Helping Children, Adolescents, and Families Grow, Heal, and Thrive
Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Services For Children, Adolescents, and Families
-
At Parker House Psychology, trauma treatment for children and adolescents focuses on creating a safe, supportive environment where young people can begin to heal from difficult experiences. Using evidence-based approaches such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and other trauma-informed interventions, treatment helps children and teens process their experiences, understand their emotions, and develop healthy coping skills.
Trauma can affect behavior, relationships, emotions, self-esteem, and a child's sense of safety in the world. Treatment is tailored to the child's developmental level and unique needs, helping them build resilience, strengthen emotional regulation skills, and regain a sense of confidence and security. Parents and caregivers are included in the process to support healing and promote lasting positive change.
-
Children who have experienced foster care, adoption, caregiver changes, or early adversity often face unique emotional, behavioral, and attachment-related challenges. At Parker House Psychology, services are provided through a trauma-informed lens that recognizes the impact these experiences can have on a child's development, relationships, and sense of safety.
Treatment focuses on helping children process difficult experiences, build emotional regulation skills, strengthen self-esteem, and develop healthy, trusting relationships. Caregivers are often included in the process to support attachment, improve family connections, and create a consistent, nurturing environment where children can heal and thrive. Support is tailored to each child's individual needs, strengths, and experiences, with the goal of promoting resilience, stability, and lasting well-being.
-
At Parker House Psychology, parenting services are designed to provide practical tools and support to help parents navigate the challenges of raising children. Using evidence-based approaches such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Parent Management Training (PMT), and personalized parent coaching, the goal is to strengthen the parent-child relationship, improve behavior management, and foster healthy emotional development. Each service is tailored to meet the unique needs of families, offering guidance and support to empower parents in creating positive, lasting change in their home.
-
At Parker House Psychology, family therapy provides support and guidance for parents of children facing behavioral difficulties, anxiety, depression, or trauma. The focus is on strengthening family dynamics, improving communication, and equipping parents with effective tools to support their child’s emotional and behavioral needs. With a compassionate, solutions-focused approach, family therapy helps create a safe and nurturing environment where parents and children can work together to foster healing, resilience, and lasting positive change. Each session is tailored to meet the unique challenges of the family, ensuring that every member feels heard and supported.
-
Children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, and phobias often experience worries, fears, or rituals that interfere with school, friendships, family life, and everyday activities. At Parker House Psychology, treatment is tailored to each child's developmental level and uses evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and other skills-based interventions.
Treatment focuses on helping children better understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while building confidence in their ability to face fears and manage anxiety. Rather than allowing anxiety or OCD to make decisions for them, children learn practical coping skills, emotional regulation strategies, and gradual ways to overcome challenges. Parents and caregivers are often included in the process to reinforce progress and support lasting success both at home and in the community.
-
Depression in children and adolescents can look different than it does in adults. Some young people may appear sad or withdrawn, while others may become irritable, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, struggle academically, or have difficulty with motivation, relationships, and self-esteem.
At Parker House Psychology, depression is treated using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy for Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A). Treatment helps children and teens better understand their emotions, identify unhelpful thought patterns, improve coping skills, and strengthen relationships that support emotional well-being. Care is tailored to each young person's developmental needs, with the goal of helping them build resilience, regain a sense of hope, and reconnect with the people and activities that matter most. Parents and caregivers may also be included in treatment to support progress and lasting change.
-
Childhood and adolescence are important times for developing a sense of identity and understanding one's place in the world. As young people grow, they may have questions about who they are, how they relate to others, and how to navigate differences that make them unique.
At Parker House Psychology, therapy provides a safe, supportive, and affirming space for children and adolescents to explore their experiences and develop a strong sense of self. This may include discussions related to neurodivergence, gender identity, sexuality, cultural identity, self-esteem, relationships, or other aspects of personal identity. The focus is on helping young people build self-understanding, self-acceptance, confidence, and resilience while supporting healthy emotional development. Care is grounded in respect, affirmation, and the belief that every child deserves to feel valued, understood, and accepted for who they are.
