Throughout her years working with children, Melissa repeatedly observed how a child’s environment significantly influenced the concerns parents brought to therapy. She understood that kids are deeply embedded within a family system and that working with the entire system was necessary for positive change. 

Melissa’s commitment to helping children led her to expand her focus beyond individual therapy sessions. As she offered more parenting support, she witnessed a remarkable transformation in children’s lives, resulting in happier families and increased fulfillment in her career. “Sometimes I feel like the parenting education I can now offer parents is more effective than the therapy I’m doing with their kids.”

The Power of Effective Parenting

Melissa firmly believes that individuals’ childhood experiences often shape parenting behavior. Recognizing this, she understands that teaching parents more loving and effective parenting practices can have a profound impact not only on the current generation but also on future ones.

By empowering parents with best practices and guidance, Melissa envisions creating a ripple effect that positively shapes families for future generations. Ethically and professionally driven, Melissa added parent coaching to her practice, ensuring her support is grounded in well-researched, evidence-based methods.

A One-Stop Shop for Families

Melissa’s motivation to integrate parent coaching into her practice extended beyond ethical considerations. She aimed to create a comprehensive, one-stop shop where families could receive support and guidance for their children and themselves as parents. By offering parent coaching alongside child therapy, Melissa recognized the potential to holistically address the entire family’s needs. This inclusive approach aligned with her vision of empowering families to thrive.

She’s now hired additional therapists to work in her practice who work with the children in play and adolescent therapy so that she can focus her time on working with parents, which is her true passion.

Expanding Support and Material

Melissa has successfully marketed her parenting program to both existing clients and new families, responding to the growing demand for parental guidance and support. To meet the diverse needs of parents, she has created self-paced resources, such as workbooks and videos, allowing families to learn and grow at their own pace.

This initiative not only enhances the effectiveness of her coaching but also generates a passive income stream. Melissa’s plans include further expanding her programs to cover niche areas of parenting, enabling her to address specific challenges and provide tailored support.

The Intersection of Parent Coaching and Therapy

Melissa seamlessly integrates parent coaching into her practice, working with parents as coaching clients and incorporating the program when appropriate in her therapy sessions. However, she acknowledges the limitations imposed by her therapy license, which restricts her to only working with clients within specific states. To reach a broader audience, Melissa is considering establishing a separate business exclusively dedicated to parent coaching, expanding her reach and impact beyond geographical boundaries.

The Importance of Specialized Training

Melissa emphasizes the significance of specialized training for therapists working with children and families. She highlights the distinct nature of working with kids, as they respond differently than adults. Understanding child development and effective communication with both children and parents/caregivers are crucial skills. Melissa recognizes the value of being a trained parent coach, as it equips therapists with the tools, confidence, and credentials to positively impact the entire family unit.

Melissa Griffing's journey from child therapy to parent coaching exemplifies the evolving landscape of therapeutic practices. By recognizing the importance of the family system and empowering parents with effective parenting strategies she feels that she’s got a far greater ability to impact the children she serves by ensuring that the work is supported when they go home.

Therapist Spotlights