Individual Therapy for Kids
We’re so glad you’re here. Starting therapy can bring up a range of emotions, for children and parents alike. Our goal is to support your child in a safe, respectful, and nurturing space where healing and growth can unfold. Below is an overview of what to expect as your child begins therapy, and how we’ll walk through the process together.
1. Building Trust and Connection
In the first stage of therapy, our primary focus is developing a strong and trusting relationship between your child and their therapist. This may look like play, games, or creative expression. These activities are more than just fun; they help your child feel comfortable and begin to express themselves in ways that feel safe.
2. Exploring Emotions Through Play & Talk
For children, play is a natural language. As therapy progresses, play and conversation help bring forward important themes such as anxiety, self-esteem, friendships, family relationships, or school stress. Through observation and gentle inquiry, we begin to understand your child’s internal world and emotional needs.
3. Understanding the Whole Picture
As we get to know your child, we begin to develop a clinical understanding of what may be contributing to their challenges. This includes noticing patterns of behavior and emotional responses, and understanding them in context (e.g., big changes at home or at school, or neurodevelopmental differences such as ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder). This process may take time and involves ongoing collaboration with you as parents or caregivers.
4. Practicing Skills for Everyday Life
Once we have a clearer picture of your child’s needs, therapy focuses on teaching and practicing skills such as emotional regulation, distress tolerance, problem-solving, and social interaction. These are tailored to your child’s age, abilities, and goals, and are integrated gently into sessions to support lasting change.
How You’re Involved.
Your insights and observations are essential to this process. We’ll stay in regular communication and may schedule parent check-ins to share updates, answer questions, and work together to support your child outside of sessions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time; we’re here for you, too.
Every child’s journey in therapy is unique, and progress may look different from week to week. With patience, consistency, and compassionate support, therapy can be a powerful step toward greater resilience and well-being.
We’re honored to be part of your child’s journey.
Questions? Thoughts? We welcome them. Please be in touch.