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Therapy for Children in Chicago
Meet Our Therapists for Kids
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![Southeast Asian therapist Chicago with long dark hair smiling, wearing a light purple collared shirt and a thin necklace, against a plain white background.]()
Nishma Patel, LCPC
What Our Clients Are Saying
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During our first session Hannah was proactive in creating a plan of action to properly diagnose me and address my concerns. Detailed. Office is beautiful. Love the decor, relaxing ambiance and free tea.
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She was very kind and thorough during intake and the entire office looks like something out of a lifestyle magazine.
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The office is lovely and welcoming, the in-take paperwork helped me prepare for what I wanted to talk about and gave me a starting point.
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Dr. Yang is warm and empathic, and made me feel comfortable from the very beginning.
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Emma has been very supportive through major life changes for me. Her sweet and gentle nature made it easy for me to feel safe to open up to her. I am very grateful for her support and kindness.
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It was my first visit and she made me feel so safe. I opened up right away!
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Is your child having a hard time managing big feelings or fitting in at school?
Maybe you’ve noticed your child feeling more anxious, acting out, or pulling away — and you're not quite sure why.
They might be struggling with friendships, having a tough time adjusting to changes, or just seem overwhelmed in ways they can't fully explain.
Or maybe they’ve been feeling sad, frustrated, or easily upset, and you’re worried they don’t have a safe space to process it all.
Childhood can be full of emotional ups and downs, and sometimes kids need extra support to make sense of it all. Our child therapists specialize in working with children as young as 3 and understand the unique challenges they face. We offer a warm, supportive environment where your child can feel seen, heard, and helped — all at their own pace - and at a way that matches where they are in their development.
Common Reasons Parents Seek Therapy for Young Children (Ages 3–6)
Early childhood is full of big feelings, rapid development, and new experiences. At this age, kids are still learning how to understand and express their emotions — and sometimes, they need extra support along the way.
Here are some common reasons parents choose therapy for their preschool or early elementary-age child:
Frequent tantrums or emotional outbursts
All young children have meltdowns, but if your child’s reactions seem especially intense, frequent, or hard to manage, therapy can help them (and you) find calmer ways to cope.Separation anxiety or clinginess
It’s normal for young kids to want to stay close — but if your child becomes overly distressed when apart from you or refuses to go to preschool or daycare, therapy can provide support.Delays in emotional or social development
Your child may struggle to play cooperatively, share, take turns, or understand social cues. Therapy can gently guide them toward stronger social-emotional skills in a playful, supportive way.
Aggression or difficulty with impulse control
If your child is hitting, biting, or having trouble following directions, it may be a sign they’re struggling with emotional regulation. Therapy helps them learn safer, more effective ways to express themselves.
Big life changes
Events like a move, divorce, new sibling, or loss of a loved one can feel especially confusing at this age. Therapy gives children a safe space to make sense of their feelings and regain a sense of security.Sleep issues, toileting concerns, or regression
If your child is having trouble sleeping, experiencing toileting regressions, or returning to earlier behaviors, these may be signs they need extra emotional support.Exposure to trauma or stress
Even young children can be affected by stressful or traumatic experiences. Therapy can help them feel safe again, process their experiences in age-appropriate ways, and build resilience.Support for developmental differences
Children with autism, sensory sensitivities, or other neurodevelopmental needs may benefit from therapy to support emotional regulation, communication, and comfort in the world around them.You just know something’s not quite right
Sometimes it’s not one big thing, but a parent’s intuition that their child needs support. That’s reason enough. Early support can make a meaningful difference in a child’s emotional wellbeing.
Common Reasons Parents Seek Therapy for Their School-Age Child
There are many reasons parents choose to bring their child to therapy — and often, it begins with a simple concern that something just doesn’t feel right. It could also be that a trusted person in your life - your child’s teacher or pediatrician - has mentioned some concerns.
