THERAPY FOR KIDS: Helping Your Child Feel and Cope Better
You know your child best. So when they seem more anxious, angry, or overwhelmed than their usual self, you may wonder what’s going on and how you can help them.
Therapy for kids gives children a safe, age-appropriate space to better understand their feelings, build coping skills, and work through challenges they may not know how to explain at home. A child counselor can use approaches such as play, creative activities, and talking to help your child express themselves in ways that feel natural and easy for them.
At Insight Mental Health Group, we offer child therapy both online and in person across Washington State.
What Is Child Therapy?
Counseling for kids helps children understand how they feel and why they may behave in certain ways. For instance, research suggests therapy can help children learn to manage their behaviors and the challenges they encounter, whether at school, home, or elsewhere.
A therapist for kids can provide a safe space for children and teens to make sense of difficult emotions and build coping skills for facing their fears, adjusting to change, and solving everyday problems.
Often, pediatric counseling isn’t the same as talk therapy for adults. While there may be some talking involved, therapists use age-appropriate approaches such as play, art, and storytelling to help kids communicate in ways that feel natural to them.
How Can Therapy for Kids Help?
We all need a little help sometimes. And kids are no different.
Child mental health counseling may support young people with:
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Anxiety or depression
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Stress and overwhelm
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Difficulties identifying, expressing, or managing emotions
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Challenges concerning communication, social interactions, or friendship
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Behavioral or emotional issues, such as tantrums, defiance, or school avoidance
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School, learning, or academic challenges
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Low self-esteem or self-worth
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Adjusting to adoption or being adopted
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Coping with family changes, such as divorce or the death of a loved one
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Trauma or other distressing experiences
Therapy for children may also take different forms depending on their age and how they tend to communicate. For instance, a child play therapist may use toys, sand trays, or play games to help a younger child explore their feelings. On the other hand, creative arts therapy might involve drawing, painting, arts, and crafts to help slightly older children express themselves.
Our Approach to Counseling for Children at Insight Mental Health Group
At Insight Mental Health Group, we understand that children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re going through. They may not know where to start, either. This is why we use approaches like play therapy to help children explore difficult feelings and find ways to work through their challenges. For some children, playing games or with toys with their therapist makes it easier to feel comfortable and begin opening up.
But play therapy is more than simply sitting down with a child and playing with dolls. It’s a structured, evidence-based approach that uses the unique power of play as a developmentally appropriate way to communicate and explore difficult experiences. By meeting children where they’re at, therapists can help them gradually explore distressing feelings or experiences at a pace that feels manageable for them.
Play and creative arts therapy for kids also gives children opportunities to recognize their strengths, experiment with different ways of solving problems, and express themselves. As they develop new skills and confidence, these changes may begin to show up in everyday life.
Depending on the child’s age and specific needs, therapy might also include approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which explores the connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions.
In-Person and Online Therapy for Kids
In-person therapy usually takes place in a quiet, private office where the therapist uses play, art, and games during sessions. For some children, having a dedicated space away from home can make therapy feel more separate from their usual daily life.
But many parents are surprised to learn that child therapy doesn’t have to take place in person. Online child therapy, sometimes also called “virtual therapy for kids,” can support young people at home, which might be helpful for children who don’t like going to unfamiliar places.
Online counseling for children may also save travel time and potentially make it easier to fit sessions around school and family schedules. Depending on their age, your child’s therapy may include the use of digital games, whiteboards, or activities they can complete with materials they already have at home.
Child Therapy Near You
If you’re looking for counseling options, you may have started by searching for “child therapist Washington” or “therapy for kids near me.”
Insight Mental Health Group offers in-person sessions with child therapists in Bothell and Snoqualmie, as well as online therapy across Washington State.
Our child therapist Snoqualmie office is a short drive from Snoqualmie Falls, while our Bothell rooms are located at the Canyon Park Office Center.
Begin Child Counseling at Insight Mental Health Group
As a parent, it can be difficult to witness your child going through something and not be sure how to help them. Sometimes, getting them the right support is one of the most helpful things you can do.
Insight Mental Health Group is a network of licensed mental health professionals and child therapists offering therapy online across Washington, as well as in person at our local offices. Whether your child is dealing with low mood, behavioral difficulties, or experiencing problems at school, you can browse through our therapists for children to find an appropriate fit.
If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, you don’t have to figure out what’s going on alone. Contact us today to request an appointment or learn more about finding a child therapist who fits your family’s needs.
FAQs About Child Therapy
If you’re considering therapy for kids, you may have some questions. Here, we answer some of the ones parents ask us most often.
Does my child need therapy?
Your child may benefit from therapy if changes in their mood or behavior continue for several weeks, disrupt their daily routines or school life, or affect their relationships. If you’re worried about something your child is experiencing, a child trauma therapist or mental health professional can help you understand what support they might need.
How much is therapy for children?
Individual therapy sessions are typically 50-55 minutes and cost $150 per session when using out-of-network benefits.
Is child therapy covered by insurance?
We accept a range of insurance plans for therapy for kids. Your coverage and out-of-pocket costs will depend on your plan and benefits, so we highly recommend speaking with your insurance provider before starting therapy.
Where can I find child therapy that takes insurance?
Insight Mental Health Group is in-network with several major insurance providers, including Cigna and UnitedHealthcare. You can find more information about who we are in-network with on our insurance page. We do not currently accept Apple Health or Medicare insurance.