Parenting Support That Meets You Where You Are

Parenting counseling in Skokie and Northfield, and Online

Virtually in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, D.C., Utah, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Virginia, and Iowa.

Do you find it difficult to manage your child's issues, as well as your own?

Are you ineffective and overwhelmed with the role of being a parent?

Do you want to find a way to strengthen your relationship with your child?

Is what you are doing not working?

Parenting can show its unique challenges and it changes more than anything else in your life. It doesn’t matter if you are dealing with the terrible twos, a child that isn’t doing well in school, teenage defiance, or the transition from a child being at home to living at college, or even getting married! We can help. We will assist you in navigating your challenges with parenting with confidence and direct, compassionate communication and boundaries, helping you find  the support and guidance needed to feel empowered in your parenting journey.

Common Parenting Struggles

Every family has different dynamics, and we can help manage your dynamics with your children. Some common things we discuss in our sessions are: Difficulty managing children’s behaviors, strained communication between parents and children, forging a unified front with your parenting partner, feeling overwhelmed or stressed by parenting responsibilities, difficulty setting or maintaining consistent boundaries and routines, feeling connected and close to your child, and more.

Therapy Can Help with Parenting

Parenting counseling can help your relationship with your children. Whether it's learning new techniques for parenting, improving your communication with your kids, or having anxiety about a new stage of life your child is going to hit, there are ways we can try and find a problem. You don’t have to face parenting alone, therapy can guide you toward building stronger, more positive relationships with your children.

When Parenting Feels Hard, How We Help

There are many techniques we use in Parental counseling, and we have multiple modalities and tools in our 20+ years of experience as a therapist (and a parent!)  to help get the best results. Some of the strategies we might use is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family Systems Therapy and Improving Communication.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

CBT helps you recognize and change negative thought patterns that influence your mood and behavior. The way you think directly impacts how you feel, so if you’re stuck in a cycle of self-doubt or negative thinking, it can undermine your confidence and mental well-being. In CBT, you’ll learn how to challenge these thoughts and replace them with more realistic and positive ones. This process helps break the cycle of negativity and supports healthier thinking patterns. Over time, CBT can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, making it easier to navigate daily challenges and improve your overall outlook on life.

Family Systems Therapy

Family Systems Therapy helps you identify and understand the dynamics and patterns within your family of origin and your current family dynamics that affect your relationships and interactions. The way family members communicate and relate to each other has a direct impact on how everyone feels and behaves. In this therapy, you’ll learn to recognize unhealthy patterns, such as communication issues or role imbalances, and work together to address them. This approach helps break cycles, generational cycles,  of conflict and fosters healthier, more supportive relationships. Over time, Family Systems Therapy can reduce tension, improve communication, and strengthen family bonds, making it easier to navigate challenges together.

Improving Communication (download pdf)

Improving communication in parenting helps you identify and change unhelpful patterns in how you talk to and listen to your child. The way you communicate directly impacts your relationship with your child and how they respond to you. In therapy, you'll learn what is not working, and find a strategy that does!  Validating and recognizing communication barriers, misunderstandings or frustration, and replacing them with clearer, more effective ways to express expectations and emotions. This process reduces conflict and promotes understanding, making it easier to guide and support your child. Over time, improving communication strengthens your bond with your child and creates a more positive, open family dynamic that lasts a lifetime (and beyond as generational patterns re-develop).

You’re doing more than you realize. Let’s support you too.

  • If you're ready to take the first step towards fixing or amending your relationship, reach out today about Parental counseling.
  • With the help of a trained professional, you can learn the skills and strategies you need to thrive and be happy. Don't wait any longer to get the support you or your child deserves.
  • Contact me today to learn more about how Parental counseling can help you.

Ready to Begin Therapy in Skokie or Northfield or Online?

Counseling Services at Lynn Zakeri LCSW and Associates

We offer Online Therapy, In-Person Therapy, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,  LGBTQ+, EMDR Therapy, Young Adult/College Transitions Marriage/Family/Divorce/Couples, Anxiety, Parenting, Self-Esteem and more!

Other Ways to See Lynn Zakeri!

Follow me on Tik Tok, Instagram, and Youtube @lynnzakerilcsw, where I post videos about my style and other strategies and  tips for therapy!