Working with Children
The Wisely Approach to Counseling Children
Children grow best when counseling feels safe, engaging, and even fun. At Wisely Wellness, we create spaces where children can explore feelings, practice new skills, and discover strengths. Our approach is collaborative and strengths-based, focusing on what your child can already do well and building from there. Sessions are designed to meet children where they are developmentally, honoring different learning styles and abilities so that every child can feel successful.
Why Families Reach Out
Families seek children’s counseling for many reasons. Some children experience worry, sadness, or anger that feels overwhelming. Others face challenges at home or school or need help adjusting to family changes. Many parents want support in helping their child develop stronger self-regulation, attention, and coping skills.
At Wisely, we also welcome children who are navigating:
- Neurodivergence, including OCD, autism spectrum, and ADHD
- Trauma and recovery after stressful experiences
- Behavioral challenges at home or school
- Social-emotional struggles and peer difficulties
- Childhood developmental challenges and varying abilities
- Specific learning challenges
- Family transitions such as separation, divorce, or blending households
- Grief and loss
- Child-parent coaching for more connected and effective relationships
Whatever the reason, we meet each child and family with warmth, creativity, and practical strategies for growth.
How Counseling for Children Works
Counseling looks different for children ages 3 to 12 than it does for adults or teens. We begin by meeting with caregivers to understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and your hopes for treatment. Sessions are designed to be engaging and creative, inviting children to practice emotional regulation, flexible thinking, and healthy communication skills. In virtual sessions, we may use interactive platforms such as Telio to bring playfulness into the counseling space, while keeping the work strengths-based and collaborative. Many of our providers also have backgrounds in education and teaching. This experience strengthens counseling by allowing us to adapt activities to different learning styles and ensure our services are ability inclusive. As children grow, they may reach a point where they attend sessions only as needed, with a trusted counseling relationship already in place if new challenges arise. For many families, Wisely becomes a soft place to land; a supportive home base their children can return to at any age.
The Parent Coaching Role
Every child’s counselor also serves as a parent coach. This means you will learn alongside your child, gaining strategies to respond to big emotions, reduce power struggles, and build routines that support growth. With coaching, caregivers become active partners in counseling, helping progress stick beyond the session.
Working as a Team
At Wisely Wellness, we know that children thrive when the adults in their lives are working together. In addition to partnering closely with parents and siblings, we welcome collaboration with other important people and providers in your child’s world. This might include medical doctors, holistic practitioners, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, schools, au pairs or nannies, and extended family members who play a role in care. By bringing voices together, we can create consistency, share strategies, and support your child in ways that feel natural across home, school, and community settings. Our goal is to ensure that counseling does not happen in isolation, but as part of a thoughtful team approach where everyone works toward your child’s growth and well-being.
When We Use a Team Model
For more complex situations, we may bring in a family counselor to provide additional support to parents while your child continues with individual sessions. This team approach helps the child focus on developmentally appropriate work while caregivers receive deeper guidance for supporting the family system.
Why Families Reach Out
Families seek children’s counseling for many reasons. Some children experience worry, sadness, or anger that feels overwhelming. Others struggle with behavior challenges at home or school, difficulties with peers, or adjusting to family changes. Many parents want support in helping their child develop stronger self-regulation, attention, and coping skills. Whatever the reason, we meet each child and family with warmth, creativity, and practical strategies for growth.
What to Expect
- Caregiver intake and goal setting
- Targeted inventories to provide a baseline for progress
- Child sessions with engaging, interactive activities adapted to their learning style
- Ongoing parent coaching for skills that translate into daily life
- Optional collaboration with schools (with caregiver consent)
- Team support when family counseling is helpful
- Progress check-ins and adjustments as your child develops
Taking the Next Step
You do not need to have everything figured out to begin. We will start with a conversation to learn about your child and family, and together we will decide on the best path forward. You will be met with warmth, clarity, and tools you can use immediately.
Collaborative Fit Process
Finding the right counselor for your child matters. That is why we begin with a conversation where you can share your goals and ask questions. Together, we will consider which counselor’s background and style best fit your family. You are welcome to connect with our clinicians through free consultations by phone or telehealth video, so you feel confident and comfortable as you begin.
