I’m here to help parents move from overwhelm and uncertainty to confidence and clarity with practical, evidence-based support for childhood anxiety and behavior.
ABOUT my practice
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Hi, I’m Kristen
LMFT, BCBA
Before starting my private practice, I worked in homes and schools throughout Ventura County, California. As a Behavior Specialist for a local full inclusion school district, I helped school teams develop Positive Behavior Support Plans and trained staff on effective, evidence-based strategies for students with a range of needs, including Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety. I had the unique opportunity to work directly with families experiencing school refusal, and soon began my private practice where I could focus on supporting parents of anxious kids - work that has become the heart of my practice.
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Education & Credentials:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
- Trained in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions)
- Specializing in parent support for ADHD, childhood anxiety, and related behavior, as well as school-related anxiety and school refusal
Most of them feel like they’re walking on eggshells around their child’s anxiety and behavior. Some share that they’ve tried therapy before, but that their child wouldn’t attend or they didn’t find it helpful. And they all tell me that they’re concerned about how their child will be impacted if they don’t figure things out soon.
Maybe you can relate to this too. My goal is to help parents feel confident, supported, and equipped with practical tools that actually work. Using evidence-based approaches like SPACE and parent behavior support, I help families move from feeling stuck and reactive to confident and capable. You don’t have to navigate this alone.
When I speak with families for the first time, many of them share how lost they feel.
Chronic Absenteeism and School Refusal with Kristen McNeely
Anxiety and School Avoidance with Kristen McNeely, LMFT
What is back-to-school anxiety? How to help a child who’s struggling
behavioral observations
the adhd parenting podcast
care.com
When School Becomes Scary, Understanding School Avoidance
do less parenting podcast
I work from the understanding that a child’s anxiety and related behaviors don’t exist in isolation—they’re part of a larger family system that can be supported with the right tools and perspective. I focus on practical, research-backed strategies that help parents respond to their children with confidence and consistency, reducing family stress. Whether we’re addressing big emotions or behaviors, school refusal, or just the daily struggles that are so common with ADHD and Anxiety, my goal is to help parents feel capable and confident as they support their child toward growth and resilience.
My approach is grounded in evidence-based parent support and the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) model, which empowers parents to create meaningful change at home.
