Online Parent Coaching with a Licensed Therapist

Parent coaching is a skills-based service where a licensed therapist teaches you specific, evidence-based strategies to manage your child's behavior, reduce conflict at home, and support their emotional development. You learn the skills, practice them with your therapist, and apply them at home between sessions.

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Licensed Therapists
Evidence-based approaches
Trusted by 2,000+ families
Smiling family with a young child posing together.
Book free consult
Licensed Therapists
Evidence-based approaches
Trusted by 2,000+ families

What is Parent Coaching?

Parent coaching is a practical, skills-based service where a licensed therapist teaches you strategies to support your child's behavior and emotional development through the challenges they face. It's not general parenting advice and it's not therapy for you. It's structured, one-on-one sessions focused on giving you tools that work for your specific child and your specific family.
Smiling man and woman looking at a laptop while sitting at a table with a notebook and mug.

What parent coaching teaches you

Respond to tantrums and outbursts
Specific techniques for de-escalating conflict without yelling, threatening, or giving in
Support anxious or avoidant behavior
How to help your child face fears and build resilience without accidentally reinforcing the anxiety.
Create structure and consistency
Routines, expectations, and follow-through that actually stick, even when your child pushes back.
Communicate so your child listens
Language and techniques that reduce power struggles and strengthen your connection.
Manage ADHD-related challenges
Strategies for impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, homework battles, and transitions that work with how your child's brain operates.
Apply skills in daily life
Everything you learn is designed to be used at home, at school pickup, at bedtime, in the car, wherever it matters.
Smiling woman hugging a happy girl with curly hair indoors.

Evidence-based, not generic advice

Handspring parent coaching uses BPT (behavioral parent training), one of the most researched methods in child psychology. Your therapist doesn't just give advice. They teach specific techniques, model them, and practice them with you in session.

Licensed therapists, not coaches

Many "parent coaches" online hold no clinical license. Every Handspring session is led by a fully licensed therapist with specialized training in child and adolescent mental health, supported by a clinical supervision team.

Works alongside child therapy or on its own

Many families start with parent coaching alone. Others use it alongside their child's therapy to amplify results. Research shows parent involvement is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes for children in treatment.

Real Results for Families

96%

of parents reported meaningful improvements in their child’s daily life after therapy at Handspring

65-70%

BPT reduces disruptive behaviors in 65-70% of children

2000+

Trusted by 2,000+ families across 9 states

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How Parent Coaching Works

1

Free Consult

Start with a free 30-minute call. Share what's going on with your child, ask questions, and learn how Handspring works. We help you decide whether parent coaching, child therapy, or both is the right fit. We verify your insurance during this call.

2

Therapist Matching

We match you with a licensed therapist based on your child's specific challenges, your family dynamic, and your goals. No waitlist. Most families are in their first session within a week.

3

Weekly Virtual Sessions

Meet with your therapist weekly via secure video, typically 45 minutes. Your therapist teaches specific techniques, models them, and practices them with you in real time. You apply what you learn at home between sessions, and your therapist helps you refine and troubleshoot as you go.

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Who Benefits from Parent Coaching

Behavioral Challenges
Frequent tantrums, defiance, emotional outbursts, or daily power struggles. Parent coaching teaches you structured responses that de-escalate conflict and reinforce positive behavior over time.
ADHD
ADHD creates unique parenting challenges around impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, routines, and homework. BPT is a first-line treatment recommendation for managing ADHD behavioral challenges at home.
Anxiety-Driven Behaviors
When your child's anxiety causes avoidance, clinginess, school refusal, or meltdowns. Parent coaching teaches you how to support your anxious child without accidentally reinforcing the anxiety.
Parent-Child Conflict
Constant arguing, emotional distance, or communication that's broken down. Parent coaching rebuilds communication patterns and helps you reconnect with your child.
Divorce or Family Transitions
Major life changes create stress for the whole family. Parent coaching helps you support your child through transitions with consistency and stability.
School Refusal
When getting your child to school becomes a daily battle. Parent coaching gives you specific strategies for managing the morning routine, reducing avoidance, and building your child's confidence to return.
Parenting a Child in Therapy
If your child is already in therapy at Handspring, parent coaching amplifies those results. Research shows parent involvement dramatically improves therapy outcomes for children.
OCD-Related Behaviors
When your child's OCD rituals affect the whole family. Parent coaching teaches you how to respond to compulsive behaviors without accommodating them, which is essential for treatment progress.
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How Handspring Compares

Unlicensed Coaches

Parenting Classes

Licensed clinicians
Licensed clinicians
Fully licensed therapists
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Not clinically licensed
Facilitators, not clinicians
Therapist matching
Therapist matching
Matched to your child's needs
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You find and choose on your own
Assigned instructor, not personalized
Personalized to your child
Personalized to your child
Tailored to your child and family
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Varies widely
General curriculum, not individualized
Evidence-based method
Evidence-based method
BPT and proven approaches
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Often not evidence-based
General strategies
Insurance accepted
Insurance accepted
Most major plans, under $30/session
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Out of pocket, $100-300/session
Out of pocket or employer-sponsored
Coordinates with child therapy
Coordinates with child therapy
Same practice, shared treatment goals
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Separate from any therapy
No clinical coordination
Clinical oversight
Clinical oversight
Supported by a Clinical Team
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No oversight or accountability
No clinical oversight

What Parents Are Saying About Parent Coaching

5 stars

"Christine not only worked with my daughter, but also gave me things that I could do at home to help the process along. She took our concerns seriously and celebrated my daughter's successes. Christine embodies what a therapist should be."

