Child Therapy in Chicago: Helping Kids Feel Calm, Confident & Connected
Growing up comes with a lot of change. A new school, shifting friendships, family changes, grief, anxiety, or simply learning how to handle bigger emotions can leave a child feeling overwhelmed.
At Balanced Awakening, our Chicago child therapists help kids ages 3–12 understand their emotions, build confidence, strengthen coping skills, and feel more secure in themselves and their relationships. Through play, creativity, conversation, and evidence-based therapy, we meet children where they are — and help them move through life’s changes with greater confidence and resilience.
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Meet Our Child Therapists in Chicago
Finding the right therapist matters — especially for kids. Our child therapists bring different strengths and styles to their work, so we can help you find someone who feels like a good fit for your child’s personality, needs, and stage of development.
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Kayleigh Reed, LPC
Children • Anxiety • Big Emotions • Life Transitions
Especially passionate about helping kids navigate change, understand their emotions, and build confidence in who they are.
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Brenna Wells, MA
Anxiety • Adjustment to Change • Building Confidence & Self Esteem
Creating a warm, supportive space where children can be themselves, discover their strengths, and grow through the challenges they face.
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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
Young Children • Autism • Emotional Regulation • Play-Based Therapy
Helping children express themselves, build skills, and feel understood through developmentally appropriate, playful approaches.
Is Your Child Having a Hard Time With Big Feelings, Change, or School?
Maybe your child has become more anxious, frustrated, tearful, withdrawn, or quick to anger — and you’re not quite sure why.
Maybe friendships have gotten harder. School suddenly feels stressful. Bedtime has become a battle. Or a change that seemed manageable to the adults in their life — a move, divorce, new sibling, loss, new school, or shifting family dynamic — has felt much bigger to them.
Sometimes there isn’t one obvious reason at all. You simply have the sense that something isn’t quite right.
Child therapy gives kids a place that belongs to them: somewhere they can express what they’re experiencing, understand their feelings, develop new ways of coping, and feel supported by an adult who knows how to meet them at their developmental level.
And your child doesn’t need to know exactly what’s wrong — or even know how to put it into words — before therapy can help.
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.
Helping Kids Navigate Life’s Changes
Change can be hard at any age — but children don’t always have the language or coping skills to explain why a transition feels so big.
Starting a new school, moving, changing friendships, welcoming a sibling, experiencing divorce or separation, grieving someone important, or simply entering a new developmental stage can bring up anxiety, sadness, anger, uncertainty, or behavior changes.
In therapy, your child can begin to make sense of what’s changing around them and what they’re feeling inside. Together, we can help them develop coping skills, express emotions more comfortably, and build confidence in their ability to handle change.
The goal isn’t to make every transition easy. It’s to help your child discover: “I can handle hard things, and I don’t have to handle them alone.”
Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum
At Balanced Awakening, we offer individualized, affirming therapy for children on the autism spectrum, with support tailored to each child’s strengths, needs, communication style, and developmental level.
Nishma Patel, LCPC brings extensive experience working with autistic children and children with other developmental needs. Depending on your child’s goals, therapy may support emotional regulation, sensory processing, communication, social connection, coping with transitions, and navigating changes in routine.
Through play-based approaches, visual supports, and collaboration with parents and caregivers, Nishma creates a supportive space where children can grow and connect while being respected for who they are.
Creative Expression in Child Therapy
Creative expression and art therapy are powerful ways 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.
What Is My Role as a Parent?
You know your child better than anyone, so parents and caregivers can be an important part of the therapy process.
The level of parent involvement varies depending on your child’s age and needs. With younger children, therapists may work more closely with caregivers to understand what’s happening at home, share strategies, and support changes outside the therapy room. As children get older, therapy may include more individual time so they can develop a trusting relationship and a sense that therapy is truly their space.
Your therapist will talk with you about what involvement makes sense while also protecting the trust and privacy that help children feel safe opening up.