-
Developing a sense of identity is an important part of childhood and adolescence. As young people grow, they begin to better understand themselves, their relationships, their strengths, and the experiences that shape who they are.
At Parker House Psychology, therapy provides a safe, supportive, and affirming environment where children and adolescents can explore questions related to identity, self-esteem, neurodivergence, gender identity, sexuality, cultural background, and other aspects of self. The goal is to help young people develop greater self-understanding, confidence, and self-acceptance while navigating the challenges that can accompany growth and change.
This work is grounded in respect, affirmation, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to feel understood, valued, and comfortable being their authentic self.
-
Children's sexual behaviors can sometimes raise questions or concerns for parents, caregivers, schools, or other professionals. While many sexual behaviors are a normal part of development, some behaviors may be concerning because they are persistent, intrusive, developmentally inappropriate, or occur alongside other emotional, behavioral, or trauma-related difficulties.
At Parker House Psychology, support is provided through a developmentally informed, trauma-informed, and nonjudgmental approach. Services focus on helping children develop healthy boundaries, improve self-regulation skills, and better understand social and interpersonal expectations. Parents and caregivers are provided with education, guidance, and practical strategies to support their child's healthy development and safety.
Treatment and consultation are tailored to each child's individual needs, with careful consideration of developmental factors, family dynamics, trauma history, and other contributing influences. The goal is to promote healthy development, strengthen family relationships, and reduce behaviors that may place the child or others at risk.
-
At Parker House Psychology, psychoeducational sessions provide parents and caregivers with practical guidance, evidence-based information, and support around common childhood and parenting concerns. These time-limited sessions are designed for families seeking expert consultation rather than ongoing therapy.
Topics may include understanding a child's diagnosis, supporting a child through trauma or major life changes, managing challenging behaviors, strengthening emotional regulation skills, navigating neurodivergence, reducing problematic screen use, potty training, sleep concerns, discussing difficult topics with children, or supporting a child who is exploring their identity.
The goal is to help parents feel more confident, informed, and equipped with strategies they can begin using right away. Sessions are collaborative, supportive, and tailored to the unique needs of each child and family.
Kids can grab a snack and a juice and make themselves at home
Building trust is one of the most important parts of the therapeutic process. Time is spent getting to know each child, learning about their interests, and helping them feel comfortable, respected, and understood.
Not every child is excited about coming to therapy… and that's okay! Many children feel nervous when meeting someone new, especially when they are coming to talk about difficult feelings or challenges. The goal is to create a warm, supportive environment where children feel safe, understood, and free to be themselves.
Whether through conversation, games, art, books, or other age-appropriate activities, the goal is to help children feel safe enough to be themselves and confident enough to engage in the work of therapy.
Treatment Approaches
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective, evidence-based approach that helps individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns and behaviors. By fostering a deeper understanding of the connections between thoughts, emotions, and actions, CBT empowers clients to develop healthier coping strategies, improve emotional regulation, and build resilience. This structured, goal-oriented therapy is commonly used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, stress, and PTSD, providing practical tools for lasting change. CBT is typically short-term, focused on the present, and tailored to each individual’s unique needs.
-
TF-CBT is designed to help children and adolescents cope with the emotional and psychological effects of trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence. It is commonly used to treat PTSD, depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems stemming from traumatic experiences. TF-CBT is evidence-based, with extensive research supporting its effectiveness in helping children process trauma and reduce symptoms of PTSD and related emotional difficulties. It is one of the most researched and widely recommended treatments for traumatized youth.
-
CPT is a therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that helps individuals understand and reframe negative thoughts related to trauma. It is often used to treat PTSD, depression, and anxiety, particularly for individuals who have experienced significant trauma. CPT is an evidence-based treatment, with strong support from clinical trials showing its effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving emotional regulation by challenging harmful beliefs associated with trauma.
