Licensed clinical psychologists at CNC help children and adolescents learn more about themselves and build confidence with approaching challenges effectively. Our clients gain skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, anxiety management, flexibility, self-advocacy, and assertive communication. Clients also gain a stronger sense of how they want to show up in the world and what skills they need to do so. Our clinicians are known for building strong relationships with clients and their caregivers by providing a supportive, affirming environment. Some clients attend therapy for a short time to achieve their targeted goals; other clients have benefitted from a longer therapeutic relationship that they continue to draw on as they move through different stages and challenges. Clinicians regularly check-in on treatment goals and progress to ensure sessions remain beneficial.
Due to their proven effectiveness at growing youth’s self-awareness and skill development, clinicians at CNC use evidenced-based therapies including:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure-based therapy (e.g., ERP)
These therapies are typically short-term interventions that provide psychoeducation and teach strategies to improve functioning. Strategies may include identifying how emotions show up in our body and mind, spotting unhelpful thoughts, learning distress tolerance, and increasing engagement in meaningful activities. These interventions have proven effective with anxiety, OCD, depression, emotion dysregulation, interpersonal problems, school difficulties, and life stressors and transitions.
Given that adults are often in a position to implement helpful changes quickly, individual therapy with children involves regular contact with parents and caregivers to facilitate your child’s generalization of skills outside of the therapy office. For teens, parent/caregiver involvement honors adolescents’ growing autonomy and incorporates their insight into how family members can support them.
The therapy process at CNC typically includes:
- Parent intake
- Child/Teen intake
- Development of a treatment plan
- 50-minute weekly therapy sessions with the child/teen and/or parent
- Collaboration and consultation with other providers and/or school personnel
Appointments are offered in-person and via telehealth, as appropriate. For scheduling, complete the contact form on our website, give us a call at (847) 272-2484, or contact a clinician directly via their email address on the bio page.
If you are unsure if your child would currently benefit from individual therapy, consider if our short-term Emotion Regulation Skills Training would be a good fit.