As a parent, it can be hard to know when normal ups and downs have become something more. If you are looking for teen therapy or child therapy St. Louis families can trust, Get Centered offers support to help children, preteens, and teens work through emotional, behavioral, school, and relationship challenges.
Get Centered serves families in the St. Louis area at its Town and Country office at 14500 S Outer 40 Road St. Louis, MO 63017.
Signs Your Child or Teen May Need Counseling
If you are worried about your child or teen, it may help to look for changes across several areas of daily life, including mood, sleep and energy, school and focus, and social changes. Signs may include seeming down or withdrawn, no longer finding joy in the things that interest them, feeling tired and lethargic much of the time, having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, struggling with focus and motivation, or finding it hard to maintain friendships.
If your child is exhibiting most or all of the above symptoms, it might be time to pursue youth counseling.
Why Youth Counseling Matters for Kids and Teens
Youth counseling helps kids and teens cope with emotional and mental health struggles, whether it’s anxiety, family conflict, ADHD, or social issues. The myriad changes that teens, in particular, go through may leave them feeling overwhelmed and anxious. At this stage, they lose their childhood status and have to become more independent of their family. They also have to form new relationships with peers, learn coping skills, and improve at emotional regulation as they try to shape their future. For many families, adolescent therapy can provide support during this important stage of growth.
Through therapy, your child or teen can:
- Work through negative thoughts and feelings
- Build self-esteem and self-worth
- Gain a better understanding of the changes they are going through
- Strengthen social skills and build healthier friendships
- Process trauma in a supportive environment
- Build healthier habits and coping strategies to address addictive behaviors
- Learn how to handle new responsibilities that come with being a young adult
- Develop a greater appreciation for themselves and those around them
Low self-esteem and self-doubt can significantly impact the way a child behaves – their communication skills, academic performance, and social life can all suffer as a result of poor confidence.
Treatment is matched to each child or teen through a collaborative process that considers emotional and mental health needs, goals, and parent involvement. Among the evidence-based treatment options we use are the following:
Therapy Approaches We Use
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps children and teens notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them while taking practical steps toward the life they want to build.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps kids and teens identify negative thought patterns connected to anxiety, depression, or stress so they can respond in healthier and more effective ways.
Play Therapy
Play Therapy gives children, and sometimes older kids and adolescents, a developmentally appropriate way to express emotions, work through experiences, and build coping skills; Art Therapy can also be helpful for youth.
Family Therapy
Family Therapy can help when conflict at home is affecting a child’s behavior or emotional well-being by improving communication and strengthening support within the family, including through family and household concerns counseling.
Strengths-Based Therapy
Strengths-Based Therapy helps youth recognize their abilities, make sense of pressures such as social media and electronic devices, and find better balance within their environments.
What to Expect From Child and Teen Counseling
During the first visit, the counselor gets to know your child or teen, listens to your concerns, and asks questions about emotions, behavior, school, relationships, and daily life.
Together, you, your child or teen, and the counselor set goals based on what is getting in the way and what progress should look like over time.
Parent involvement depends on your child’s age, needs, and comfort level, and may include updates, family sessions, or support for responding at home. For helpful guidance before getting started, read introducing the idea of counseling to your teen.
Depending on what will be most helpful, counseling may involve individual therapy, Family Therapy, or a combination of approaches.
Ages We Serve and Concerns We Treat
We provide child therapy St. Louis families can access for children, preteens, and teens.
| Age Group | Common Concerns | Therapy Approaches |
| Children (5–9) | Home behaviors, school behaviors and stress, anxiety, social skills, family conflict | Play Therapy, Art Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Family Therapy |
| Preteens (9–12) | Anxiety, depression, school stress, peer conflict, self-esteem, family and life transitions | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Art Therapy, Strengths-Based Therapy, Family Therapy |
| Teens (13–19) | Depression, anxiety, identity formation, unhealthy relationships, ADHD, grief/loss, career coaching and counseling | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Strengths-Based Therapy, Family Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy |
Conditions We Help With
Emotional Concerns
- depression counseling for kids and teens
- anxiety counseling for children, youth, and teens
- Shame and Guilt
- Grief/Loss
- Disordered Eating
- Body Image
- Self-Esteem and Bullying
- Trauma
Behavioral Concerns
- home and school behavior counseling for Home Behaviors, School Behaviors and Stress, school avoidance, ADHD – assessments and strategies for school, and behavioral therapy for kids
- Anger Management
Family and Relationship Concerns
- family and household concerns counseling for Family and Life Transitions, Family Conflict, and Divorce
- Unhealthy Relationships
- Peer Conflict
Identity and Social Concerns
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Social Skills
- Identity Formation
- LGBTQ+ Issues
- Career Coaching and Counseling
Safety Concerns
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Self-Injury/Risky Behaviors
If your child or teen may be at risk of self-injury or suicide, seek urgent help immediately.
We use techniques from evidence-based practices:
- Play Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Sandtray Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Multicultural counseling
- Social and emotional learning
- Character assessments and inventories
Through individual therapy or family counseling, we can help your child or teen better manage relationship issues and problematic behaviors that might significantly affect their quality of life. We only use evidence-based approaches in helping teenagers address mental health issues, helping them lead a fulfilled life.
A therapeutic, confidential environment can help teenagers open up about what they’re going through, allowing us to effectively determine the type of counseling needed. We may also need to use multiple treatment options and more counseling sessions to help your child or teen manage their emotions.
Reach Out to Get Centered for Child and Teen Counseling
Child and Teen Mental Health Treatment
Get Centered has extensive experience with counseling. The goal is to help all teenagers improve and maintain their quality of life. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if your teenager may be troubled or showing signs of depression. We can help boost their self-esteem or overcome traumatic experiences or negativity through Family Therapy, emotional learning, multicultural counseling, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
If you notice that your child is going through emotional hardships or is exhibiting behavioral problems, schedule a free consultation with us today.
FAQ
What ages do you work with?
We work with children ages 5–9, preteens ages 9–12, and teens ages 13–19.
How do I know if my child needs counseling?
Changes in mood, sleep, energy, school and focus, or social life can all be signs that support may help.
Do you involve parents or families in therapy?
Yes. Parent and family involvement depends on your child or teen’s age, needs, and goals, and may include updates, family sessions, or support for home strategies.
What types of therapy do you use for kids and teens?
We use evidence-based approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Family Therapy, Art Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Strengths-Based Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.
Can therapy help with ADHD, school stress, or peer problems?
Yes. Counseling can help with ADHD, school stress, school avoidance, peer conflict, and related emotional or behavioral concerns.