Children and teenagers present with a wide range of behavioral challenges that can be distressing and exhausting for families, teachers, and the children themselves. Oppositional behavior — persistent defiance, argument, refusal, and deliberate bo…
Children and teenagers present with a wide range of behavioral challenges that can be distressing and exhausting for families, teachers, and the children themselves. Oppositional behavior — persistent defiance, argument, refusal, and deliberate boundary-testing — is one of the most common referral concerns at LC Psych. Emotional dysregulation, including explosive tantrums, aggressive outbursts, intense emotional reactions disproportionate to triggering events, and significant difficulty recovering from emotional disruption, is another frequent concern. Conduct problems — including rule violations, lying, property destruction, and in older children and adolescents, more serious conduct issues — represent a more severe presentation that requires prompt clinical attention.
As with all behavioral presentations at LC Psych, child behavioral therapy begins with a thorough assessment of what is driving the behavior. ADHD, anxiety, trauma exposure, and autism spectrum differences are among the most common underlying factors that produce or significantly exacerbate behavioral challenges in children, and each calls for specific clinical strategies alongside the behavioral interventions that form the core of treatment. Addressing behavioral symptoms without understanding their drivers is like treating a fever without looking for its source — temporarily helpful, but unlikely to produce lasting change.
Parent coaching is the single most important component of effective behavioral therapy for children, because behavioral change in children requires consistent, skilled environmental responses from the adults who are with them every day. The most expertly designed behavioral therapy protocol delivers limited results if the skills and strategies introduced in sessions are not implemented consistently at home and at school. At LC Psych, parent coaching is not a peripheral add-on to child therapy — it is a central, prioritized, and carefully structured component of treatment.
Parents are taught to identify the antecedents and consequences that are currently maintaining problematic behavior, to use specific positive reinforcement strategies that build the behaviors they want to see, and to apply consistent and proportionate consequences that reduce problematic behavior without the escalation and conflict that inconsistent discipline produces. Parents are also coached in the communication strategies that reduce power struggles, increase child cooperation, and strengthen the parent-child relationship — which is itself a powerful moderator of behavioral outcomes. Skill practice between sessions is essential, and parents are supported in trouble-shooting barriers to implementation.
Child behavioral therapy at LC Psych draws from several empirically validated frameworks tailored to the specific child and family. Parent Management Training (PMT) is a well-researched behavioral approach that teaches parents to systematically use positive reinforcement, clear commands, consistent consequences, and token economy systems to shape child behavior. PMT is particularly effective for children with ADHD and for oppositional behavior that is maintained by inconsistent parental responses. Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), developed by Dr. Ross Greene, is used when behavioral challenges reflect lagging cognitive skills in flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving — teaching parents and children to solve problems collaboratively rather than through unilateral imposition of demands.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)-informed principles are incorporated when young children's behavioral difficulties are significantly rooted in the quality of the parent-child relationship, providing structured approaches to building the warm, responsive relationship that is the most powerful context for young children's behavioral development. All behavioral approaches at LC Psych are implemented within a trauma-informed framework that recognizes the possibility of trauma as a contributing factor and ensures that behavioral interventions do not inadvertently re-traumatize or shame children who have experienced adversity.
The treatment plan for child behavioral therapy at LC Psych is individualized, specific, and regularly reviewed. Behavioral goals are stated in concrete, observable, and measurable terms — not "be better at school" but "complete homework independently four out of five weekday evenings" — which allows progress to be tracked clearly and celebrated genuinely. A realistic timeline is established based on the severity of the presenting concerns, the contributing factors identified in the assessment, and the family's capacity to implement the strategies consistently.
Progress reviews occur regularly throughout treatment, with the treatment plan adjusted based on what is working, what is not, and how the child's presentation is evolving. When additional services — such as a psychological evaluation for suspected ADHD or learning disabilities, a school consultation to address classroom-level behavioral concerns, or a referral for medication evaluation — are indicated, LC Psych coordinates these seamlessly. The goal is not just behavioral improvement during the treatment period but the lasting acquisition of skills and strategies that the family carries forward independently.
If your child's behavior is affecting family harmony, school success, or your child's own wellbeing — and if you are ready for a structured, skilled, and evidence-based approach to changing it — LC Psych is here. Child behavioral therapy is available in person in Florence, Kentucky, and selected telehealth services are available for eligible families. To schedule an appointment, call 859-525-4911 or visit lcpsych.com. Your child's behavior can change — and your family's daily life can improve significantly. It begins with reaching out.
Each clinician below offers Child Behavioral Therapy. Explore their profiles to learn more about their approach and availability.
Clinical Psychologist
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Clinical Psychologist
6900 Houston Rd.
Building 500 Suite 11
Florence, KY 41042
Office hours
Mon – Thurs: 8AM – 9PM
Friday: 8AM – 5PM
Saturday: 8AM – 2PM
Our therapists are accepting new clients. Schedule your first appointment today — in-person or via telehealth, evenings and weekends available.
Schedule Online