Some concerns we routinely see are:
Emotional struggles
Your child may seem unusually sad, irritable, or withdrawn. A parent, teacher, or caregiver might notice signs of depression, or observe that your child is easily overwhelmed by anxiety, even in day-to-day situations.Friendship difficulties
School-age kids are still learning how to build and maintain healthy friendships. Some children have a hard time making friends, feel left out, or struggle with social cues. Therapy can help kids build confidence, empathy, and important social skills.Low self-esteem or self-doubt
Your child may be overly hard on themselves, comparing themselves to others, or feeling like they’re not "good enough." Therapy can help them build a stronger, more positive sense of self.Academic pressure or school stress
Even young children can feel stressed by schoolwork or pressure to perform well. Therapy can support kids in managing frustration, improving focus, and developing healthier coping strategies.
Behavioral challenges at home or school
You might notice more frequent meltdowns, defiance, or emotional outbursts. Therapy helps children understand and express their emotions in more constructive ways.
Family stress or conflict
Big changes like divorce, a move, or a new sibling can deeply affect a child. Even tension at home that seems manageable to adults can feel overwhelming to a child. Therapy can give them a safe space to process these experiences.Trauma or difficult experiences
Some children have been through scary, confusing, or painful events. Therapy can gently support them in making sense of what happened and moving forward with more resilience.Sensory, developmental, or neurodivergent support
Children with ADHD, autism, or other developmental needs may benefit from therapy to build emotional regulation, social confidence, and coping tools that fit their unique strengths.Just needing someone to talk to
Sometimes there isn’t a clear “problem,” but your child could still benefit from a trusted adult who listens, understands, and helps them work through all the changes and emotions that come with growing up.
Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum
At Balanced Awakening, we offer thoughtful, individualized therapy for children on the autism spectrum, tailored to meet each child’s unique strengths, challenges, and communication style. And we try to make it a fun and enjoyable experience as much as possible! Our therapist, Nishma Patel, LCPC has worked for many years with children on the autism spectrum and with other complex developmental needs. Whether your child needs support with emotional regulation, sensory processing, social connection, or navigating changes in routine, Nishma can help. Through play-based approaches, visual supports, and parent collaboration, we create a safe and supportive space where your child can grow, connect, and thrive — all at their own pace.
Art Therapy for Kids
Art therapy is a powerful way for children to express feelings they might not yet have words for. Using materials like paint, markers, clay, and collage, kids can explore their emotions, tell their stories, and work through challenges in a hands-on, creative way. For children, art therapy is especially helpful because it taps into their natural way of communicating — through play and imagination. Whether a child is dealing with anxiety, grief, trauma, behavioral struggles, or just feeling overwhelmed, art gives them a safe outlet to process what they’re experiencing. It’s not about making “perfect” art — it’s about helping them feel seen, heard, and understood in a gentle, non-threatening way. Art therapy also helps build confidence, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen the connection between child and therapist.
Benefits of Therapy for Children
Therapy gives children a safe, supportive space to explore their feelings, build confidence, and learn healthy ways to cope with life’s challenges. There are benefits for the child and everyone in the child’s life!
Often, engaging in therapy will help with improved emotional regulation and healthier coping strategies. Therapy helps children recognize, name, and manage big emotions like anger, sadness, fear, and frustration. Whether dealing with anxiety, stress, or change, kids learn tools they can use to calm themselves and feel more in control.
Children learn how to express their needs, thoughts, and feelings more clearly and appropriately — with both peers and adults, leading to better communication skills now and for the rest of their life. Relatedly, children’s usually also develop stronger social skills, improving in areas like sharing, taking turns, reading social cues, and making and keeping friends.
With improved emotional regular and communication skills, we often see increased self-confidence and self-esteem, too.
Has your family recently gone through a transition? Even things like moving in the same neighborhood, that can be less disruptive to adults, can have a big impact on kids. Therapy can provide support during life transitions and ease the emotional impact of events like divorce, moving, changing schools, or the arrival of a new sibling.
