01 / Teens & children

Teen & child therapy.

Therapy with a kid or teen looks different than therapy with an adult, and what works changes with age. With younger kids, sessions are often play-based and parent-supported. With teens, sessions are conversational and the relationship between therapist and teen matters — teens know when they’re being talked at.

02 / Who this is for

You might recognize some of this.

Children (ages 6+) navigating anxiety, behavior changes, sleep, or social struggles

Kids dealing with a family transition — divorce, a death, a move, a new sibling

Teens with anxiety, depression, or identity-related concerns

Teens managing family conflict, school pressure, or social and online stress

Kids and teens working through gender identity or sexual orientation questions

Parents who want to understand what's happening with their child and how to support them

03 / What sessions look like

The shape of the work.

With kids, the first session usually involves the parents first — for me to understand what’s going on before I meet the child. Then sessions with the child are age-appropriate: play, drawing, games, and conversation braided together. Parents are often involved at the end of sessions or in separate parent-coaching meetings, depending on age and need.

With teens, the first session is mostly with the teen themselves so we can build trust. I’m clear about what stays confidential and what doesn’t (safety concerns I will talk with parents about; ordinary teen worries I won’t). Parents stay involved at a level the teen and family agree on.

04 / How I approach it

Models I draw from for this.

Family systems thinking shapes how I work with kids and teens — the work is rarely just about the young person. I use CBT adapted to age, mindfulness-based skills for older kids and teens, structural family therapy when family roles are part of what’s creating the stress, and narrative approaches for helping kids find their own voice in the story of what’s happening to them.

See the full list of therapeutic approaches I use on the services overview, or fees & insurance for accepted panels.

05 / Common questions

Will I know what my child or teen tells you?

We talk about this up front. Safety concerns — serious self-harm, abuse, or imminent danger — I will always bring to parents. Day-to-day worries a teen shares are theirs to share when they want to. Holding that boundary is part of what makes the work possible.

What if my teen doesn't want to come?

That’s common. Sometimes a first session helps a teen decide. Sometimes the work starts with parent sessions while the teen decides whether to engage. There’s no path that requires forcing it.

Do you do online therapy with kids and teens?

For teens, yes — telehealth often works well. For younger kids, in-person is usually a better fit because play and movement matter. We can talk about what makes sense for your child.

How young do you work with?

I see children ages 6 and up.

06 / Related services

Reach out when you’re ready.

Give me a call or send an email — whichever feels easier.

Contact me (210) 504-8263 vanessa@peace-therapy.com

Teen & child therapy.

You might recognize some of this.

The shape of the work.

Models I draw from for this.

Anxiety therapy

Family therapy

Trauma & PTSD

Reach out when you’re ready.

Teen & child therapy.

You might recognize some of this.

The shape of the work.

Models I draw from for this.

Common questions

You might also want to read.

Anxiety therapy

Family therapy

Trauma & PTSD

Reach out when you’re ready.