Frequently Asked Questions

Age alone doesn’t determine whether a child is ready for therapy. Every child develops at their own pace, but here are some signs that therapy might be helpful:

• Developmental Milestones: Your child is engaging in make-believe play, communicating their needs, focusing on activities for a few minutes, or verbalizing thoughts and feelings.

• Emotional Struggles: If your child is experiencing more intense feelings than peers, or their emotions are affecting daily life (e.g., eating, sleeping, school).

• Difficulty in Relationships: Challenges making or keeping friends or getting along with siblings.

• Life Transitions: Stress from big changes like starting school, moving, divorce, or the loss of a loved one.

• Worsening Behavior: You notice behaviors or emotions are getting worse over time.

Additionally, if you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to help your child manage their emotions, therapy can offer support for both of you. Each child is unique, and if you're unsure whether therapy is right, contact us for a free consultation.

Treatment begins with a parent-only session where we discuss your child's background, developmental history, and current concerns. This session allows us to gather important information about your child’s needs and gives you the opportunity to ask any questions or share your hopes for therapy.

Following this, the second and third sessions will focus on building a relationship with your child through play-based activities. These sessions help your child get comfortable and allow the therapist to understand their unique way of expressing emotions.

After these initial sessions, a follow-up parent meeting will be scheduled to review progress, discuss the treatment plan, and provide guidance on how to support your child’s goals at home. Ongoing sessions with your child will continue to focus on working towards those goals, and additional parent meetings will be scheduled as needed.

This process may differ depending on the client and the clinician’s therapeutic approach.

At Playfully Resilient Counseling Center, we believe caregiver involvement is extremely important. We strive to work together with caregivers to ensure continuity of care beyond sessions. While we respect confidentiality during our sessions with your child, we incorporate regular parent consultations to provide updates, discuss progress, and support you with strategies to use at home. 

For younger children, you may spend more time in the room during sessions to help your child feel safe and connected. As children grow older, parents may have less direct involvement in sessions, but we still work closely with you to ensure your child’s therapeutic goals are supported at home.

See our fee section for more information on cost and insurance.