Online Parenting Classes & Family Therapy in McPherson, KS

McPherson County families tend to approach most things with a practical orientation: understand what is wrong, find what works, and put it into use. Parenting classes in McPherson, Kansas are built to honor exactly that approach—evidence-based, clearly structured, and designed to produce changes that families can observe and feel inside their own homes within the first few weeks. New Connections Mental Health works with the way McPherson families are already built, rather than asking them to be something different.


McPherson sits at the center of Kansas, anchored by McPherson College with its nationally recognized auto restoration program and by a clean energy sector that has brought the wind industry into a landscape long defined by wheat and faith. Central Park gives the downtown a genuine civic heart, and the surrounding communities of Lindsborg—with its Swedish heritage and Bethany College—Inman, and Canton reflect the particular values-oriented character of a region shaped by immigrant settlers who came here to build something that would last. Families across this corridor are served by New Connections through virtual sessions, with in-person appointments available at the Hays office at 2810 Plaza Avenue for those who prefer to meet face to face.


In a community grounded in faith, work, and a long-standing ethic of self-sufficiency, asking for support with parenting can feel like a contradiction. What McPherson families consistently discover is that it is the opposite: enrolling in parenting classes in McPherson, Kansas is one of the most deliberate things a caregiver can do for their household. The CPRT program does not ask parents to abandon what they already believe. It gives them the relational language to act on those beliefs in ways their children can actually receive—and the results tend to show up faster than most families expect.


Explore our Online Child Parent Relationship Training

The Child-Parent Relationship Training is a 10-week guided program to help you turn daily meltdowns into moments of connection through play, co-regulation, and relationship-based tools, without yelling, power struggles, or feeling like you’re failing as a parent.

Child-Parent Relationship Training (CPRT) materials with a laptop video and stacked handouts

How it works

The CPRTprogram is a framework built around connection, not correction

 

 

A new framework for understanding what children do CPRT reframes the fundamental question most parenting challenges raise. Instead of asking how to stop a behavior, it asks what the behavior is communicating. Children act out, shut down, and test limits for reasons that make perfect sense once a parent learns to read them. For McPherson parents who prefer to understand things rather than just manage them, that reframe tends to resonate immediately.


Explore the right type of coaching for your family

 

 

A conversation, not a process McPherson families can call Michelle Holdeman directly to talk through what they are experiencing and what kind of support fits their situation. The first step is a real conversation—not a form, not a portal, not a process—and it is focused entirely on the family rather than on administrative requirements.


Skills that stay with families long after the program ends

 

 

One skill at a time, built for a full life The program introduces one skill per session, practiced in a 30-minute play session at home during the week. For McPherson families managing work, farming, and the many demands of small-city life, the format is designed to produce real change without requiring a restructuring of the entire household to accommodate it.


Explore our services and specializations

Child parent relationship training CPRT reframes the fundamental question most parenting challenges raise: instead of asking how to stop a behavior, it asks what the behavior is communicating. For McPherson parents who prefer to understand things rather than just manage them, that reframe tends to change everything about how they experience the work—and about how effective it is.

Therapy for teens Teenagers in McPherson are navigating the particular tension of a small city: close enough that everyone's business is known, large enough that they are expected to manage things on their own. A young person dealing with anxiety, identity questions, or the weight of family dynamics often needs a space that is genuinely private and genuinely skilled—two things New Connections provides through virtual sessions.

Therapy for family Family dynamics in a close-knit community like McPherson tend to stay private for a long time before they become unmanageable. By the time a family reaches out, most of them have been carrying the weight of whatever is happening for longer than they needed to. Family therapy at New Connections gives those families a structured, private space to work through what has accumulated.

We serve clients in McPherson and nearby areas

New Connections Mental Health serves families throughout McPherson County and the surrounding central Kansas region. Virtual parenting classes and an online parenting course reach families in Inman, Moundridge, Lindsborg, Canton, and beyond without requiring a drive. In-person appointments are available at the Hays office at 2810 Plaza Avenue for families who prefer to meet face to face.

Testimonials

“I’m very grateful for your wisdom! You are so gifted at your profession!”

“Thank you so much for helping me with my child. You have no idea how much we appreciate it and how much you mean to the both of us!”

“I hope you know how much you mean to us. You are incredibly talented and came into our lives at the exact right time. Thank you for supporting and loving us. Your work has made a world of difference in our trajectory and healing. We love you very very much!”

Hi, I'm Michelle Holdeman, founder of New Connections Mental Health group practice
I know what it means to do something hard in a community that values doing hard things quietly. That understanding is woven into the way I built New Connections Mental Health: private, practical, and designed for families who do not want to make a production out of getting support. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with specialized training in CPRT and family therapy, I offer McPherson families a program that respects their self-sufficiency and adds to it—rather than asking them to become something different in order to participate. Virtual sessions are available statewide, and in-person appointments are held at my Hays office for families who prefer to meet face to face.


Smiling person sitting on a log in a grassy park, wearing a tan jacket and jeans, with decorative star stickers around the photo

Frequently asked questions

  • How is CPRT different from any other parenting curriculum?

    • CPRT uses the language of children's play to build connection and understanding between parent and child.
    • It introduces one new concept weekly, practiced in short sessions, making it easier to retain and implement.
    • Best of all, CPRT is recognized by SAMHSA as an Evidence-Based Treatment, proving its effectiveness.

  • What is expected from the parent:

    • CPRT focuses on gradual learning, introducing one practical skill at a time so parents can apply and retain new strategies effectively.
    • Rather than overwhelming you with too much theory, CPRT is structured to be clear, doable, and supportive for busy families.
    • Each week builds on the last, helping you strengthen your bond, improve communication, and reduce conflict with your child in a manageable way.
    • CPRT has been validated by SAMHSA as an Evidence-Based Treatment, setting it apart from standard parenting guides.

  • Will my insurance cover the cost of CPRT?

    Group CPRT classes are not eligible for insurance billing. However, if you're attending individual sessions, we can provide a superbill. This document can be submitted to your insurance provider for possible reimbursement, depending on your plan's coverage.