Child Psychology & Parenting Support For Children Ages 0-7
Hello parents! I’m Dr. Lindsay Huffhines, PhD, IECMH-E®, a clinical child psychologist specializing in infant and early childhood mental health, and I’m so glad we found each other.
You’re in the right place.
Welcome to Nesting Cups Psychotherapy
Parenting little ones can feel deeply rewarding, delightful, and hilarious, and also overwhelming and confusing. Please know, this is not a journey you need to take alone. I’m here to help you better understand your child’s behavior, respond effectively, and build a parent-child relationship that carries your family through every developmental age and stage.
A little about me....
- Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas Tech University
- PhD in Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Kansas
- Child-focused residency and fellowship at Brown University Medical School
- Faculty at Brown University Medical School
- Hundreds of families served in outpatient, hospital, and school settings
- Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement (IECMH-E®)
- PSYPACT credentialed to provide services across participating states
A little about Nesting Cups and the meaning behind the name
Nesting Cups Psychotherapy is named for the simple childhood toy of nesting, or stacking, cups. Simple yet rich with possibility, nesting cups invite curiosity, play, and above all, connection. They remind us that growth unfolds within relationships: one cup supporting the next, one person holding space for another.
In my work, I hold and support parents so they can more confidently hold and support their children. This layered, relational foundation is at the heart of early childhood well-being, and at the heart of this practice.
Helping children thrive by empowering parents
I help parents make sense of what’s happening by helping them work through tough questions like…
Why isn’t anything I’m trying working with my child?
This is where I come in.
I’m not a child therapist or a parenting coach. I’m a clinical child psychologist who specializes in the first seven years of life, and I work collaboratively and compassionately with parents to equip them with the lens, language, and confidence they need to understand and effectively parent their child.
I believe the best way to support a young child is to empower the people who love them, and I strive to help parents of children ages 0-7 understand what’s really happening beneath the behaviors. From navigating tricky stages of development to weathering stressful family changes, I’m here to help families foster healthy, secure relationships.
At Nesting Cups Psychotherapy, I won’t ever give you a script or a formula. I’ll work with you to understand what your child’s behavior and your response might be communicating. Together, we’ll explore everything from the developmental need to the relational signals, and then help you respond in a way that honors your family values.
The goal is never to just make the difficult behavior stop. Rather, we examine effective, mental health affirming ways to strengthen connection while adjusting the dynamic. Sometimes that means learning a new parenting strategy. Other times it means deepening your understanding of your child’s developmental stage. Whether we explore family system dynamics or ways to help you and your child navigate a difficult situation, I’m not just here for you. I’m here with you.
- Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
- Parent Management Training (PMT), including The Incredible Years and Invest in Play
- Child-Parent Psychotherapy
- Circle of Security
- ACT, CBT, and DBT-informed approaches for parents and children
To learn more about these modalities and my psychotherapeutic approach, please visit my About page.
Let’s figure this out together
Parenting concerns and issues I support
I balance psychological care with knowledgeable child development expertise to ensure you as the parent are fully supported with the facts and information you need to respond with confidence. I am highly experienced in helping families with concerns such as:
Core values – What I believe
01 | Children are best supported by the people who love them
Parents are the agents of change, not passive bystanders in their child’s development. This belief is at the heart of everything Nesting Cups Psychotherapy does.
02 | The first seven years build the foundation for everything
Early childhood is not a precursor to “real” development. Ages 0-7 represent the most important developmental window of a person’s life. Investing here prevents decades of difficulty later.
03 | There is no such thing as a perfect parent
Warmth and connection beat perfection. Parents who can repair ruptures, reflect on their reactions, and stay curious about their child’s inner world raise children who thrive, even if they “mess up” constantly.
04 | Every family is unique
We offer real, specific help – not generic parenting advice, templates, or formulaic scripts. Nesting Cups translates evidence-backed insights and advice for your child and family’s exact situation.
05 | Parents have what it takes and deserve to believe in themselves
We don’t gauge success by your child’s behavior changes. Our focus is on helping you as the parent trust your own instincts for your family’s specific situation, read your child with confidence, and get to the point where you no longer need me.
For a deeper dive into my approach and clientele, please visit my About page
Specialized services
Meaningful change happens in relationships, and my services are rooted in this philosophy. My specialty is child psychology and infant and early childhood mental health, which means that I do not provide therapy to children in isolation. My work is for parents and caregivers. Your child may be part of a session (especially when that is therapeutically helpful), but I focus on helping you as the parent support your child.
Relationship-centered psychotherapy for parents and families navigating emotional, behavioral, or developmental concerns.
Flexible 6-12 session packages designed to help parents build a strong foundation of parenting knowledge and relational skills.
Educational workshops designed to give parents practical, developmentally informed tools they can apply in everyday family life.
A single-session opportunity to make sense of what’s happening and determine the most appropriate next step – including whether therapy, an outside evaluation, or another resource makes sense.
Supportive, Child Psychologist led groups where parents of young children can connect, gain practical parenting guidance, and experience reflection within community.
Reflective supervision and consultation for professionals working with infants, young children, and families – including providers and organizations seeking specialized early childhood mental health support.
Services are available in person and virtually, depending on your location and the service you choose. However please note that services and availability vary by state. I am credentialed through PSYPACT to provide virtual services in participating states. My in-person office is located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. For more information on what to expect, please refer to my FAQ page.
Benefits of child-centered psychotherapy for parents
Parenting can be both meaningful and messy, and you deserve support that respects how much you care.
- Better understand your child's behavior and developmental needs.
- Feel more confident responding to big emotions and challenging behaviors.
- Strengthen your child's sense of safety and belonging, and help build secure attachment.
- Develop practical parenting strategies that fit your actual family system and culture.
- Better understand your own reactions, patterns, and parenting instincts.
- Navigate major transitions and stressful experiences with greater support.
- Build skills that help you handle future parenting challenges, not just the one bringing you in today.
Getting started is simple
You don’t need to know exactly what’s wrong before reaching out. You don’t need to have a diagnosis, a perfect explanation, or a list of everything you’ve tried. You simply need to know that something isn’t feeling right, and you’d like some support figuring out how to respond. Here’s how to begin…
Reach out through my Contact page or book a consultation directly through my online scheduling calendar.
I’ll learn a little about your family, answer your initial questions, and help determine whether my approach is a good fit for your needs.
If we’re a good fit, we’ll determine what service options make the most sense for your family. Whether that looks like family-based psychotherapy or a deeper dive consultation and assessment, I’ll help you take the next step with confidence.