Therapy can provide an important space to heal from trauma or loss. Children who’ve experienced difficult or frightening events can process those experiences in a safe, age-appropriate way.
Home and school environments often benefit from a child’s experience in therapy with improved behavior. As children learn to manage their emotions and communicate better, challenging behaviors often decrease — improving family dynamics and classroom experiences.
And finally, parents can strongly benefit through parent support and insight! Therapy often includes parent involvement, especially with the youngest children, offering caregivers tools, guidance, and deeper understanding of their child’s emotional world.
Getting Started with Therapy for Children at Balanced Awakening
If you’re not sure where to start, take a few minutes to complete our matchmaking form and we’ll connect you with a therapist who is a good fit for you! You can also book an appointment directly with Nishma Patel, LCPC who loves working with children as young as 3.
Blog Posts for Parents
Therapy for Kids FAQs
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Therapy can support children through a wide range of emotional, behavioral, developmental, and social challenges. Some common areas we help with include:
Anxiety and fears
Including separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, and general worry or nervousness.Depression or low mood
Persistent sadness, withdrawal, loss of interest in play or activities, or changes in sleep and appetite.Emotional regulation difficulties
Frequent tantrums, mood swings, or difficulty calming down after becoming upset.Behavioral challenges
Defiance, aggression, impulsivity, or difficulty following directions at home or school.Attention and focus issues
Challenges related to ADHD or executive functioning, such as difficulty staying on task or managing transitions.Social skills and peer relationships
Struggles with making friends, reading social cues, resolving conflicts, or feeling left out.Family changes or stress
Coping with divorce, a move, new siblings, or family conflict.Grief and loss
Support after the death of a loved one, pet, or other meaningful loss.Trauma and adverse experiences
Healing after experiencing or witnessing something scary, painful, or confusing.Autism and neurodivergent support
Building emotional, sensory, and social-emotional skills in a way that honors each child’s unique needs and communication style.Toileting, sleep, and developmental concerns
Especially common in younger children who may regress or struggle during times of stress or change.Low self-esteem or confidence
Children who are overly self-critical, feel "not good enough," or avoid trying new things.
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In the first session, the therapist typically begins by meeting with the parent(s) and child to learn more about your child’s history, strengths, challenges, and what brings you in for support. This is a time for you to share your concerns, ask questions, and get a sense of how therapy will work. Depending on your child’s age and comfort level, they may be included in part of this first conversation or join for a playful introduction to the therapy space.
We use age-appropriate tools like toys, games, or art to help kids feel at ease and begin building a connection with their therapist. Our goal in the first session is not to “fix” anything right away, but to start creating a foundation of trust, safety, and understanding.
By the end of the first session, the therapist will share their initial impressions, talk through next steps, and offer guidance on how therapy will be tailored to support your child’s unique needs. You’ll leave with a clearer idea of how we’ll work together — and how you’ll be supported along the way, too.
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Our therapy rate for the first two sessions is $250. After that, individual 55 minute sessions are $225. Most of our providers are in network with BCBS PPO and Aetna insurance.
Maximize Your Out-of-Network Benefits with Ease
We’ve partnered with Thrizer to help you get the most out of your out-of-network benefits- especially if you're insured through plans like UnitedHealthcare or Cigna. Thrizer simplifies the reimbursement process by acting as your payment processor and handling claims on your behalf. That means no more super bills, no chasing down insurance companies, and faster reimbursements.
Curious about your coverage if we’re out of network? We can likely provide a personalized estimate of your out-of-network benefits through Thrizer, so you’ll know exactly what to expect before getting started.
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Yes! We offer virtual therapy for kids as well as in-person. Sometimes it’s easier for clients to engage in therapy virtually, especially when they have school, homework, extracurriculars, and a social life! We have creative ways to engage with kids virtually.