Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Des Moines, WA.

JOELLEN KENYON, LMHCA works with children particularly in the areas of depression, anxiety, adoption trauma, sexual abuse, and relationship issues. She has worked in a variety of settings including overseas within an orphanage and has developed a deep passion for counseling children and adoptive families. Karen strives to build relational trust both with her young clients and the parents who refer them to therapy.

Counseling for teens and children who are struggling with school, peer pressure and other social issues. Help for children and teens coping with the divorce of parents and other unhealthy family situations. Supports teens transitioning through the discomfort and insecurities of puberty. Encourages both children and teens to be their unique and authentic self so they can grow into healthy, confident and happy adults. Located in the Bellevue/Kirkland vicinity.

This practice does not work with clients younger than six years of age, due to the developmental issues often attached to younger children. Play therapy, coloring books, drawing, board games, and other options that are both age appropriate and useful in helping child clients to open up are utilized. Children are free to bring any game or toys they wish to play with in therapy, and can even teach the counselor. This gives the opportunity to examine the child's level of social engagement, as well as other clinical issues that might need to be addressed. Involvement from the care givers of the child are hugely important in developing a care plan.

In therapy with children, one of the most important facets is that the child feels safe and understood. We strive to assist children in working through issues in their own language by providing a comfortable environment and a set of skills and tools that we explore and learn to apply together. We value collaborating with parents, family, and caregivers to promote healing and growth.

Many times, child therapists overdo the family system in their quest to seek effective solutions for emotional, learning or behavioral concerns with young children. And many times doctors overpathologize issues that shouldn’t be medicated necessarily. This leaves parents wondering what is the best route for their child? Introducing brainwave optimization technology. A fast, effective, natural, and less expensive way to allow your child's brain to make the optimizing changes it desires to make---on its own! Without any external force, opinion, medication, diagnostic, etc. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

Dr. Terri Buysse provides play therapy to meet young children at their developmental level and speak their language to help them express their feelings and to help them learn new skills. She also works with the parent(s) to help them understand what is going on for their child and learn positive parenting skills so they can support their child through difficult times and be the very best parents they want to be.

Behaviors are a means of communication, yet so often children are labeled based on their behaviors rather than seeing them as a communication tool. When children lack the self-awareness and tools to effectively communicate, challenging behaviors can arise. Using play-based approaches and art therapy, children will be heard and given tools to communicate more effectively. Parents also receive coaching to assist with redirection and recognizing when their child is communicating through their behavior and may need assistance to communicate more effectively.

You want the best for your child so why not provide a safe, accepting, empathetic place for your child to learn new skills and experiences including reducing fears and worries, stress management, study skills, social skills, assertiveness, self-esteem and acceptance. With all the stressors in today's world, it is tough to give your child all he or she needs. Merrie Day, PhD and Ken Drummy, MSW are both fully trained child therapists and have over 30 years each of experience helping children and families be happier and more connected.

Is your child bullied or isolated from others? Is your child reluctant to go to school, has trouble making friends, or seems withdrawn and lonely? Many children have trouble with self confidence, anxiety or social skills. Improving self esteem, emotional regulation, and social skills deficits in the younger years reduces difficulties later. We all want the best for our children, and as a parent myself I know how it can hurt to watch your child suffer and not know how to help. Find out how your child can be helped by in-person counselling, online coaching, or online educational programs.

Julianne started her practice from 2007 in a psychiatric center, and continued to provide counseling in elementary and middle schools. She recently worked in a community mental health center focused on Child and Family therapy before starting her own private practice. When children’s behavior becomes needy or aggressive, have trouble with concentrating, sleeping or appetite, they are having a tough time to find a balanced approach to deal with the situation they are in. Julianne provides creative and professional coping strategies for parents and children. Through therapy, children learn better strategies to adapt to their family, school, and life difficulties.

In my work with children, I utilize a combination of art therapy, play therapy, and talk therapy. With play therapy, we can include the use of online games like Minecraft or tabletop games. I also love to therapeutically use the media they gravitate towards and enjoy, like comic books, anime, animated series, superhero movies, games, and any other fantasy or sci-fi media they like to consume. Therapy can help: build awareness of their emotional experiences, clarify their sense of self and identity, create tools to navigate and respond to their feelings, increase their sense of autonomy, support navigation of difficult life transitions, and build social skills and communication tools.

In working with children, I utilize a psychodynamic modality of treatment, including play therapy, as the primary way of purposefully engaging your child to discover and understand more about the cause of their current difficulties. I typically provide a treatment plan for the parent/s that details what it is I am doing and why. I also believe it is incredibly important in working with children to include the parent/s as often as possible and include that in the treatment plan. If your child is struggling in a way that is confusing to you and causing you distress, it may be helpful to discuss further and find out if your child could benefit from meeting with me.