Most behavioral strategies teach kids to comply.
The best ones teach them to connect.
I'm Abril Padrón, a Licensed Professional Counselor and PCIT-certified provider. I teach parents, clinicians, and organizations the behavioral strategies that reduce tantrums, defiance, and daily power struggles in children ages 2-7 — with an approach that keeps the parent-child relationship at the center.
Not as an afterthought.
Pediatric Behavior Training & Parent Education by a PCIT-Certified Therapist in Austin, TX
Why I Built This
After more than ten years of working directly with families, I kept running into the same thing: the evidence for what works is clear, but it rarely reaches the people who need it. The therapy programs that teach these skills come with three-month waitlists and hourly rates most families can't afford. Pediatric providers who want to help have no structured way to do it in a 15-minute visit. And organizations that serve families often lack the training infrastructure to build it.
This is my way of filling that gap.
What that work also taught me is where a structured approach has its limits. Not every family fits neatly into a protocol. The ones who struggled most often weren't missing discipline strategies. They were missing connection. That's what Building Blocks is built around. Helping parents feel genuinely connected to their kids, not just more in control.
Who This Is For
However you're hoping to use these skills, here's where to start.
For Pediatric Providers
Free lunch & learns for your team.
You've probably had a parent bring up tantrums, defiance, or bedtime battles in the middle of a visit. You know parent training works, but the waitlist is months long and you've got 15 minutes.
I run free lunch-and-learn sessions for pediatric teams: physicians, nurse practitioners, PAs, and nursing staff, on the principles behind effective behavior intervention in kids 2-7. In one session, your team will learn:
Connection before correction
How labeled praise reinforces cooperation, and why it works better than generic encouragement.
Clear, effective directions
The small changes that resolve most noncompliance
Predictability, consistency, and calm
Why a calm, consistent response matters more than a severe consequence
You'll walk away knowing what to tell parents the next time this comes up, with no referral pipeline, no pitch at the end.
In person (Austin area) or virtual.
Abril Padrón, LPC · PCIT-certified
For Organizations
The Building Blocks for Better Behavior Program
For organizations that want to offer families structured parenting support within their existing workflows, this is a ready-to-use, four-session program built on the same evidence base as PCIT. The four sessions cover:
Connection and Positive Attention
Giving Clear Directions
Calm, Consistent Discipline
Applying Skills to Daily Routines
This is the complete package: everything your team needs to run the program in-house. Each session is led by a provider working one-on-one with a family, supported by a 3-hour staff training, session manuals and provider scripts, parent handouts in English and Spanish, guided practice, outcome tracking tools, and implementation support. Sessions can be delivered in as little as 15 minutes, designed to fit a pediatric visit.
Looking for something smaller, like a single workshop, a staff training, or ongoing consultation? Use the button below and tell me what you have in mind; pricing and scope vary by need.
For Clinicians: LPCs, Nurse Practitioners, and Other Licensed Providers
Behavior concerns surface in almost every caseload. A parent asks about tantrums mid-session, and there's no quick, structured way to respond. Most of us were never trained in brief, structured parent education.
I train clinicians to bring evidence-based behavioral parent education into the work they're already doing, in whatever depth fits your practice. That can mean:
Integrating Core Skills Into Your Sessions
Expand your toolbox with labeled praise, the power of play, clear directions, and confident handling of discipline conversation, all woven into the work you're already doing.
Delivering Building Blocks for Better Behavior
A complete four-session program with curriculum, scripts, guided practice, and parent handouts in English and Spanish.
A self-paced video course for clinicians is in development. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when it launches.
Abril Padrón, LPC · PCIT-certified
For Parents and Caregivers
Learn the same evidence-informed strategies used by behavioral health providers, in plain language, at your own pace. No jargon, no judgment. Just practical skills you can start using this week. A self-paced course is coming soon; the free workbook is available now.
If what's happening at home feels like more than self-guided content can address, I also work with families directly through my private practice, Nurturing Families PLLC.
FAQs
Is this therapy?
No. This is parenting education - practical, evidence-informed, and designed to be accessible outside a therapy context. It is not a substitute for individualized therapy services.
What kinds of behavior challenges does this address?
The strategies I teach work best with the most common challenges in children ages 2 to 7: tantrums, defiance, difficulty following directions, and emotional outbursts. They're not designed for severe behavioral or mental health diagnoses, but they're a strong starting point for families who feel like everyday interactions have become a struggle.
Is this program appropriate for neurodivergent children?
Yes. The skills taught in this program (building connection, giving clear directions, and responding consistently) are relevant and adaptable for neurodivergent kids. The approach is flexible by design, not one-size-fits-all.
Is the lunch and learn really free? What's the catch?
Yes, and there isn’t one. I don’t use these sessions to recruit clients or sell from the front of the room. Pediatric providers are usually the first to hear about behavior struggles, and I want the people families already trust to have answers that work. If your organization later wants the full program or staff training, I’m happy to talk but there’s no expectation attached.
How long does the Building Blocks program take to deliver?
The program includes four sessions, each as short as 15 minutes using the adapted format. For practices with more flexibility, a full 30-minute format is also available. Both formats cover the same core skills and include teaching, guided practice, and take-home materials.
How much does the program cost?
Pricing varies depending on the size of your organization and what you're looking for. Get in touch to learn more.
I'm an individual clinician, not an organization. Can I get trained?
Yes. LPCs, nurse practitioners, and other licensed providers can be trained to deliver the program in their own practice. A self-paced course designed for individual clinicians is also in development; join the waitlist to hear when it launches.
As a clinician, does this replace the therapy I provide?
No. Building Blocks is psychoeducation, not psychotherapy. It’s designed to sit alongside your clinical work, often as the structured parent-training piece, while your sessions focus on deeper clinical needs.
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