— Real Handspring parent
5 stars

"Ryan helped our son gain many tools to process big emotions, and my husband and I learned a lot as well. Thank you, Ryan and Handspring!"

– Real Handspring parent
5 stars

"Before Handspring, we felt like we were almost held captive in our own family with our daughter's behavior patterns. Dorry gave her the confidence to express herself and the tools to regulate her emotions. We couldn't be happier with the change and growth we've seen."

– Real Handspring parent

Meet our expert therapists

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Clinician Headshot

Aliza Kaplan

LCSW
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Aurora Butler

LMHC
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Michael Rodriguez

LPC
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Ryan Hutchings

LMFT
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Sidney Rice

LCSW
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Serena Bednarczyk

LPC
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Lindsay Gonyeau

LCSW
Clinician Headshot

Laura Murillo

LMFT
Clinician Headshot

Anthony Savio

LPC
Clinician Headshot

Katerina Tegeler

LPC
Clinician Headshot

Christine Saint-Cyr

LPC
Clinician Headshot

Nicole Bieniasz

LCSW

Insurance and Pricing for Parent Coaching

No surprise bills. We verify your benefits during the free consult before you commit to anything.

Insurance Accepted

In-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Oscar, and Optum.

Under $30 per session

Most Handspring families pay less than $30 per session with insurance.

Free First Consult

Your first 30-minute call is always free. Without insurance, sessions are $125 to $175 depending on your state.

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We’ll verify your insurance.
United States map highlighting nine states in teal including California, Washington, Florida, Georgia, and Northeast states
United States map highlighting nine states in teal including California, Washington, Florida, Georgia, and Northeast states
Smiling mother and daughter with natural curly hair embracing in warm hug at home

Parent Coaching FAQs

Is parent coaching therapy for me or for my child?

Parent coaching is focused on you as the parent. You learn specific skills and strategies to manage your child's behavior and support their emotional development. Your child does not attend parent coaching sessions.

Do I need to start child therapy first?

No. Many families begin with parent coaching alone. It's a standalone service for parents of children ages 2 and up. If child therapy would also be helpful, we can coordinate both.

What if my child already has a therapist?

Parent coaching complements your child's therapy and helps equip you with tools to reinforce progress at home. For many challenges, combining parent coaching with child therapy produces the strongest outcomes.

What is behavioral parent training (BPT)?

BPT is the evidence-based method used in Handspring parent coaching. It's a structured, research-backed approach where your therapist teaches you specific techniques for managing your child's behavior, then models and practices them with you in session. BPT is considered a first-line treatment for childhood behavioral challenges, including ADHD.

What's the difference between parent coaching and parent therapy?

Parent coaching focuses on your child. You learn skills (through BPT) to manage their behavior and support their development. Parent therapy (also called parenting therapy or parent counseling) is individual therapy for you as the parent, focused on your own stress, anxiety, or emotional challenges. They're two distinct services. Handspring offers both. Let us know during your free consult which fits your needs.

Does parent coaching work for ADHD?

Yes. BPT is a first-line treatment recommendation for managing ADHD-related behavioral challenges, including impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, trouble with routines, and homework conflicts. Parent coaching gives you ADHD-specific strategies that work with how your child's brain operates.

What does the first session look like?

Your therapist gets to know your family, asks about your child's specific behavioral patterns, and understands the situations that cause the most difficulty. Together you set clear goals for what you want to change. It's conversational, not clinical. By the end, you'll have a plan.

How long does parent coaching take?

Most families experience meaningful improvement within 6 to 12 weekly sessions. Your therapist sets clear goals from the start and tracks progress throughout. Sessions are typically 45 minutes.

Can both parents participate?

Yes. Both parents or caregivers are encouraged to attend together. Consistency between caregivers is one of the most important factors in behavioral change, so having both parents aligned dramatically improves outcomes.

How is Handspring different from a parenting coach I found online?

Most "parent coaches" online are not licensed therapists. They may hold a coaching certification but lack formal clinical training. Handspring's parent coaching is delivered by fully licensed clinicians using BPT with decades of clinical evidence, backed by a clinical supervision team, and covered by insurance.

What ages is parent coaching for?

Parent coaching is available for parents of children ages 2 and up. It's especially effective for parents of children ages 2 to 12, though we also work with parents of teens when behavioral strategies are the primary focus.

Does Handspring accept my insurance?

Handspring is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Oscar, and Optum. Most families pay under $30 per session. Benefits are verified during your free consult before you commit.

Does Handspring offer medication management?

Yes. Medication management is available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida. If your child may benefit from a combined therapy and medication approach, your therapist and prescriber coordinate care together.

Who delivers Handspring's parent coaching?

All Handspring parent coaching is delivered by licensed therapists with specialized training in child and adolescent mental health. Every clinician is supported by Handspring's clinical supervision team and reviewed regularly for quality of care.

Get Started with Parent Coaching Today

Parenting a child with behavioral or emotional challenges is exhausting. No waitlist, no referral needed, and your first consult is always free.
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