Child Therapy near Wellington and Lake Worth

Children go through many stages of change, and they often meet difficulties and challenges along the way. Giving them a safe space to process, learn and grow can be just what your child, and your family, needs. At Serene Trails Therapy we offer individual and family therapy, so everyone can gain insight and connect.

Infant and early childhood mental health (ages 0-6)

Very young children can experience anxiety, fear, sadness and big emotions, sometimes after a painful or traumatic event and sometimes with no obvious cause. Children first learn to communicate through behavior, and there is often a reason behind it. Our job is to help you understand what your child may be trying to express, using family and individual interventions to get you and your child back to a place of connection.

Families often reach out about excessive crying, irritability, sadness or extreme tantrums. For children under 3, a caregiver is present in sessions.

Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)

CPP is for children from birth to age 6 who have experienced trauma. Children heal through relationships, and research shows that children are most resilient with the help of at least one supportive caregiver. In CPP, caregivers explore how their own upbringing shapes their parenting and learn ways to increase connection with their child. Sessions begin with the caregiver alone and then continue weekly with caregiver and child together. Brittany is rostered on the national list of CPP clinicians.

Therapy for school-age children

Play therapy (ages 4 and up)

Play is a child's first language. Through play, children express emotions, gain a healthy sense of power and control, and work through past and present experiences. We call this mastery. Your child is free to direct their own play in a safe environment.

Sand tray therapy (ages 4 and up)

Using sand and small toys, children can show their thoughts and feelings by "doing" and "showing" instead of telling. Don't worry, we keep a vacuum nearby for the spills.

Art therapy (ages 4 and up)

With paper and pencils, magazines and scissors, children create and express emotions or experiences they may not have words for, while practicing new social and emotional skills.

Evidence-based approaches

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children affected by trauma and their parents or caregivers. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques help children change unhelpful thoughts and reactions, and a family therapy approach teaches new parenting, stress-management and communication skills.

What we help children with

Common reasons families reach out include worry and anxiety, trauma, tantrums and behavioral challenges, separation, divorce, adoption, foster care and other big changes, and sadness or withdrawal. For some children, equine-assisted psychotherapy is another way in.

Related reading

• When Should a Child Start Therapy?
• Infant Mental Health: Can Babies Really Benefit From Therapy?
• What Is Child-Parent Psychotherapy?
• How Therapy Can Help Children With Anxiety
• Art Therapy for Children 4 and Up

Have a teenager too? See teen counseling.

Related specialties

• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Behavioral Challenges
• Life Transitions
• ADHD

Common questions

Can babies and toddlers benefit from therapy?

Yes. Infant mental health support is for children from birth to 6 who show signs like excessive crying, irritability, sadness or extreme tantrums, or who have experienced trauma. Children first communicate through behavior, and we help you understand what they may be expressing. Read more.

Will I be involved in my child's therapy?

Yes, parents and caregivers are part of the team. For children under 3, a caregiver is present in all sessions. In Child-Parent Psychotherapy, sessions start with the caregiver individually and then continue weekly with caregiver and child together. Family therapy teaches parenting, stress-management and communication skills.

How long does a session last?

A typical therapy session lasts 45-55 minutes. Young children may not need a full session, depending on their development and treatment needs.

Do you accept insurance?

Yes. We're in-network with several plans for outpatient mental health therapy, including Aetna, AvMed, Cigna, Humana, Optum, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Oscar Health and UnitedHealthcare. See the full list on Insurance and Fees. Please call the number on your card to confirm your benefits for outpatient mental health.