Getting Started with Therapy for Children at Balanced Awakening
You don’t have to figure out which therapist is the perfect fit on your own.
Tell us a little about your child, what you’re noticing, your scheduling needs, and what you’re hoping therapy can help with. We’ll help connect your family with a therapist whose experience and approach fit what you’re looking for.
Ready to get started?
Book an appointment directly if you’re ready to choose a therapist, or complete our matchmaking form if you’d like help deciding who may be the best fit for your child.
We offer child therapy at our Chicago offices in Andersonville, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and the Loop, with telehealth options available throughout Illinois when clinically appropriate for your child’s age and needs.
A Space to Say, “I Feel Different. Let’s Figure It Out.”
Children often know something has changed before they have the words to explain why. Kayleigh shares how therapy gives kids space to slow down, explore what they’re feeling, and discover what might be going on—without the pressure to have all the answers right away.
Therapy That Moves at Your Child’s Pace
Building trust comes first. Kayleigh shares how she uses games, art, and the things a child already loves to create a low-pressure space where kids can get comfortable, be themselves, and say what they really mean—not simply what they think the adults around them expect to hear.
Helping Kids Grow Through Play and Connection
Through playful activities like coloring, games, and storytelling, therapy becomes a space where children can explore feelings and practice new skills. Nishma shows how moments of play can teach important lessons about patience, frustration, and communication—all while helping kids feel safe, confident, and understood.
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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Resources for Parents
Therapy for Kids FAQs
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We provide therapy for children ages 3–12. Our therapists specialize in early childhood and school-aged development, helping kids with emotional, behavioral, and social challenges. We’ll match your child with a clinician who fits their age, personality, and needs. We also have therapy for teens aged 12-17!
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Common reasons parents seek therapy include anxiety, big emotions, tantrums, low self-esteem, shyness, attention or behavior struggles, friendship issues, and family transitions like divorce or a new sibling. We also support kids adjusting to school stress, perfectionism, or changes in routine.
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The first session is about building comfort and understanding your child’s world. We’ll talk about what’s been happening, what you hope to see improve, and how your child responds at home or school. Younger children may join for part of the session to meet the therapist in a gentle, playful way.
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Sessions are usually 55 minutes and blend talking, play, art, and emotion-regulation activities. For younger kids, play and creative expression are the main ways they communicate. For older kids, we may use mindfulness, CBT, or social skillsto help them manage feelings and behavior.
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Yes — we believe therapy works best when parents feel supported, too. You’ll receive updates, guidance, and home strategies to reinforce what your child is learning. For children under 8, parent involvement is more frequent; for older kids, we balance privacy and collaboration.
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We offer both in-person therapy at our Chicago offices (Lakeview, Andersonville, Lincoln Park, and the Loop) and virtual sessions throughout Illinois. For younger kids, in-person is often most effective, but many families find virtual sessions helpful for older children.
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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 UnitedHealthcare/Optum, BCBS PPO and Aetna insurance. We partner with Thrizer to maximize our of network benefits.
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Every child is different. Some families see progress in just a few months, while others choose ongoing support to build emotional resilience and confidence over time. Your therapist will collaborate with you to set goals and check in regularly on progress.
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You might notice frequent meltdowns, trouble sleeping, withdrawal, clinginess, or anxiety about school or social settings. If your child’s emotions or behavior feel “bigger” than usual or you’re unsure how to help, therapy can provide tools for both you and your child to feel calmer and more connected.
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You can book online or schedule a matchmaking call to match with a child therapist who fits your family. We’ll guide you through insurance and scheduling and make the first session easy for you and your child.
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Many parents wait until things feel “serious” before seeking support—but therapy can be preventative, too. Our therapists help kids learn healthy emotional skills early, so they feel confident navigating life’s ups and downs.
Your Child Doesn’t Have to Navigate This Alone
Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, big emotions, friendships, behavior, or a major change in their life, we’re here to help you understand what they need — and find a therapist who connects with them.
Take the first step toward helping your child feel more confident, understood, and supported.