Big behaviors are usually big feelings in disguise.

If your child is melting down, acting out at school, defying every request, or struggling to manage their reactions — you're probably exhausted. And possibly wondering what you're doing wrong.

The answer is almost certainly: nothing.

Challenging behavior in children is almost always communication. It's what happens when a child has feelings they don't have the words for, or experiences they don't know how to process. The behavior is the message.

What I help families navigate

• •Frequent meltdowns and emotional dysregulation
• •Aggression (hitting, biting, throwing)
• •Defiance and oppositional behavior
• •School refusal or behavioral challenges at school
• •Difficulty with transitions or unexpected change
• •ADHD-related impulsivity and emotional reactivity

How I work with behavioral concerns

I work with both the child and the family. We'll start by understanding what's underneath the behavior — not just managing the surface. Play therapy gives children a way to process the feelings driving their behavior. Parent work helps you understand what's happening and respond in ways that actually help.

You're not failing. And neither is your child.