Child Wellbeing

When your child is struggling, it can be hard to feel okay yourself.

Few things affect a parent as deeply as concern for their child. When your child is facing a medical condition, emotional difficulty, behavioral challenge, developmental concern, or other ongoing need, the worry can extend into nearly every part of your life.

You may find yourself constantly thinking about your child’s needs, questioning whether you’re making the right decisions, researching late at night, or trying to anticipate what might happen next. At the same time, you’re still managing the everyday work of parenting, relationships, work, and family life.

Parents often become exceptionally skilled at finding help for their children while putting their own wellbeing further and further down the list.

At Magnify Family Wellness, therapy is designed for parents whose own emotional wellbeing has been affected by concern for or the demands of caring for their child. Your child does not need to be my patient for the challenges they are experiencing to be an important part of our work together.

Research shows that parents caring for children with chronic health conditions, developmental differences, and other ongoing needs can experience higher levels of parenting stress and psychological distress.

cousino & Hazen, 2013
Have you noticed

Therapy May Be Helpful If You:

  • Feel persistently worried about your child’s health, development, emotions, behavior, or future

  • Find yourself constantly researching, monitoring, anticipating, or trying to prevent problems

  • Feel overwhelmed by appointments, treatment decisions, school concerns, or navigating systems of care

  • Struggle with uncertainty about what your child needs or what the future might hold

  • Feel guilt, self-doubt, or pressure to make the “right” parenting decisions

  • Feel depleted by managing difficult behaviors or high levels of emotional need

  • Notice that stress surrounding your child is affecting your relationship with your partner or other children

  • Feel isolated from parents whose families seem to be having an easier time

  • Find it difficult to make space for your own needs without feeling guilty

  • Feel like you are always functioning in problem-solving or crisis-management mode

  • Want a place where you don’t have to be the strong one

You do not have to wait until you are completely overwhelmed to seek support.

Supporting the parent behind the parenting

When parents feel supported, emotionally regulated, and confident in their approach, they're often better equipped to respond to their child's needs with patience, consistency, and flexibility.
How Therapy can help

The Magnify Approach

Dr. Tessa Kritikos brings extensive training and experience in the mental, emotional, and behavioral health of children, including supporting children and families as they navigate medical and developmental challenges. This background allows her to support you as a parent while also bringing a deep understanding of child development and well-being to the concerns you’re navigating together.

Depending on your needs, we might work together on:

  • Coping with worry, uncertainty, grief, or difficult emotions related to your child

  • Managing the mental load that comes with coordinating care and advocating for your child

  • Identifying what you can control—and learning to tolerate what you cannot

  • Responding to challenging behaviors without becoming emotionally depleted

  • Navigating guilt, self-criticism, comparison, and fears about whether you are “doing enough”

  • Developing practical strategies for managing stress and preventing parental burnout

  • Making difficult parenting or treatment decisions in a way that reflects your family’s values

  • Protecting your relationship with your partner and maintaining connection within your family

  • Finding ways to care for yourself that are realistic within the demands of your current season

  • Recognizing what is going well, even while acknowledging what is hard

My approach is collaborative, strengths-based, and grounded in evidence-based therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). We'll focus on practical strategies that align with your values and help you respond to parenting challenges with greater flexibility and confidence.