Sometimes, you know your child is struggling, but you can't quite reach them.

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Maybe they're more irritable, withdrawn, overwhelmed, or emotional than usual. Maybe they're having big reactions to things that seem small, struggling with anxiety, or having a hard time adjusting to changes at home, school, or in their relationships. And when you ask what's wrong, you hear, "I don't know."

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Children and teens often communicate through play, behavior, movement, and their bodies long before they can put their experiences into words. Therapy doesn't have to begin with a child sitting in a chair and explaining how they feel. It can begin with play, curiosity, movement, creativity, and a relationship where they feel safe enough to be themselves.

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With years of experience in adolescent inpatient organizations, Kortney Tankersley, CSW, helps young people understand what they're experiencing, build emotional regulation skills, and develop a stronger connection with themselves and their bodies. We meet them at their developmental level rather than expecting them to communicate like an adult.

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Therapy That Meets Them Where They Are​

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For some children, talking about feelings comes naturally. For others, asking them to explain what's happening can feel frustrating, overwhelming, or impossible.

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This approach may be especially helpful for children and teens who are:

• Experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or frequent big reactions

• Struggling with emotional regulation or knowing how to calm their bodies

• Processing trauma, grief, family changes, or difficult experiences

• Having trouble identifying or expressing what they're feeling

• Experiencing school stress, friendship difficulties, or changes in relationships

• Becoming more withdrawn, irritable, or disconnected

• Feeling overwhelmed by emotions they don't fully understand

• More comfortable communicating through play, movement, creativity, or hands-on experiences

• Able to talk about what happened but still feeling stuck in the emotional or physical response

• Looking for a therapist who will understand them without requiring them to have all the answers.