Compassionate Therapy for Children & Teens
At Leadlight Counseling, we provide specialized child and adolescent therapy in West Michigan, serving families in Holland, Cascade, Wyoming, and the greater Grand Rapids area. Our therapists support children and teens navigating anxiety, ADHD, trauma, emotional dysregulation, school stress, grief, family transitions, and other challenges that impact a child’s well-being.
Many of our clinicians have backgrounds in education and trauma-informed services, giving them valuable insight into how to partner effectively with schools and community systems. Using developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approaches—including play therapy, CBT, DBT skills, TF-CBT, and EMDR—we work collaboratively with families to help children build resilience, strengthen coping skills, and feel more confident navigating their world.
Common concerns we support:
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Anxiety & excessive worry
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ADHD & attention challenges
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Emotional outbursts & shutdown
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Depression & mood changes
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Trauma & high sensitivity
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School refusal or academic stress
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Social difficulties & peer conflict
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OCD & intrusive thoughts
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Grief & family transitions
How Is Child and Adolescent Therapy Different?
Child and adolescent therapy is a specialized area of mental health care. While traditional talk therapy can work well for adults, children and teens often need developmentally appropriate ways to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Effective therapy for young people requires specific training and supervised experience working with children and adolescents. At Leadlight Counseling, our clinicians have extensive experience supporting kids, teens, and families facing a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges.
Through therapy, children and teens can learn to better understand their emotions, build healthy coping skills, improve communication, and develop the resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges.
How do I know my child or teen needs counseling?
It’s not always obvious when a child or teen needs extra support. Many parents find themselves wondering whether certain behaviors are part of normal development or a sign that their child may benefit from additional help.
You may consider counseling if your child:
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Seems overwhelmed by emotions more often than not
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Has sudden changes in mood or behavior
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Is withdrawing from friends or family
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Is struggling significantly at school
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Has frequent meltdowns or emotional shutdowns
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Talks negatively about themselves or shows low self-esteem
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Shows signs of anxiety, panic, or excessive worry
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Has experienced trauma, loss, or a major life transition
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Is engaging in self-harm or talking about not wanting to be here
You don’t have to wait for a crisis to seek support. Many families find that early counseling helps children develop healthy coping skills and prevents concerns from becoming more entrenched over time.
If you’re unsure whether therapy is the right next step, we’re always happy to help you think it through.
Our Approach to Child & Adolescent Therapy
Evidence-Based Therapy for Children & Teens
At Leadlight Counseling, we use developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approaches tailored to each child’s unique needs. Every child is different, and therapy is thoughtfully adapted based on age, personality, and the challenges they are facing.
Our therapists draw from several well-established treatment models to help children build emotional awareness, strengthen coping skills, and improve relationships at home, school, and with peers.
Play Therapy
Play is a child’s natural language. Through toys, art, games, and creative activities, children can safely express emotions, process experiences, and develop healthier ways of coping.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps children and teens recognize patterns between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This approach teaches practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills
DBT skills support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These tools are especially helpful for teens who experience intense emotions or difficulty managing stress.
Trauma-Focused Therapy (TF-CBT & EMDR)
For children who have experienced trauma, specialized approaches like TF-CBT and EMDR help safely process difficult experiences and reduce emotional distress over time.
Our therapists integrate these approaches in ways that feel engaging, supportive, and appropriate for each child’s developmental stage.
Why Families Choose Leadlight
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Specialized child-focused clinicians
Our therapists are specifically trained in child and adolescent mental health. -
Therapists with backgrounds in school and trauma
Many of our clinicians have experience in education systems and trauma-informed care. -
Parent collaboration built into treatment
We partner closely with parents because sustainable change happens both inside and outside the therapy room. -
Warm, relational approach
We prioritize safety, connection, and trust in every session. -
Evidence-based therapy models
We utilize play therapy, CBT, DBT skills, TF-CBT, EMDR, and other research-supported approaches tailored to your child’s needs.
What to Expect
At Leadlight Counseling, we know that every child and family has a unique story. Our therapists work collaboratively with parents and children to understand your concerns, identify goals, and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs.
Therapy looks different depending on a child’s age and developmental stage. For younger children, sessions often include play-based activities that help them express emotions and process experiences in ways that feel natural and engaging. With teens, therapy may include conversation, skill-building, and structured interventions that help them better understand their emotions and develop healthy coping strategies.
Parent involvement is an important part of the process. We offer parent check-ins and sessions to help you better understand your child’s needs and to provide guidance on how to support them outside of therapy.
Our goal is to create a safe, encouraging environment where children and teens can build confidence, develop resilience, and feel more equipped to navigate life’s challenges.
Ready to get started?
Fill out the contact form and our team will answer any questions and help get you scheduled.
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