Child-Parent Relationship Therapy

Build Deeper Connections With Your Child

As a parent, you want what’s best for your child, but it can be difficult to know how to support them when they’re struggling with emotional or behavioral challenges.

Child-Parent Relationship Therapy is designed to help you and your child become more connected and secure in your relationship, providing stronger bonds that will last a lifetime.

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Schedule Appointment

Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Goals

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Enhance Emotional Connections

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Improve Communication

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Reduce Symptoms of Anxiety

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Reduce Symptoms of Depression

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Learn How to Manage Life Transitions

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Improve Negative Thoughts & Behaviors

Child-Parent Relationship Therapy at Start My Wellness

The bond between a parent and child is one of the most important factors in a child’s emotional and behavioral development. When children struggle with these issues, it can impact their self-esteem, confidence, and long-term well-being. Research supports that a strong parent-child bond provides a child with a sense of security, the ability to form secure attachments, confidence to problem-solve and explore challenges, and emotional resilience when facing challenges.

CPRT is an evidence-based process that addresses a child’s potential behavioral or emotional challenges by strengthening this essential bond. Based on the principles of child-centered play therapy, CPRT helps children ages 3-10 and their parents enhance their emotional connection through the natural language of play. Children are encouraged to guide therapy, express their emotions, learn problem-solving skills, and become more self-aware and communicative. Parents actively participate in each session, learning techniques to help their child feel understood, supported, and valued.

father and son playing video games together and smiling

How Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Can Help

Child-Parent Relationship Therapy gives children tools to improve communication and cope with stressful situations. For parents, it helps you better understand and support your child’s needs. In strengthening the connection between parent and child, CPRT promotes secure attachment and long-term emotional well-being for both children and parents.

Behavior Problems

Loss and Grief

Problems Maintaining Attention

Mood Problems

Depression

Social Problems

Self-Esteem Problems

Anxiety

Defiance or Anger Problems

Coping with Trauma

Problems Making Friends

Non-Specific Problems

Benefits of Child-Parent Relationship Therapy: Build Stronger Bonds and Empower Your Child’s Emotional Health

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Improved Communication

CPRT empowers you with the tools to communicate with your child effectively and learn to listen to their needs and concerns more directly.

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Stronger Emotional Bonds

By interacting with your child with empathy, respect, and patience, you’ll develop a deeper bond built on a foundation of trust and security.

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Enhanced Parenting Skills

CPRT provides you with practical, actionable techniques tailored to your child’s unique needs and considerations.

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Decreased Behavioral Problems

In CPRT, children learn to express their emotions effectively and how to manage intense emotions or outbursts. Additionally, parents can learn to better understand their child’s needs and model cooperative behavior.

Our Our Licensed Child Therapists

Claudia Cacciato, LMSW, CAADC

Therapist

Specialties

Type of Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Humanistic Therapy, Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy

Patient Population

Adults, Families, Teens

Issue Focus

Academic / Career, Anxiety / Depression, Codependency, Chronic Illness, Grief and Loss, LGBTQIA+, Life Transitions, Personal Empowerment, PTSD / Trauma, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Thought Disorders

Insurance Accepted

Aetna, Blue Care Network, BCBS, Priority Health, Self Pay

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Karelyn Dippel, LLMSW

Therapist

Specialties

Type of Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Family Therapy

Patient Population

Adults, Families, Kids, Teens

Issue Focus

Academic / Career, Grief and Loss, LGBTQIA+, PTSD / Trauma, Relationships

Insurance Accepted

Aetna, BCBS, Priority Health, Self Pay

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Anton Babushkin, PhD, LMSW

Therapist / CEO

Specialties

Type of Therapy

Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Therapy

Patient Population

Adults, Families, Kids

Issue Focus

Academic / Career, Anxiety / Depression, Relationships

Insurance Accepted

Aetna, Blue Care Network, BCBS, Priority Health, Self Pay

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Elizabeth Kjar, M.ed, LLMSW

Therapist

Specialties

Type of Therapy

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Related Empowerment Therapy

Patient Population

Adults, Families, Kids, Teens

Issue Focus

Academic / Career, ADHD, Anxiety / Depression, BIPOC, Grief and Loss, Life Transitions, Mood Disorders, Personal Empowerment, PTSD / Trauma, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Substance Abuse, Thought Disorders

Insurance Accepted

Aetna, BCBS, Priority Health, Self Pay

Read Full Bio +

Make an Appointment

To get started with Start My Wellness, schedule an appointment online or call 248-514-4955. During the scheduling process, we will ask questions to match you with the therapist who will best meet your needs including service type, emotional symptoms and availability.

