When a child or teen is acting out, melting down, or shutting down, it is easy to feel like you have tried everything. Here is a truth we come back to every day in this work: behavior is communication. Kids and teens act out when they do not yet have a better way to handle what they are feeling, and those are skills they can learn.
At Mertens Counseling, our behavioral therapy program for children and teens in Kearney, NE helps young people build those skills, and it helps parents build calm, workable plans at home. This is not about labeling kids or making them feel like the problem. It is about giving everyone better tools.
What is behavioral therapy for kids and teens?
Behavioral therapy teaches children and teens to notice what sets off their hardest moments, understand what is happening in their bodies, and choose a different response. It also works on the systems around the child, because lasting change needs a consistent environment at home and school.
Depending on your child's age, work might include:
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Spotting triggers and early warning signs
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Practicing calm-down skills until they come naturally
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Learning to solve problems with words instead of behavior
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Building routines that make good days more likely
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Earning and keeping privileges through clear, fair expectations
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Rebuilding trust after a season of conflict
For teens, sessions also cover motivation, responsibility, and the freedom that comes with making better choices.
How we help
We use evidence-based approaches, including parent management training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and skills-based work, shaped to your child's age and your family's real life. Nothing here is one-size-fits-all.
Parents are central to this program. Young kids do not change behavior in a weekly hour at the office; they change at home, at school, and in the car on the way to practice. We will give you a specific plan, coach you through the rough patches, and adjust as your child grows. Many families tell us they feel relief in the very first session, because someone finally handed them a plan.
Signs behavioral therapy may help
Consider reaching out if you are seeing:
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Frequent meltdowns or aggression beyond what seems age-typical
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Defiance that is straining the whole household
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Trouble following rules at school, or repeated calls from teachers
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Impulsivity that puts your child's safety or friendships at risk
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A teen who has stopped responding to consequences or rewards
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Behavior changes after a loss, move, divorce, or other hard event
You do not need to have it figured out before you call. Describing what a bad day looks like is more than enough to start.
What the first visit looks like
We start by listening. You will walk through your child's history, what you have already tried, and what you want to be different. Older kids and teens get a say too, and we take their perspective seriously, because teens commit to goals they help choose.
From there, we set a small number of clear goals, define what progress will look like, and agree on how we will all know it is working. You will leave the first session with at least one or two things to try right away.
Better days are ahead
Families in this program usually arrive exhausted and hopeful in spite of themselves. What we get to watch next never stops being rewarding. Meltdowns get shorter and less frequent. Siblings stop walking on eggshells. Evenings start feeling calm again. Teens start believing they are capable of more, because someone helped them prove it.
Your family can have that too, and it starts with one phone call.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What ages do you work with?
We work with children from early childhood through the teen years, matching the approach to the developmental stage.
2.Does my child need a diagnosis first?
No. Many families come in without one. If an evaluation would help, we will talk you through the options in Nebraska.
3. Will parents be involved?
Yes. Parent participation is a core part of behavioral work with kids, and you will get concrete coaching, not just general advice.
4. Can we do sessions by telehealth?
For some teens and some goals, yes. We offer secure telehealth anywhere in Nebraska, though younger children usually do best in person.
Let's build a plan for your family
Call Mertens Counseling at 308-270-4988 or send us a message through our contact form. We will listen to what has been happening, answer your questions, and help you schedule a first behavioral therapy appointment in Kearney, NE.