Child & Teen Counseling in Austin, Texas

At Autonomy Therapy, we believe that therapy can be invaluable to all age groups, especially children and adolescents. During these formative years, your child experiences so much physical, psychological, and cognitive growth. Additionally, it is estimated that 1 in 6 youth ranging from 6 to 17 years old experience mental health issues. Developmentally, childhood and adolescence lend themselves to many turbulent emotions and new experiences. Child and teen therapy is able to provide a safe and supportive space for your child. We will encourage your child to develop confidence and autonomy that will last them a lifetime.

How Child & Teen Counseling in Austin, TX Can Help

It is important to let your child know that going to therapy doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with them or that they are in trouble. The purpose of therapy is not to “fix” a child. Our therapists aim to support them while they grow and normalize their experiences. Therapy can provide a safe and welcoming space for children and teens to explore their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Therapists listen with a sense of curiosity rather than judgment and provide unconditional positive regard. Above all, research indicates that a child’s relationship with the therapist is a key component to reaching therapeutic goals. Building a strong rapport facilitates trust and can amplify the benefits of therapy.

Autonomy Therapy’s Approach to Child & Teen Counseling

Our compassionate therapists work with teens from a strengths-based and person-centered approach. We value taking your child’s unique hobbies and interests into consideration when providing treatment. Some evidenced-based techniques that our clinicians use include the following:

• Play therapy

• Sandtray therapy

• Expressive arts

• Mindfulness

• Coping skill building

• Distress tolerance skills

• Talk therapy

From Our Therapists

What do you love about working with children and/or teens?

“Therapy allows children and teens to have a unique space to be heard, to be themselves, and to have some control and autonomy. I want caretakers to know that therapy is a sacred and safe place for kids and to emphasize the power of relationship-building. It is a process, not an easy fix.” – Jacqueline Robbins, LCSW

“I love working with children and teens because they are so much fun to be around! Both children and teens are navigating their way through the world experiencing so many new things and I always feel honored and grateful to be a part of their journey. I am continually inspired by their creativity, resiliency, honesty, and energy.” – Vinci Chan, LPC-Associate

What should caretakers know about therapy?

“Caregivers should know that therapists are an advocate for their client first and foremost. My priority for your child or teen is their safety, needs, and wants.  I take my client's privacy and confidentiality very seriously. This means that I am not always able to say everything we say and do in session (unless an emergency or risk is involved). Any conversation I have with caregivers I will do my best to keep the client in the loop because my relationship with my client is very important to me. With that being said, I do want to be collaborative with caregivers and more than happy to update them with whatever the client feels comfortable with me sharing and/or what goals we are working towards.” – Vinci Chan, LPC-Associate

“Therapy can be scary for caregivers because there’s a lot of trust involved in letting your kid talk to a stranger for an hour every week, but I like to see the caregivers as collaborators in their teen’s care. A willingness to support their teen’s personal work and finding a balance between supporting their development and giving them their privacy and space can go a long way!” – Sam Accettulli, LPC, LCDC