For parents: does this sound familiar?
- Your child has become withdrawn, irritable, or anxious, and you can’t get a straight answer about why.
- School refusal, stomach aches on Sunday night, or meltdowns over small things.
- A death, a divorce, or a move that they seem to have taken harder than you expected.
- Your teen has said they’d talk to someone, as long as it isn’t you.
How I work with children and teens
Online therapy works well for this age group, often better than parents expect; many kids are more at ease on a screen in their own room than in an office. For younger children I use play-based and expressive approaches adapted for video, with activities, drawing, and games. For teens it’s mostly talk, with CBT and DBT skills for anxiety and overwhelming feelings, and a lot of respect for their privacy.
Parents are part of the work. We’ll meet at the start so I understand the history, and we’ll check in regularly. I’ll be clear with you and your child from the first session about what stays between us and what I’ll share, and about the safety situations where I always involve you.
What a first session is like
A short meeting with you, then time alone with your child so they can decide whether they like me. That decision matters; therapy only works if they’re willing.
Ages and consent
I see children from age 10 and teens through 18. A parent or legal guardian consents to treatment, and in Ontario, Maine, and Florida teens have certain rights to confidentiality that I’ll explain at the start.