Let’s work together to help your child conquer anxiety and pursue the life that they want

child + Teen psychologist In person in columbus + online across ohio

Watching your child struggle is hard-not knowing how to help is even harder

Being a kid or teen can be challenging—there’s pressure to do well in school, stressful social dynamics (both in real life and online), and so much of life that feels out of their control. All of these things, along with not having a developed emotional vocabulary to fully express their feelings, can lead to getting stuck on negative or anxious thoughts and having meltdowns. You want to see them live a full life, but their worrying is interfering with their confidence and ability to live their life fully.


Maybe your child or teen is troubled by… 


  • Sleep issues because of worrying thoughts

  • Overwhelming shyness, social anxiety, or separation anxiety

  • Fears or sensory issues like misophonia that affect their ability to get through daily life

  • Perfectionism and being extremely self-critical

  • OCD, compulsive behaviors like hair pulling, or obsessive thoughts

  • Panic attacks, selective mutism, or other side effects of severe anxiety


Together, we can give them the tools to express themselves fully and set them on the path to a more fulfilling life.

HOW IT WORKS


In the first session, we’ll meet without your child present to chat about their history and what you hope they’ll gain from therapy. This will help me get a clear picture of your concerns and goals. The next session will be with your child or teen, and they’ll have the chance to decide if they want to come in alone or have you in the room with them. This helps them feel comfortable and gives them a sense of agency over their therapy experience.


I tailor my in-session approach to each child or teen’s individual needs. For teens, individual sessions are common, but sometimes it’s helpful to have you join in for support or so your teen can communicate their feelings or needs to you. Younger children may or may not bring you into each session, but I’ll often invite you to join at the end to go over what we worked on and any new strategies to try at home, send your child home with a written update, or have separate sessions with just you if we need to discuss things in-depth. Your involvement is key, and we’ll figure out the best way to collaborate based on what works best for your child.


I’ve heard many of my clients say they look forward to therapy with me because I make it engaging with creative activities, movement, and humor when appropriate. We may create “toolkits” of the strategies they’ll learn, which will help them communicate better with you and understand themselves more. I’ll also help them learn practical strategies like mindfulness and meditation, and set goals with them to overcome what they’re struggling with. This is a safe space for them to share their feelings without judgment, and we'll work together to find the best ways for your child to grow into their truest, most confident self.

How it helps

Therapy can help your child or teen…

  • Expand their comfort zone & build a higher tolerance for big emotions

  • Learn tools to cope with worry, stress, or nervousness

  • Develop an emotional vocabulary & communicate their needs & feelings better

  • Have more confidence, self-compassion, & flexibility in thinking

  • Learn about their anxiety & realize it doesn’t have to control them

  • Be less fearful and more accepting of themselves

They deserve a space to express themselves & the tools to thrive.


TOGETHER, WE CAN GIVE THEM THAT…AND SO MUCH MORE

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about therapy for children + teens

  • Your child or teen might benefit from therapy if anxiety is getting in the way of their daily life—leading them to be irritable, sad, shy, or have trouble at school or with friends. If they're withdrawing from activities they used to enjoy or you're worried about changes in their behavior, therapy can help them sort out their thoughts and feelings and learn to cope with them in a healthy way.


  • The number of sessions varies for each child, depending on their unique needs and goals. Some children might be able to overcome what they’re struggling with in a few months, while others might need ongoing support. We'll regularly check in to see how things are going and set both short and long-term goals for the work we do together.


  • I tailor my approach to each individual, but draw from many different methods and approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, art and creative activities, and more. For children or teens struggling with OCD, I use Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP).