therapy for children

CBT with kids and teens is fun and challenging.  Over the past decade, cognitive behavioral therapy with kids has become common.  Seeing all of the resources now available to therapists using CBT is terrific, and this is a good thing.  However, the books and worksheets didn't exist when I began my work with kids.  This has been a blessing.  Instead of relying on ready-made resources, I learned CBT for kids by translating the adult literature into child-friendly strategies.  This approach has taught me to be adaptable and creative with kids and teens; the therapy is individualized and flexible.

Research is always the guide in CBT with kids and teens.  As a therapist and a parent, I am committed to practicing evidence-based CBT.  This does not mean we do endless worksheets and workbooks; we work together to find fun, challenging, and real tools for change.

Developmental stages and research inform our work.  My goal is to engage and connect with kids meaningfully and build a relationship of trust and respect.

Our initial work almost always starts with learning how to identify feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.  This is much more challenging than it sounds and necessary foundation for CBT.  We next look at the interaction between this triad and explore ways of creating change.  We use strategies from role play, breathing, changing thoughts, and cognitive distortions.  The list is endless, but the goal is always the same: to teach kids to feel like they can manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

CBT is not effective without practice and generalization, and this is especially true with kids.  The therapy room is not magic, and what we work on has to be practiced in real-world settings.  Some of our interventions may work well, and others may not be as effective.  Communication and collaboration are key; we work together to determine what works best for your child and revise our approaches to meet their needs.