Child Therapist Northwest Chicago Suburbs

Adolescent and Child Therapist Northwest Chicago Suburbs

It can be difficult for your entire family when your child is struggling. As child, adolescent, and family therapists, we have expertise in helping get your family life back on track. We offer therapy for adolescents virtually and in our Chicago and South Barrington offices (convenient to Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates) and child counseling in our South Barrington  office (Northwest Suburban area).  Our skilled youth and child therapists help families with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues including:

  • Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Temper Tantrums
  • Oppositional or Defiant Behaviors
  • Trauma History
  • Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
  • Eating Disorders (bulimia, anorexia, binge-eating)
  • Pediatric Anxiety Disorders
  • Anger-Management
  • School Refusal/School Anxiety
  • Major Depression and other Mood Disorders
  • Coping with Divorce
  • Coping with Juvenile Diabetes
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Family Conflict
  • Parenting Challenges
  • Trichotillomania (hair pulling)/ Excoriation Disorder (skin picking)
  • Picky eating/sensory issues around food

As family, adolescent, and child therapists, we know that each family and child is unique. We will work together to develop an individualized treatment plan to address your family’s needs. Because we utilize evidenced-based practice – therapy methods that have been researched and demonstrated to be efficacious – you can be sure that your treatment plan is comprised only of reputable treatments that work. We offer a variety of clinical services including:

Play Therapy

“For children to ‘play out’ their experiences and feelings is the most natural, dynamic, and self-healing process in which they can engage”
Play therapy is an evidence-based approach that meets children on their level of cognitive and emotional development. It rests on the idea that play is the most natural mode of communication for children, and relies on the building and strengthening of the therapeutic relationship to support child development. The playroom is designed to allow children the opportunity to present as their true, authentic selves. Through the freedom to explore as well as the therapist’s attunment and verbal reflections, children may:
  • engage in important emotional processing
  • gain creative problem-solving skills
  • develop stronger empathy
  • expand and strengthen relationships
  • replace maladaptive behaviors
  • increase self-esteem and self-efficacy
  • learn to experience and express emotions
There are many different forms of play therapy. Additionally, various interventions are incorporated into children’s play therapy experiences. Each child is unique and may benefit from directive play therapy, non-directive play therapy, or a combination of both. Directive play therapy is a goal-driven modality that requests engagement in specific activities and interventions. The therapist works with the child to explore concepts that build stronger skills in emotion identification, self-regulation, and emotional processing. Non-directive play therapy provides the child with control in the playroom, giving freedom to make choices and assume a leadership role. With the creation of a safe, nonjudgemental space, the therapist follows the guidance of the child giving them ownership over their play therapy experience.

Individual Therapy for Teens and Children

As experienced cognitive-behavioral therapists, we will work with your child and teen individually to help them learn to communicate more effectively, identify and cope with their feelings, identify and change negative thinking patterns, and learn to solve problems effectively. Individual therapy can be a valuable and comfortable place where youth can express themselves, without judgment. In the absence of judgment, children and adolescents can feel free to explore their feelings and patterns non-defensively.

Adolescent Therapist Chicago: Learn more about adolescent therapist Grace Moloney. 

Parent and Caregiver Coaching

Incorporating family members and caregivers into child and adolescent therapy experience can be instrumental to their healing process. Family member and caregiver involvement will be collaboratively discussed with your child or teen’s therapist to ensure the best support possible. It is important for caregivers to communicate regularly with their child’s team in order to share progress updates, collaborate on strategies of support, and work together to generalize new skills across environments. Our clinicians hold separate caregiver sessions for all kids to promote honest, problem-solving conversations. Managing behavioral and emotional challenges alone can feel overwhelming. An approach that honors parents and caregivers as the experts on their children/teens, combined with the knowledge of a skilled therapist, kids can be the most authentic, successful versions of themselves.

Family Therapy

When a child is struggling, it influences the entire family. We believe that parents much be closely involved in treatment for maximum effectiveness. We support and encourage the entire family to communicate effectively and find solutions together. With a respectful, solution focused, goal-directed approach, we collaborate with parents to work toward the best outcomes for your family. Sometimes, it can be difficult for the entire family to come in for therapy, so we are flexible and will work with whichever family members are able to attend.

Home and School Observations

We provide observations at home and school to assess problems, as they occur, in their natural contexts. Based on these assessments, we can provide more tailored interventions to meet your child’s needs.