Therapy for Kids and Teens

You are doing so much for your child.

Yet when you see them suffer, you can’t shake this worry.

“Is my kid really ok?”

“What if there’s something wrong?”

“Am I doing enough?”

You may feel helpless and overwhelmed, wishing things would just get better.

But what if they don’t?

That certainly doesn’t mean you are failing as a caregiver.

It means you might need professional guidance and resources to support them.

Helping children shine as they deserve to.

I’m Niki Parker, a licensed independent social worker offering online mental health services to kids, teens, and women across Ohio and Michigan.

As a mom (and step-mom), I know you want to give your kids the best so they can be their best. You want to pick them up when they are down, challenge them to be better, and protect them at all costs. But you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting on your own. 

If your kid is struggling, acting out, or doesn’t seem like themselves, I can help.

Let’s team up to support them to navigate challenges, regulate their emotions, and build skills to lead happy and healthy lives.

Contact me to book a free consultation and get started!

What Is Therapy for Kids and Teens?

Therapy for kids and teens (also known as child and teen therapy) aims to help children and adolescents manage their social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. The purpose is to address their needs and equip them with practical tools as they grow up.

Child and teen therapy involves meeting with a mental health professional qualified to treat kids throughout their developmental stages. Treatment will mainly be one-on-one with the child. But some sessions may require the presence of the caregiver, especially if the kid is young or at risk of harming themselves and others.

Does My Child Need Therapy?

You know your child better than anyone. Yet, you may wonder if their struggles are typical for their age, indicative of a rough patch, part of their character…

…or could there be something else at play?

Children and teens are still developing, so their signs or cries for help may look slightly different from yours. They may be unaware or confused about what they are going through. They might also have difficulty understanding and communicating their thoughts and emotions. Or they may be unable or unwilling to ask for help.

So how do you know if they need therapy? 

Be on the lookout for any of these common red flags:

Physical Signs

• Agitation or restlessness
• Complaining of nausea or feeling sick without an evident cause
• Excessive or low physical activity
• Major changes in weight or eating patterns
• Self-harming
• Sleep problems

Emotional Signs

• Anger
• Frequent worry or nerves
• Mood swings or tantrums
• Lack of motivation and hope
• Low self-esteem
• Suicidal thoughts

Social Signs

• Aggression
• Constant arguing or fighting
• Isolation or withdrawal from family, friends, and community
• Poor academic or extracurricular performance
• Risky behaviors (e.g., drinking, dangerous driving)
• Trouble socializing or making friends

Other Challenges to Consider

• Bullying
• Divorce or separation
• Family problems
• Life transitions (e.g., having a new sibling, puberty, graduating high school)
• Traumatic incidents (e.g., accident, loss of a loved one, domestic violence)

If your child is showcasing any of the above signs or struggling with these challenges, therapy can help. 

And if they are in a suicidal crisis or their safety is compromised, do not wait. Call 911 or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988) immediately.

Keep in mind therapy is not only designed to manage acute issues. It can also be an excellent tool to support their development and learn skills for life.

How Can Therapy Help Kids and Teens?

Therapy can help children and teens to…

Explore

Your kid may be grappling with confusing thoughts, big emotions, or difficult situations they might not fully understand (yet).

Therapy offers a private environment to search, discover, and gain self-awareness without pressure or judgment. Your child will become more mindful of their thoughts, feelings, and actions and be able to listen to their needs.

Open Up + Process

Even when they understand what’s going on, children and (especially) teens might struggle to voice it. Perhaps they are scared or don’t know how to communicate clearly. Or maybe they don’t want to talk to mom about it.

I will foster a safe space for your child to manage and express those emotional tides. Once they feel more confident processing and sharing their inner world within the online therapy room, they can transfer that ability into their everyday lives.

Learn

Ultimately, I want children to learn about themselves and walk away from therapy with a powerful toolbox. While this may not shield them from every possible scenario, it provides effective resources to handle stressors and make better choices.

A significant part of my approach centers on developing emotional regulation skills in kids and families. Emotional regulation is the ability to detect, monitor, adapt, and express your emotions in different situations. The goal is to teach your child to self-regulate to support their relationships, strengthen their capabilities, and improve their resilience, and guide you to help them as a caregiver (e.g., modeling emotional regulation, talking about your feelings, fostering a validating environment).

While in therapy, your kid will also gain other key tools, such as social and interpersonal skills, communication strategies, problem-solving, and coping mechanisms

Niki Parker | Online Therapist for Kids and Teens in Ohio and Michigan

I’m a licensed social worker offering online therapy to kids, teens, and women living in Ohio and Michigan.

My treatment specialties include anxiety, depression, trauma, women’s issues, family challenges, relationship problems, life transitions, and spirituality.

When working with younger kids, I provide play therapy within a digital playroom, using various apps, videos, and games to support social-emotional learning and behavioral management. Children and pre-teens are often more inclined to engage and open up when immersed in this magical world. Play becomes their vehicle to express, act out scenarios, and self-soothe.

When treating teens, I typically utilize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to examine the link between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, challenge limiting patterns, and build life skills. I also incorporate eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR therapy) to address their emotional wounds, anxiety, and unresolved issues, identifying and reprocessing painful memories via bilateral movements. Play therapy can be integrated too, when appropriate.

In either case, I will prepare a personalized treatment plan that adapts to your child’s needs, challenges, preferences, and goals. I will also offer recommendations to support your kid between sessions and after therapy is complete. You and I are a team, so working in tandem is crucial for them to thrive.

I take the following insurances: Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth, Optum, United Behavioral Healthcare, Medical Mutual of Ohio, and Paramount.

How Online Child and Teen Therapy Works

Online therapy or teletherapy is a secure, confidential, and convenient way to access treatment from the comfort of your home or another location. Forget about commuting or shuffling your child’s schedule!

Once you complete the initial paperwork, I will send you a secure link for your kid’s appointments. Make sure they are set up with a digital device (e.g., computer, tablet, phone), a reliable internet connection, and a private space.

Depending on your child’s age and situation, I may ask you (the caregiver) to attend some sessions. They can also bring their pets—my certified therapy dog will probably join our sessions too!

Taking your child to therapy can be scary. But the results are invaluable.

You are raising an exceptional human.

Let’s collaborate to support them in every possible way.

Book a free 10-minute consultation to get started.