Therapy for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Kids in Illinois
You're not making this up. Your kid's school keeps calling. Sleep is a mess. Getting out the door in the morning is a fight. And somehow you're supposed to keep showing up at work like nothing's happening.
I work with families raising kids who don't fit the standard playbook. Kids with neurodevelopmental diagnoses like ADHD or autism, kids whose neuropsych eval surfaced more than anyone expected, kids dealing with anxiety, school refusal, and the medical comorbidities (encopresis, enuresis) that often come along.
Some parents find me right after a diagnosis. Others have been managing it for years and are tired. Families often share that they've already tried other therapies but haven't seen enough progress.
Who I work with
- Parents of kids 4-12 with a recent ADHD or autism diagnosis
- Parents of kids struggling with social-emotional and behavioral issues at home or school
- Families navigating school behavior calls, IEP fights, and teacher meetings
- Parents of kids dealing with encopresis (soiling) or enuresis (bedwetting) past the age it should have stopped
- Parents managing comorbid anxiety, school refusal, or social struggles alongside neurodivergence
- Co-parents on different pages about how to handle behavior at home
How I work
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the foundation, with skills drawn from DBT and solution-focused (SFBT) approaches where they fit. Parenting work is generally collaborative. I bring what the research says about behavioral approaches for these specific situations. You bring what your kid is actually like and what's been tried.
When the situation calls for it, I'll be more directive. Behavioral protocols for bedwetting and soiling are a good example. There's a structured approach that works, and parents need clear steps to follow.
When you need room to think out loud about something harder (a marital fight about parenting, a fear about your kid's future, your own exhaustion), I step back and let you lead.
What therapy actually looks like
Parent training protocols typically run a few months. We start with a 90-minute intake to get the whole picture, then move to weekly 50-minute sessions. Some weeks are about a specific behavior strategy. Some weeks are about you. Some kids participate in sessions; some don't.
Years of academic medical-center research and shared cases with a neuropsychologist colleague inform how I think about these families. When I don't know something, I say so and figure it out. You can read more about my background on the About page.
First step
A free 15-minute call. You tell me what's going on. I tell you whether this fits the work I do well and what to expect if we work together.
Frequently asked questions
My kid just got an ADHD diagnosis. What does parent therapy even mean?
Parent therapy means we work together on how you respond to your kid, what structure helps, what doesn't, and how to navigate school, sleep, mealtimes, and meltdowns. Sometimes your kid joins sessions. Often they don't. The research supports targeted parent work as a high-impact intervention for many ADHD families.
Do you treat encopresis or enuresis specifically?
Yes. Both encopresis (soiling) and enuresis (bedwetting) past the typical age can be treated effectively, often within a few months. The approach is behavioral and structured. I work with the family on a clear protocol, coordinate with the pediatrician when needed, and address any anxiety or shame your kid is carrying about it.
My kid is on the spectrum. Do you have autism experience?
Yes. I work with families across the spectrum, including kids who are also dealing with sleep, food, anxiety, school behavior, or comorbid medical issues. Each kid is different. The work is usually parent-led for younger kids and a mix of kid + parent for older ones.
We're in Decatur. Are you actually local?
The practice is based in the Forsyth and Decatur area and works with families across Illinois. Sessions are often virtual, which usually fits the school-and-work schedule better than driving to an office. In-person sessions may be available upon request. I also work with families virtually in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Washington.