Child & Teen Therapy

Trusted therapy that builds confidence and fosters resilience

Gold Award — Best Mental Health Provider Midtown Magazine Diamond Awards, 2025

Therapy that Connects

We believe children learn best when they feel comfortable, understood, and actively engaged. Rather than expecting children to simply sit and talk, our therapists create developmentally appropriate, interactive experiences that help children build new skills through games, creative activities, conversation, and other evidence-based therapeutic approaches.

Every session is thoughtfully tailored to your child’s age, personality, interests, strengths, and individual goals. Whether we’re helping a young child identify and express emotions through hands-on activities or supporting a teenager in developing healthier thinking patterns and coping strategies, our goal is to create a meaningful therapeutic experience that promotes lasting growth, builds confidence, and fosters resilience.

Navigating Life's Challenges

Every child experiences ups and downs, but sometimes additional support can help them regain confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop healthy coping skills. We work with children and adolescents experiencing:

Anxiety and excessive worry
ADHD and executive functioning challenges
Depression and low mood
Emotional regulation difficulties
Parent-child conflict
School stress and academic challenges
Behavioral concerns
Friendship and peer relationship difficulties
Life transitions and family changes
Self-esteem and confidence concerns
Grief and loss
Trauma and stressful life experiences

Helping Families Grow Together

We believe meaningful progress happens when children, parents, and therapists work together. While therapy sessions focus on helping children build emotional awareness, confidence, coping skills, and resilience, lasting change often comes from practicing those skills in everyday life.

Throughout the therapy process, we partner closely with parents by sharing practical strategies, discussing progress, and helping families strengthen communication, relationships, and problem-solving at home. Our goal is not only to help children thrive in the therapy room, but to equip families with the tools and confidence to support continued growth long after each session ends.

Helping Children Build Skills for Life

Therapy is about more than solving today’s challenges—it’s about helping children and teens develop the skills they need to thrive long into the future. Through personalized, evidence-based treatment, we help young people better understand themselves, navigate difficult emotions, strengthen relationships, and respond to life’s challenges with greater confidence.

Throughout therapy, children and teens learn skills such as:

Recognizing and expressing emotions
Managing anxiety and overwhelming feelings
Developing healthy coping strategies
Building confidence and self-esteem
Strengthening problem-solving skills
Improving emotional regulation
Navigating friendships and family relationships
Developing organization and executive functioning skills
Communicating more effectively
Building resilience for future challenges

These skills are developed through individualized, evidence-based treatment tailored to each child’s unique needs. Depending on your child’s goals, therapy may incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), play-based interventions, parent coaching, family therapy, mindfulness, and emotional regulation strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my child or teen could benefit from therapy?

Every child experiences challenges from time to time, but therapy may be helpful if emotional, behavioral, or social difficulties are interfering with your child’s well-being, relationships, or daily functioning. Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, mood, school stress, behavioral concerns, life transitions, or simply seems different from their usual self, therapy can provide support, practical skills, and a safe place to grow.

Do you offer in-person or telehealth therapy?

We offer in-person therapy for children and teens at our welcoming office in Durham, North Carolina. In-person sessions are generally recommended for younger children, as they allow therapists to incorporate hands-on activities, play, and other developmentally appropriate interventions that help children feel engaged and connected.

We also offer telehealth sessions when clinically appropriate, particularly for parent coaching and support and for older children and teenagers who are likely to benefit from a virtual format. If you’re unsure which option is best for your family, we’re happy to discuss your child’s needs and recommend the approach that will best support their treatment goals.

What happens during the first appointment?

The first appointment is an opportunity for us to get to know your family and better understand your concerns, goals, and your child’s unique strengths. We’ll discuss your child’s history, answer your questions, and begin developing a personalized treatment plan. Depending on your child’s age and needs, portions of the appointment may include both the parent and child together, as well as time spent individually.

How involved are parents in therapy?

Parents play an important role in the therapy process. While the level of involvement varies based on your child’s age, developmental needs, and treatment goals, we regularly collaborate with parents by discussing progress, providing practical strategies, and supporting positive changes at home. Our goal is to help the entire family succeed, not just the child during therapy sessions.

How long does therapy usually last?

The length of therapy depends on your child’s needs and goals. Some families benefit from short-term therapy focused on a specific concern, while others find ongoing support helpful for more complex or long-standing challenges. We regularly review progress together and adjust treatment as your child’s needs evolve.

What ages do you work with?

We provide therapy for children and adolescents across a wide range of developmental stages, typically ranging from ages 4-18. Treatment is always tailored to your child’s age, developmental level, personality, strengths, and individual goals to ensure therapy is engaging, meaningful, and effective.

Do you accept insurance?

Child and teen therapy services are currently offered on a self-pay basis. To help make services more accessible, we offer reduced-fee therapy provided by doctoral-level interns and postdoctoral fellows, who provide services under the supervision of our Licensed Psychologist. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about current fees and provider availability.

Ready to Get Started?

Every child deserves the opportunity to feel understood, build confidence, and develop the skills needed to thrive. If you’re wondering whether therapy may be helpful for your child or teenager, we’re here to answer your questions and help you determine whether Calhoun Psychology is the right fit for your family.