Defiance & meltdowns
Power struggles, backtalk, tantrums that go nuclear, and consequences that stopped working months ago.
Parenting Support · Prairieville, Louisiana
Parenting help for the days you've tried everything.
You've read the books, tried the charts, lost your temper and felt awful about it. Most parents I see are doing far better than they think and are simply out of ideas for this particular kid. I'm Melissa Shaw, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 24 years of experience with children, teens and the parents raising them.
- Confidential, in person
- Parents welcome without the child
- Accepting new clients
What parents bring in
Common reasons parents call
Screens, sleep & routines
Phones and gaming, homework battles, bedtime, and mornings that start the day in a fight.
Co-parenting & blended families
Two houses with two sets of rules, stepparent roles, and keeping children out of the middle.
Worry about your child
Anxiety, sadness, anger or a change you can't explain, and whether your child needs their own counselor.
How parenting work goes
A plan for your child, not a generic one
We start with what actually happens at your house: the specific moments that go sideways, what you've already tried, and what your child does in response. Then we build an approach that fits this child and that you can realistically keep up.
A lot of parenting work is about the adults: staying steady when your child isn't, repairing after a blow-up, and getting two parents on the same page so kids can't split the difference.
Many parents come in without their child at all, and that works. Changing what you do changes the pattern at home. If your child would also benefit from their own sessions, I see children and teens too, so nothing has to be repeated to a new person.
I've also worked with adolescents in treatment settings and schools, so if what you're facing is bigger than typical behavior, I'll tell you plainly and help you find the right level of support.
And I've parented from newborn through the second year of college, and I'm not finished. I know what these years actually ask of you.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
- Family Systems
- Strength-Based
- Christian Counseling (on request)
Practical details
Sessions, fees and location
$160Parent or individual session
$280Both parents together
15 minComplimentary consultation
A small number of reduced-fee time slots may be available. They are limited, set at specific times, require documentation of income, and often have a waiting list, so please ask at your consultation. I don't bill insurance, and I accept cash or check.
Office hours
- Monday
- 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Tuesday
- 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Thursday
- 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Friday
- 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (alternating weeks)
Daytime times are often easiest for parents while children are at school.
Location
15655 Airline Hwy
Prairieville, LA 70769
Serving Prairieville, Gonzales, St. Amant and Baton Rouge, including the Highland Road area. All sessions are held in person, a short drive down Airline Highway.
Questions
Parents usually ask
Can I come without my child?
Yes, and many parents do. What you change at home often moves things more than sessions with your child would.
Does this mean I am a bad parent?
No. Wanting help is not a failing. Most parents I see are exhausted, not inadequate, and usually they are closer to the answer than they realize.
What about co-parenting after a divorce?
That is common work here: two households, different rules, and keeping the children out of the middle. Parents can come together or separately.
Do you see the child too?
I can. I work with children, teens and families, so your child can be seen by the same person who already knows your family.
Do you take insurance?
No. I'm private pay and accept cash or check. Sessions are $160. A small number of reduced-fee time slots may be available with documentation of income. They are limited and may have a waiting list.
Contact
Let's talk about your family
Reach out to request a complimentary 15-minute consultation. I'll get back to you as soon as I can, usually within one business day.
To protect your privacy, please don't include detailed health information in this form. We can talk about that on the phone.