-
ERP is a specialized therapy for OCD and phobias. It is effective in treating anxiety disorders like OCD, specific phobias, and panic disorder. ERP is highly evidence-based, with extensive clinical trials showing that it is one of the most effective treatments for OCD and anxiety disorders. By gradually exposing individuals to feared situations while preventing compulsive behaviors, ERP significantly reduces anxiety and helps unlearn maladaptive coping mechanisms.
-
PCIT is an interactive therapy that helps parents improve their relationship with their young child by teaching positive reinforcement and effective discipline strategies. It is often used for children with disruptive behaviors, including aggression, defiance, and difficulties with emotion regulation. PCIT is evidence-based, with strong research backing its effectiveness in reducing child behavior problems and enhancing parent-child interactions. Studies show that PCIT leads to lasting improvements in both child behavior and family dynamics.
-
PMT teaches parents effective strategies for managing their child's behavioral issues, such as aggression, defiance, and noncompliance. It is often used for children with ADHD, conduct disorders, or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). PMT is an evidence-based approach, with numerous studies demonstrating its success in improving child behavior, enhancing parent-child relationships, and reducing disruptive behaviors. It is widely recommended as a first-line treatment for behavioral issues in children.
-
Behavioral therapy focuses on changing unhelpful behaviors through reinforcement and discipline techniques. It is commonly used to treat conditions like anxiety, depression, phobias, and ADHD. Behavioral therapy is evidence-based, with decades of research demonstrating its success in treating a variety of mental health issues by modifying problematic behaviors and teaching coping skills. It is a foundational approach in behavior management and is widely used in clinical practice.
-
IPT focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication to alleviate emotional distress. It is used to treat depression, anxiety, and mood disorders, especially in individuals experiencing relationship problems, life transitions (e.g., divorce, job loss), or grief. IPT is evidence-based, with numerous studies and clinical trials supporting its effectiveness in treating depression and anxiety, particularly in individuals with interpersonal difficulties. It is a recommended treatment in various clinical guidelines for mood disorders.
-
DBT skills focus on helping individuals manage intense emotions and improve their relationships by promoting mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are often used in combination with other therapeutic modalities to treat conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. DBT skills help clients develop practical tools for coping with emotional dysregulation and improve their ability to navigate distressing situations. For example, when integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), DBT skills can enhance a client’s ability to challenge unhelpful thoughts while maintaining emotional stability. In conjunction with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), DBT’s mindfulness and distress tolerance skills can support individuals in accepting difficult emotions and experiences while still pursuing meaningful goals. Research supports that using DBT skills alongside other modalities increases the effectiveness of treatment, providing individuals with a comprehensive toolkit for managing emotions and building healthier relationships.
Therapeutic Values
FAQs about Therapy
-
Therapy may be helpful when emotional, behavioral, social, or developmental concerns begin affecting a child's functioning at home, school, or in relationships. Common reasons families seek therapy include anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral challenges, emotional regulation difficulties, grief, family transitions, and concerns related to ADHD or Autism.
-
Many children are unsure about therapy at first. Building trust and rapport is an important part of the process, and therapy moves at a pace that feels comfortable for the child. It is not unusual for children to need time to get to know a therapist before discussing difficult topics.
-
Parent involvement varies depending on the child's age, needs, and treatment goals. Parents are often included through check-ins, consultation, and skill-building to help support progress outside of therapy while still respecting the child's need for privacy and trust.
-
Sessions may include conversation, games, activities, art, skill-building exercises, and other age-appropriate approaches. Therapy is tailored to the child's developmental level, interests, and treatment goals.
Service Locations
In Person Therapy Services
In person therapy services are available for children and adults in Tallahassee, Florida.
The office is ADA-compliant and wheelchair accessible.
Virtual Therapy Services
Virtual therapy services are available for children and adults located in Florida or any of the 42 states that participate in PSYPACT. Click here to see if services are available in your state!
Services in the Community
Depending on the situation, some services can also be provided in the community. These services include in-home sessions, school-based sessions, and in other community-based setting.