Family counseling for a more connected family.

The Need for Relational Safety

Online Family Therapy in California to Reconnect with Your Child

When Parenting Feels Like You’re Not Getting Through

As parents, we often feel like we’re on a constant quest to connect with our children—especially when their behavior feels distant, erratic, or overwhelming. It’s emotionally exhausting when you pour your heart into supporting your child, only to feel like nothing is working. You’re not just tired. You’re carrying the invisible weight of worry, fear, and disconnection.

This struggle is deeply real—and it’s not just emotional, it’s biological.

From the moment we become parents, we’re hardwired to bond, nurture, and create safety. But when your child is neurodivergent—when you’re parenting through ADHD, autism, giftedness, trauma, or a 2e profile—your best efforts may not seem to land. And that can feel profoundly isolating.

That’s why I offer online family therapy in California—a flexible, relational approach that helps parents reconnect with their children and create healing change at home.

Understanding the Nervous System Behind the Behavior

Your child’s behaviors are more than just defiance or disinterest. They’re communication. According to polyvagal theory and interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB), our nervous systems are designed to co-regulate—to sense each other’s cues of safety or danger.

So when your child is dysregulated, and you feel like you're not being heard or seen, it's not a failure in communication. It's a nervous system out of sync.

That’s why therapy focused on co-regulation, connection, and attunement is so effective—especially when it’s tailored to families navigating developmental trauma, ADHD, autism, or intense giftedness. These children experience the world differently, and understanding that difference is the first step in building emotional safety and trust.

Through online family therapy in California, I help parents move beyond surface-level strategies and into deep, sustainable change. You’ll learn how to attune to your child’s emotional state, respond in ways that calm the storm, and repair ruptures in the relationship.

Why Online Family Therapy Works for Today’s Families

Online therapy is convenient and effective—especially for families navigating stress, transitions, or behavioral complexity. When I meet with families virtually, we get to work in your real environment, in real time. You don’t have to pack everyone into the car or worry about your child’s behavior in a waiting room.

With online family therapy in California, you gain:

  • Immediate access to help, wherever you are in the state

  • Reduced overwhelm for children sensitive to sensory stimuli

  • Flexibility for co-parents living separately or juggling full schedules

  • Support from the comfort of your own home

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing the right things—differently.

My Approach to Therapy for Parenting Neurodivergent Kids

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience helping families heal. I specialize in working with children and parents dealing with complex trauma, behavioral challenges, emotional sensitivity, and neurodivergence.

My approach integrates:

  • Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) to understand relational development

  • Polyvagal Theory to work with nervous system states

  • Trauma-Informed Therapy that recognizes past hurts in present behaviors

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for practical, brain-based tools

This isn’t about controlling your child’s behavior—it’s about transforming the parent-child relationship from the inside out.

Who I Work With

I work with parents across California who are:

  • Co-parenting children with ADHD, autism, giftedness, or trauma

  • Tired of power struggles, meltdowns, and shutdowns

  • Feeling unseen or unheard by their child

  • Ready to rebuild connection, calm, and cooperation at home

You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure this out by yourself.

Ready to Reconnect with Your Child?

You don’t have to wait until things get worse. If you’re feeling disconnected and overwhelmed, online family therapy in California can help you find clarity, compassion, and connection.

Call today for a free, hour-long phone consultation: (626) 755-4059 

Visit www.welcomehomefamilytherapy.com

Let’s work together to rebuild trust and regulation in your home.

Abby McCarrel, a warm and experienced psychotherapist with long white hair and glasses, stands outdoors with a confident smile and hand on her hip, surrounded by lush greenery. Her calm, grounded presence reflects the support she offers through online family therapy in California, helping parents heal relational trauma with their children by rebuilding trust, improving emotional safety, and restoring connection through a trauma-informed, brain-based approachMy Motto: I help parents become the healers in the home.


FAQs: Online Family Therapy for Challenging Child Behavior

What if my child won’t participate in therapy?

That’s okay. I often begin by working with parents. Shifting your nervous system and approach can lead to major changes in your child’s behavior.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Yes. Many families actually find online sessions more effective because they can practice strategies where the challenges happen—at home.

Can both co-parents attend sessions from different locations?

Absolutely. Online family therapy makes it easy for both parents to join, even from separate homes.

Do you specialize in neurodivergent children?

Yes. I work with families navigating ADHD, autism, giftedness, trauma, and 2e profiles. I tailor strategies to fit your child’s unique nervous system.

Do you take insurance?

I’m a private-pay provider, which allows us to focus deeply on your family’s goals without insurance constraints. Superbills are available for reimbursement.

Call Abby

If you’re ready to stop feeling like you’re missing your child’s signals—and want to build the relationship you’ve always hoped for—let’s talk.

Call now: (626) 755-4059

 www.welcomehomefamilytherapy.com