Parenting Skills Therapy on the Upper West Side
Numerous messages are circulating about how we should look. Everywhere you turn, another TikToker or streamer is talking
If it feels like someone forgot to give you the manual with your kids, if there are lots of big feelings, tantrums, arguments, and stress at home, or if it feels like your child just doesn’t listen – parenting sessions can help.
Parenting skills therapy is a focused parent coaching approach for real-life challenges. We’ll map your child’s behavior patterns together, figure out why things aren’t working, and give you concrete tools to make changes that are grounded in child behavior research. We teach you to understand your children so you can connect with them and create healthy boundaries that make the whole family function better together.
Sessions are in person on the Upper West Side or online anywhere in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
about intuitive eating, the best skinny foods, or how to achieve that perfect gym body.
In addition to all the pop culture chatter, families often also focus on food and body shape. Maybe your grandma likes to comment on whether you’re too skinny, or your mom gives you a look every time you reach for dessert. When you put it all together, most people have some hang-ups about their bodies and food. We’re here to help you with that.
Our psychologists on the Upper West Side offer non-judgmental skills-based support for both eating disorders and disordered eating, as well as body image concerns. We keep plans realistic and practical, with steps that will help you live a more fulfilling, happier life.
Meet in person near Central Park or online anywhere in New York or New Jersey.
When Parenting Skills Therapy Helps
- Your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, or you suspect they might have ADHD.
- Tantrums, fights with siblings, and difficulty listening to parents are everyday occurrences.
- You don’t know how to respond when your son or daughter is crying, yelling, or generally exhibiting big feelings. You want to be a parent who yells less, and enjoys more.
- Your child has a lot of anxious, clingy behaviors, like difficulty with separation or bedtime routines, and nothing you do seems to help.
- Your child doesn’t want to come to therapy, but you know things need to change.
If you checked any of these boxes, parenting skills therapy may be right for you.
Measuring Progress
Progress shouldn’t be a guess. We set goals for change with you, and keep track together if things are improving. Each week we agree in session on what you want to work on, and then check back in the following week to how it went, and what might need adjusting.
Working With Anxiety, OCD, or & ADHD Traits
When anxiety is in the mix, we use research-informed steps to reduce accommodations and grow independence (more on SPACE Therapy for Childhood Anxiety).
For OCD or ritualized “just-right” urges, we make parenting language exposure-supportive so home matches therapy (see Child Therapy for Anxiety & OCD).
For impulsive, hyperactive, or inattentive kiddos we help you learn how to give simple prompts, get kids to listen, and how to reward behaviors effectively. We also focus on non-punitive effective consequences and positive praise, so you can stop yelling and start connecting.
If live parent-child coaching is appropriate, we may recommend Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). A broader view of our child/teen care lives is available on Child Psychologist, where you can read age-specific therapy pages, such as CBT for Children and Teen Therapy for Stress & School Issues.
Working With Anxiety, OCD, or & ADHD Traits
Suppose we see medical instability, purging, rapid weight change, severe restriction/over-exercise, or high day-to-day impairment. In that case, we’ll discuss options and help you connect with the right support. Your safety comes first; we’ll stay involved as a bridge when helpful.
In-Person on the UWS & Secure Telehealth (NY, NJ, and CT)
Meet in our quiet office near Central Park, conveniently located at 241 Central Park West # 1D, or by HIPAA-secure video from anywhere in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
Many families choose a hybrid plan—utilizing telehealth on busy weeks and in-person sessions when live coaching is beneficial. For video details, see Online Therapy (Telehealth Counseling).
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from PCIT or SPACE?
PCIT includes live parent-child coaching with an earpiece during play and limit-setting. SPACE is parent-only and targets accommodations around anxiety/OCD.
Parenting skills therapy is a more general behavioral approach that helps improve the parent child relationship, limit setting, and follow-through.
Do kids attend sessions?
We may meet with your child as part of our evaluation, depending on your individual family’s needs. We design the treatment plan with you, and decide together if your child would benefit from individual sessions or if we want to focus on parent coaching alone.
How long before we notice changes?
It varies. Many research protocols are 12-16 sessions, so we expect to see some improvement in that time frame. However, every family and child is different, and how long we work together will depend on your individualized treatment plan
Will this work if siblings have different needs?
We’ll stabilize routines with one child first, then generalize. We can also create brief, structured sibling plans to reduce conflict.
What if we’ve tried charts and rewards before?
Most systems fail because they’re too complex or are missing key behavioral components
We keep tools simple and sustainable—and we tweak them weekly until they work for your family.
Start With One Conversation
Call (917) 972-5671 or request an appointment.
Location
241 Central Park W # 1D, New York, NY 10024
Phone: (917) 972-5671
Email: info@gordontherapygroup.com
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Saturday – Sunday: Closed