Kids & Teens
Helping your child build a foundation of confidence, resilience & self-awareness.
How can counseling help my kid / teen?
Our brains are learning machines, especially when we are young. The brain of a developing kid / teen is working overtime as they navigate friendship, identity and the future for the first time. Middle & high school is notorious for being a time of intense pressure and identity exploration. Some kids experience emotional outbursts, anxiety, people-pleasing and behavioral issues as a result of their unsettled inner-world. Counseling can be a therapeutic tool as your child is learning and taking in everything around them.
What will they learn?
What your child takes away from their counseling experience will depend on their goals. Whether their goal is to develop confidence, express emotions safely or cope with change, our therapists will help your child identify & address what is underneath their big feelings. With every kid / teen our aim is to help them recognize their influence on their environment and inner-world. We will help your child feel more empowered and capable of dealing with life’s demands and stressors in healthy ways.
What if it’s “just a phase?”
It certainly could be! In our initial intake assessment session we will thoroughly flesh out the severity of your and their concerns to determine how beneficial therapy might be. Regardless, research has found counseling to be a positively impactful experience across the severity spectrum. Having a dedicated, safe space to talk and learn coping skills can be a worthwhile investment for any kid / teen.
How it works
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60-minute intake session
Your child will meet with their therapist first thing one-on-one to establish rapport and ensure they feel bought in. How parents / guardians are looped in & engaged depends on the therapist. Rest assure that what to expect and why will be communicated to you.
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Parent invitations
Occassonally your child and their therapist may invite you into the first or last few minutes of a session. This is a chance to get a brief progress update and / or explore other concerns.
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"Their" time & space
Preserving the trust & relationship between your child and their therapist is necessary for them to get the most from counseling. We will do everything we can to instill a sense of autonomy, safety & agency with your child., including asking parents to respect their privacy in sessions.
