A Better Approach To Parenting — From Licensed Therapists Who Get It
We all remember the moment we first held our child and thought everything was perfect. Then came walking, talking, potty training, school, and — somewhere along the way — a teenager with their own personality, will, and demands. Parenting is not for the faint of heart, and no one hands you a manual at the hospital.
At Innovative Family Therapy in Louisville, KY, our licensed parenting counselors help moms, dads, stepparents, and guardians build the skills, insight, and emotional resilience needed to lead a family with intention. Whether you’re navigating a behavioral issue, a separation, a blended family, or simply want to parent better than you were parented, we can help.
We serve parents in-person at our Louisville office and via teletherapy throughout Kentucky and Indiana.
Meet Your Parenting Counselors
Parenting counseling at IFT is provided by three of our licensed clinicians who specialize in this work:
Sandra Pollard Nelson, MFT Associate, EMDR Trained
Specializes in trauma work and brings EMDR training to adult clients processing past experiences.
Kathy Begley, LPCA and Hannah Welling, LPCA
Licensed Professional Counselor Associates supporting adults through anxiety, depression, life transitions, and personal growth.
Want to see the full team? Meet all our therapists →
What Is Parenting Counseling?
Parenting counseling gives adults the knowledge, tools, and emotional support to see how you, as the parent, affect the dynamics of the entire family. We start by uncovering your inherent parenting style, where it comes from, and how it’s shaping your current household. From there, we work together to change unhelpful patterns into healthy ones, heal past hurt that’s getting in the way, and restore harmony at home.
Our Approach
Our parenting therapists draw on several evidence-based frameworks rooted in family systems theory.
We don’t apply a one-size-fits-all method. Your counselor will tailor the approach to what your family actually needs.
Who Benefits From Parenting Counseling
If you’re a parent, we recommend seeing a counselor at least once. Sometimes we’re too close to our own situation to see it clearly, and an outside perspective can be transformative. That said, parenting counseling becomes essential when you’re facing any of the following:
- Marital conflict that’s spilling over and affecting the children
- A medical or mental health diagnosis (yours or your child’s) that’s affecting your ability to parent effectively
- Separation, divorce, or co-parenting struggles with a former partner
- Blended family adjustment — merging households, stepchildren, and competing parenting styles
- Abuse, domestic violence, or unsafe home dynamics
- Loss or grief — the death of a child, parent, spouse, or marriage
- Substance abuse in the home affecting family dynamics
- Children or teens displaying behavioral, emotional, or academic struggles
- Trauma in your own past that’s surfacing as you raise your kids
- Single parenting and the unique stressors that come with it
Benefits of Working With a Parenting Counselor
A parent who seeks help is the hero of the family. We’re here to help you become the parent you want to be.
Children don’t come with owner’s manuals, but there are hundreds of parenting books. And every “expert” says theirs is the best. The problem? They don’t know you or your kids. At Innovative Family Therapy, you get a personal, professional counselor who can dive into your actual family and your actual situation to determine what will work for you.
- Expert guidance from a trained professional with the education, tools, and resources to help you enact real change at home
- A clearer understanding of your parenting style — why you do the things you do, and how to do them better
- Conflict resolution skills to better manage disagreements, anger, and frustration in the home
- Stronger co-parenting and communication between you and your partner (or former partner)
- Permission to be imperfect — counseling removes the pressure to parent flawlessly
What to Expect at Your First Session
Your first parenting counseling session is 90 minutes long. We use this time to get to know you, understand the dynamics of your household, hear about what’s bringing you in, and start building the kind of trust that makes real progress possible.
Subsequent sessions are 50–60 minutes long, and you and your counselor will set the cadence together. Typically, you will meet weekly to start, then space out as you build skills.
You don’t need to come with a prepared speech or a written list of issues. Just show up willing to be open and honest. We’ll take it from there.
Investment & Insurance
Innovative Family Therapy is a private-pay practice. We do not bill insurance directly. Many clients find this gives them more privacy, more flexibility in treatment, and faster access to care without insurance company restrictions on session frequency or therapy approach.
Our Parenting Counseling Fees:
- Initial session (90 minutes): $165
- Ongoing individual sessions (50–60 minutes): $110
- Half-session (30 minutes): $55
- Family session including 2 people: $120
- Family session including 3+ people: $130
Payment options:
- We accept most HSA and FSA cards
- We can provide a superbill for out-of-network insurance reimbursement (check with your insurance company about your out-of-network mental health benefits)
- Reduced-rate sessions are available with our Clinical Counseling Intern, Hannah Smith — $45 per regular session and $65 for the initial session
Frequently Asked Questions
That’s okay. And it’s more common than you’d think. You can absolutely do parenting counseling on your own. Many parents find that as they grow and change, their partner becomes more willing to join later. Your work isn’t dependent on theirs.
Yes. We offer secure video sessions for parents throughout Kentucky and Indiana. Teletherapy is especially helpful for busy parents, single parents, and parents managing childcare logistics.
There’s no fixed number. Some parents come for 6–10 sessions to address a specific challenge; others continue longer for ongoing support. Your counselor will work with you on what makes sense for your situation.
Usually no. Parenting counseling is typically just you and your counselor. If your counselor recommends bringing your child in, that may shift the session into family therapy or child therapy, and your counselor will walk you through the difference.
Yes. Co-parenting sessions are common at IFT, and many of our parenting clients are separated or divorced parents working to align on how to raise their kids together. Sessions with two parents are billed at our 2-person family session rate ($120).
Parenting counseling focuses on you as the parent — your style, your stressors, your skills — usually without your children in the room. Family therapy brings the whole family unit into the session to work on dynamics together. Many clients benefit from both at different points.
Why Choose Innovative Family Therapy?
- A team of 10 licensed therapists — you’re matched with the counselor best suited to your specific situation
- A family systems perspective — we treat the whole picture, not just the symptom
- No waiting list — when you need help, we’re here
- In-person and teletherapy — meet however works best for your schedule and comfort
- Founded by Chelsey Gorham, MSC, LMFT, GC-C — a Louisville-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Grief Counselor
- Private-pay practice with HSA/FSA accepted — clear, transparent fees and no insurance gatekeeping
Explore All Our Counseling Services
Innovative Family Therapy supports your whole family, at every stage of life. If someone you love needs help too, explore our other services:
Become the Parent You Want To Be
You don’t have to figure it out alone. Whether you’re navigating a tough season or simply want to grow into a more intentional parent, our licensed counselors in Louisville, KY are here to help.
Call us at (502) 612-9129 or schedule online. There’s no waiting list, and we’ll match you with the right counselor on the first call.