Call (248) 514-4955

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Schedule Appointment Online

Frequently Asked Questions About Child-Parent Relationship Therapy

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What is Child-Parent Relationship Therapy?

Child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT) helps strengthen the bond between child and caregiver by improving communication and addressing attachment issues for young children (ages 3-10). It’s based on the same principles as child-centered play therapy but involves more direct parental involvement.

What Happens in Child-Parent Therapy Sessions?

Children and parents work in a safe, supportive environment in child therapy sessions to express feelings, develop coping skills, and address behavioral and emotional challenges. Sessions are conducted with the child, parent, and therapist or in group formats of 5-8 parents. Initial sessions often focus on skills training and education for parents, with additional sessions to apply skills learned in play therapy sessions.

How Involved in Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Will I Be as a Parent?

Parents are actively involved in CPRT. Throughout the process, you’ll learn how to respond to your child’s emotional needs, set boundaries, and practice empathy, in addition to play sessions with your child and therapist. These strategies are long-term, meaning you can apply them at home and continue to reinforce therapeutic principles for long-term positive change.

As a Parent, How Can I Help My Child Outside of Therapy?

Your involvement is crucial to your child’s success in CPRT and, more importantly, their long-term mental health after therapy ends. As a parent, you are your child’s biggest ally, and you can help them by reinforcing therapeutic strategies at home, modeling constructive behavior, and monitoring their mental health to ensure they have the security and support they need.

Can Family Be Involved in Child-Parent Relationship Therapy?

While CPRT focuses on the parent-child relationship, family members can play a supportive role, especially through education. In some cases, family therapy may be recommended to address broader family dynamics, such as the loss of a loved one or parental separation.

How Will Play Therapy Help My Child?

Play therapy is particularly helpful for younger children, allowing them to express themselves non-verbally, build self-esteem, develop problem-solving skills, and better engage in therapy. Play is the natural language of children, and the child-centered nature of CPRT allows children to express themselves and develop autonomy constructively, leading to better self-esteem and confidence.

What Are the Goals of Child-Parent Relationship Therapy?

The primary goal of CPRT is to strengthen the emotional connection between child and parent to improve your child’s security, self-esteem, and mental well-being. Additionally, CPRT aims to provide parents with practical tools and strategies to manage behavioral challenges, set boundaries, and listen to their child’s needs. Ultimately, it promotes a nurturing relationship where both parent and child feel understood and supported.

What Causes a Bad Parent-Child Relationship?

A strained parent-child relationship can be caused by several factors, including lack of consistent parenting or poor communication. However, it often occurs due to external factors largely out of parents’ control, such as school issues, losing a loved one, divorce, or major life transitions. Regardless of the direct causes, CPRT helps parents and children strengthen their bond and develop a more secure relationship through consistent communication, parental education, and emotional validation.

How to Repair a Parent-Child Relationship?

Repairing a parent-child relationship starts with letting your child know you love and support them unconditionally and are directly invested in their needs. In CPRT, parents learn to create a safe, supportive environment where their child feels valued and heard, allowing them to communicate their needs better and know they are secure in their emotional attachments.

Is CPRT the same as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?

While CPRT and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) both focus on improving the parent-child relationship, they have different approaches. CPRT is rooted in child-centered play therapy and emphasizes helping parents connect emotionally with their child while the therapist is directly present. PCIT involves live coaching, where parents and children interact without the therapist immediately present, and therapists guide parents through an earpiece from an observation room.