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Complete Family ServicesDr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD
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Parent consultation

Sometimes the most useful work happens with parents alone.

Parent consultation gives you clinical perspective, practical strategies, and a thinking partner for the challenges you're facing, all without requiring your child to attend sessions. You know your child best. We help you use that knowledge more effectively.

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Two ceramic mugs of tea side by side with a notebook between them, suggesting collaborative conversation
The service

What parent consultation looks like.

Parent consultation is a collaborative service where you meet with Dr. Hickson Barez to discuss your child's behavior, development, or emotional challenges. She listens to what you're seeing, helps you understand what might be driving it, and provides concrete strategies you can implement at home and at school.

This is not therapy for your child. It's guidance for you. The sessions draw on Dr. Hickson Barez's decades of clinical experience with children, families, and schools, and they are designed to leave you feeling clearer and better equipped to respond to whatever your child is going through.

Is it right for you?

When parent consultation is the right fit.

Parent consultation works well in a range of situations. Consider it if any of the following apply:

  • Your child has been evaluated and you need help implementing the recommendations
  • Your child is resistant to therapy or too young to participate meaningfully
  • You're co-parenting through a difficult transition and need clinical guidance
  • Your child's school is recommending services and you want a second perspective
  • You're seeing behaviors at home (anxiety, defiance, meltdowns) and want to respond more effectively
  • You want to be proactive about your child's development without waiting for a problem to escalate
Topics we cover

What parents bring to consultation.

Every family's concerns are different, but these are the topics that come up most frequently.

ADHD and executive functioning

Strategies for managing attention, organization, homework, and daily routines. We also help you understand why your child's brain works the way it does.

Anxiety and emotional regulation

How to respond to anxious behaviors, support your child through difficult emotions, and avoid the common traps that accidentally reinforce anxiety.

School challenges and accommodations

Navigating IEP and 504 processes, communicating effectively with teachers, and translating evaluation recommendations into real-world support.

Divorce and family transitions

How to talk to your children about divorce, manage co-parenting communication, and support your child through a transition that affects every member of the family.

Autism and social development

Understanding your child's social and communication patterns, building on strengths, and creating environments where your child can thrive.

Behavioral concerns

Responding to defiance, meltdowns, aggression, and other behaviors that are communicating something your child can't yet put into words.

Practical details

Format & frequency.

Sessions are 50 minutes and can be conducted in person at our Torrance office or via telehealth for California residents. Some parents schedule weekly sessions during an acute period; others come in monthly or as-needed for ongoing guidance. There is no minimum commitment. Some parents schedule a single session to get clarity on a specific concern.

We are an out-of-network provider and collect payment at the time of service. A superbill is provided for possible insurance reimbursement. Dr. Hickson Barez will recommend a cadence based on your situation, but the frequency is always up to you.

An important distinction

Consultation vs. therapy.

Parent consultation and child therapy are complementary but distinct services. Therapy works directly with your child to address their internal experience: their feelings, their patterns, their relationships. Consultation works with you to change the environment around your child, including your responses, your strategies, and your understanding of what's happening.

Many families use both. A child may attend therapy while parents receive consultation on how to support the therapeutic work at home. Other families find that consultation alone gives them everything they need. Dr. Hickson Barez will help you determine which approach, or which combination, makes the most sense for your family's situation.

Frequently asked

Questions about parent consultation.

What is parent consultation?+
Parent consultation is a service designed specifically for parents who want professional guidance on a child-related concern without their child attending sessions. You meet with Dr. Hickson Barez to discuss your child's behavior, development, or emotional challenges, and she provides clinical perspective, practical strategies, and a framework for understanding what you're seeing. It's collaborative and solution-focused: you bring your knowledge of your child, and Dr. Hickson Barez brings her clinical expertise.
How is parent consultation different from therapy?+
In therapy, the therapist works directly with the client (your child) to address their internal experience. In parent consultation, the focus is on you as the parent: how to respond to challenging behaviors, how to support your child's emotional development, and how to navigate systems like schools and medical providers. Parent consultation draws on the same clinical knowledge but delivers it in a coaching and guidance format rather than a treatment format. Some families use consultation as a complement to their child's therapy; others use it as a standalone service.
What topics are commonly addressed in parent consultation?+
The range is wide. Common topics include managing anxiety or behavioral challenges at home, supporting a child through a divorce or family transition, understanding ADHD or autism-related behaviors, navigating school accommodations and IEP meetings, addressing executive functioning difficulties, handling screen time and social media concerns, managing sibling conflict, and preparing for developmental transitions like starting school or entering adolescence. If it involves parenting and you're unsure how to handle it, consultation can help.
How often do parents typically come in for consultation?+
Frequency depends on the situation. Some parents schedule weekly sessions during an acute period, such as a behavioral escalation, a family transition, or a school crisis. Others come in monthly for ongoing guidance as their child develops. Some parents schedule a single session to get clarity on a specific concern and leave with a plan. There is no required frequency, and Dr. Hickson Barez will recommend a cadence based on what you're dealing with and how much support would be useful.
Does my child need to attend any sessions?+
No. Parent consultation is designed for parents only. Your child does not need to be present, evaluated, or even aware that you're meeting with a psychologist. This can be especially helpful when a child is resistant to therapy, too young to participate meaningfully, or when the primary need is for the parents to develop strategies and understanding. If Dr. Hickson Barez determines that direct work with your child would be beneficial, she'll recommend that as a next step.
When is parent consultation the right choice?+
Parent consultation is the right fit when you need guidance but your child doesn't need, or isn't ready for, individual therapy. It's also useful when you've already had your child evaluated and need help implementing the recommendations, when you're co-parenting through a difficult transition, or when your child's school is recommending services and you want a clinical perspective. Many parents find that consultation gives them the confidence and tools they need without requiring their child to be in the room.
Dr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD

Reviewed by

Dr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY17257) with 30+ years of experience. Founder of Complete Family Services, Inc. in Torrance, California. More than 20 years of experience as a court-appointed 730 Child Custody Evaluator. Author of the forthcoming Life's Lessonschildren's book series. Co-author of a chapter in The Handbook of Juvenile Forensic Psychology.

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Related services

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Child & Teen Therapy

Compassionate, developmentally attuned therapy for children and teenagers navigating anxiety, depression, social struggles, and family changes.

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Psychoeducational Evaluations

Comprehensive testing to identify learning differences, ADHD, autism, and emotional factors so your child gets the support that actually fits.

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Executive Functioning

Practical strategies for organization, planning, time management, and emotional regulation for students, college kids, and young adults.

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Want guidance? Let's talk.

A single conversation can clarify whether parent consultation is the right fit and what the first session would focus on.

Call (310) 375-8665Begin intake online