Is your child navigating some big, stormy feelings right now? Sometimes, when children are overwhelmed by emotions or have walked through a difficult loss, it shows up in their behavior which can make life at home feel heavy and stressful for everyone.
Growing up is a journey of learning how to understand ourselves. While many children pick up these skills naturally, others need a little extra hand-holding to process what they’re feeling. Therapy can help your child find their calm again, turning those daily struggles into breakthroughs so they can get back to the important business of just being a kid.
Effective Forms of Therapy for Children
Therapy provides children and teens with a dedicated space to navigate their thoughts and emotions with confidence. Working with a therapist who specializes in their age group allows children to better understand their challenges, adjust difficult behaviors, and build the skills they need for a healthy, happy life.
There are many effective ways to help a child grow and heal. Below are a few of the evidence-based practices I use to help families see real progress. Because every child is different, I may use one specific approach or blend a few different techniques to create a personalized plan that works best for your family.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate way for children to express thoughts and feelings when they may not have the words. Through play, children can process difficult experiences, build coping skills, and strengthen their sense of confidence and connection. Play therapy supports emotional growth, resilience, and self-expression in a way that feels natural and empowering to children.
I also believe that you, as a parent or caregiver, are the expert on your child. You know your child better than anyone else, and your insights are invaluable to the therapeutic process. I see therapy as a partnership, where we combine your deep understanding of your child with my clinical experience to support meaningful growth and connection. My goal is to help you feel more confident and supported in your parenting, while giving your child the tools they need to thrive.
The Role of Parent Consultations in Play Therapy
In play therapy, children express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences through play because play is their natural language. As the therapist, I observe and respond to their play to help them work through challenges and develop healthy ways of coping.
But an important part of this process happens outside the playroom with you, the parent or caregiver.
Why parent consultations matter:
You are your child’s most important support
While therapy helps your child explore and heal, the biggest impact often comes from what happens in their day-to-day life. Parent consultations give us time to work together to support your child in the most meaningful way possible.We connect the dots together
Children often can’t explain what's happening for them in words. In consultations, I share general themes from the play (not specific details to protect their sense of privacy) and we talk about patterns or behaviors you’re seeing at home. Together, we build a fuller picture of your child’s needs.You’ll learn tools and approaches that work at home
I’ll offer strategies that fit your child’s developmental stage and emotional needs so you can respond to challenging behaviors with confidence and connection. This might include how to set limits in nurturing ways or how to support emotional expression at home.It strengthens the therapy process
When parents and therapists work as a team, children often make progress more quickly. They feel more secure knowing that the adults in their lives are working together to help them.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a practical, goal-oriented approach that helps children understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and actions. By learning to identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, children gain more influence over how they feel and react to difficult situations. Research consistently shows that CBT is highly effective for managing anxiety and depression, and it is a vital tool for helping children process and heal from traumatic experiences.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a short-term, goal-oriented approach that focuses on what’s working and helps clients build on their strengths to create positive change.
Rather than spending a lot of time exploring problems, SFBT helps children, teens, and families identify their goals and the small steps they can take to move forward. It’s a hopeful, empowering approach that emphasizes resilience, capabilities, and the belief that change is possible.
SFBT is especially helpful for clients who are:
Feeling stuck or overwhelmed
Struggling with specific challenges like anxiety, school stress, or conflict
Needing short-term support to move toward a goal
Looking for a future-focused, strengths-based approach
By focusing on solutions instead of problems, SFBT encourages meaningful progress, often in fewer sessions.
Group Therapy
Group therapy can help kids by giving them a fun and safe place to talk, play, and learn together. In group time, kids can see how their friends handle big feelings, and they can practice new ways to solve problems. The group usually has about five to seven kids and one grown-up who helps lead the activities. There might be games, drawing, movement, or role-playing to help everyone share and feel better. It’s a place where everyone gets to be heard, have fun, and grow together!
Who is Therapy Right for?
At every age, children can be faced with life’s challenges. The following are some of the events and scenarios that can impact a child’s mental health and well-being:
- The death of a loved one
- Bullying
- Trauma
- Moving or attending a new school
- Divorce
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Life adjustments
- Self image/self esteem
- Friendship challenges
- School challenges
Therapy is not a quick fix to a child’s behavioral or emotional challenges. It is instead a thoughtful and comprehensive process that provides children with insights and skills so that they may become masters of their thoughts and feelings. This, in essence, is how children develop into happy, healthy, and successful adults.
I offer both in-person and online therapy sessions, with options for individual and group therapy. Children 10 and under meet with me in person, as therapy at that age is most effective when we can move, create, and play together. Tweens, teens and parents are welcome to meet with me virtually, providing flexibility and support from the comfort of their own space.
If you would like to explore treatment options for your child, please give my office a call or send us a message by clicking the contact button below.