapy rooted in compassion, emotional connection, and the importance of building secure relationships. Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, behavioral issues, or family transitions, finding the right child therapist can make a significant difference in their emotional well-being.

We offer a variety of therapies, each tailored to meet the needs of your child. Some of the approaches we use include:

  • Theraplay: An engaging, play-based therapy that focuses on building positive attachment between children and their caregivers. This approach helps children develop trust, emotional regulation, and social skills.

  • Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT): This therapy strengthens the parent-child bond and works through emotional conflicts to improve family dynamics and communication.

  • DIR/Floortime: A developmental approach that helps children with emotional or developmental trajectories that differ from what is predicted engage with the world around them by meeting them at their developmental level and fostering positive relationships through play.

These therapeutic approaches are designed to create a nurturing environment where your child can thrive emotionally and socially.

If you’re unsure if we are the right fit, but would like more information or help finding a therapist that fits your needs - please reach out- we’re always happy to offer referrals to our trusted colleagues!