Child and Adolescent Therapy
When seeking a therapist for your child, you want someone who truly understands their developmental phase.
Therapy with children is play-based and designed to meet children where they are, developmentally and emotionally. For example, instead of teaching a child directly about emotion regulation, we might play with puppets who are having big feelings! Through play, art, games, and bibliotherapy (using books intentionally as a therapeutic tool), children are able to express themselves in ways that feel safe and natural. Our therapists are trained to use creative and individualized interventions to help children build coping skills, self-esteem, and resilience.
We support children facing concerns such as anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, social or school difficulties, trauma, adoption, attachment issues, food or body image concerns, and neurodivergence (including autism and ADHD). For children with suicidal thoughts or self-harm, we provide care once stability and readiness for ongoing work are established.
Issues We Treat in Child & Adolescent Therapy:
Adoption
Trauma/PTSD/phobias
Food or body image concerns
Internalizing behaviors such as withdrawal, anxiety, depression, and perfectionism
Behaviors related to neurodivergence (autism/ADHD), such as meltdowns, aggression, or rigidity
Children with challenging behaviors due to adoption, trauma, or unique developmental needs, including autism and ADHD
Anxiety and stress
Depression
Defiant, aggressive, or disruptive behavior
Suicidal thoughts and self-harm (child needs to have achieved stability and readiness for longer-term work)
Substance use
Social challenges
School refusal
Separation anxiety
Attachment concerns
When working with teens, we recognize that adolescence is a unique stage—teens are not children, nor are they mini-adults. They benefit from having a therapist who understands the unique needs, struggles, pressures, and joys of adolescence. Our therapists provide a confidential and nonjudgmental space for teens to talk about what matters to them, whether it’s friendships, family dynamics, identity, academic stress, mental health concerns, substance use, or body image issues. We encourage open communication and empower teens to take an active role in their own growth and healing.
We also know that teens thrive when the important adults in their lives are involved in the therapy process. We partner with parents, caregivers, and schools to encourage involvement and participation, while always respecting the teen’s need for confidentiality and autonomy. Collaboration is key—our goal is to support the whole family system and help everyone work together toward positive change.
For families navigating divorce or separation, we have developed specific policies to ensure transparency, collaboration, and the child’s best interest. We believe clear communication and consistency are essential during times of transition. Please find details and review our policies here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When working with children and families, we have strict policies in place to ensure transparency, communication, and collaboration. These policies have been developed over years of practice to ensure we can provide the highest care for your family in alignment with applicable laws and our ethical codes.
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Yes. We believe both parents should be involved for the child's benefit, even if the relationship is strained.
No divorced parent wants to feel like their child’s therapist is on the other parent’s side. We believe it is essential for both parents to be involved in therapy for the benefit of the child, even if the relationship is strained.
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No.
We work with families navigating divorce, separation, blended families, and complicated relationships.
These situations require particular care because the child's therapist has a responsibility to the child while also working within a family system that may be complicated.
Our role is not to determine which parent is right. Our role is to understand the child's experience and support their wellbeing.
We maintain clear boundaries around confidentiality, communication, custody matters, and forensic involvement. Both parents are expected to participate appropriately in their child's care.
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No. These boundaries help protect the therapeutic relationship and keep the focus on the child's care.
Forensic involvement between therapists and the court system has been shown to have a high risk of damaging the therapeutic relationship. Therapy is for the sole purpose of supporting your family in healing relationships. Family members should be able to speak openly about the impact of the divorce without worrying that what they say will end up in court.
Colorado law, our ethical codes, and our practice policies generally prohibit us from involvement in forensic matters including being a witness for one party, or speaking with attorneys, CFIs, or PREs. This protects the therapeutic relationship and upholds confidentiality as our highest ethical goal.
We will deny any requests to speak with attorneys, Child and Family Investigators (CFIs), Parental Responsibility Evaluators (PREs), or be involved in other forensic matters.
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Both parents will be CC’ed on all emails to ensure transparency and reduce triangulation.
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Families will choose one family member to serve as the primary account holder. This person is the “point person” for payment.
In order to maintain our focus on our clinical work, we ask that families (including divorced parents) sort out payment on their end. We do not split session fees or alternate payments between divorced parents.
If you are planning to submit a superbill for potential insurance reimbursement, we suggest that the point person for payment be the person who will be submitting receipts to their insurance company.
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Parents are required to stay on-site during their child’s therapy or assessment session, unless the child is old enough to independently transport themselves to the office.
During child therapy sessions, it is common for the child or the therapist to ask to bring parents into the session.
Please help yourself to beverages, snacks, and wifi!
Get Started:
If you have questions about how therapy works for children, adolescents, or families navigating divorce or separation, or if you’re wondering if therapy might be right for your child, teen, or family, please reach out. We’re here to help!