Child & Adolescent Counseling in Oklahoma

What Is Child & Adolescent Mental Health?

Child and adolescent mental health encompasses the emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing of young people from toddlerhood through the teenage years. Just like physical health, mental health affects how children think, feel, and act. It influences how they handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

How Does Child & Adolescent Therapy Work?

Child and adolescent therapy uses developmentally appropriate, evidence based techniques to help young people overcome emotional, behavioral, and social challenges by teaching healthy coping skills, processing difficult experiences, and building resilience. Through approaches like play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and parent child interactive therapy, counseling creates a safe space where children can express feelings they may not have words for, while parents learn effective strategies to support their child’s growth. Therapy addresses the root causes of issues rather than just symptoms, helping young people develop emotional regulation, improve relationships, and build confidence for lifelong mental wellness.

Issues We Help Children & Teens Overcome

Our experienced child therapists successfully treat a wide range of mental health and behavioral concerns:

Anxiety Disorders in Children & Teens

Separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalized worry, panic attacks, school refusal, phobias (fears of darkness, animals, loud noises, medical procedures), and test anxiety.

Depression in Young People

Persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, irritability, changes in sleep or appetite, low energy, feelings of worthlessness, and withdrawal from friends and family.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Difficulty focusing, impulsivity, hyperactivity, trouble completing homework, disorganization, and challenges following instructions at home or school.

Behavioral Problems

Oppositional defiant behavior, aggression, tantrums, defiance, anger outbursts, difficulty following rules, and conduct issues at home or school.

Trauma & PTSD

Healing from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence, community violence, accidents, medical trauma, or natural disasters.

Grief & Loss

Coping with death of a loved one, parental separation or divorce, loss of friendships, pet loss, or other significant losses.

Bullying (Victim or Perpetrator)

Recovering from being bullied or addressing bullying behaviors, including cyberbullying concerns.

Family Conflict

Parent child relationship struggles, sibling rivalry, blended family adjustment, and communication breakdowns within the family.

Our Evidence Based Treatment Approaches

We customize therapy based on your child’s age, needs, and learning style:

Play Therapy (Ages 2 to 10)

Young children often can’t verbalize complex emotions. Play therapy allows them to express feelings, process experiences, and work through challenges using toys, art, sand trays, puppets, and games. Our therapists are trained in child centered play therapy and directive play therapy techniques.

What play therapy treats: Anxiety, trauma, behavioral issues, grief, family transitions, developmental delays

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children & Teens (CBT)

Age appropriate CBT helps young people identify and change negative thought patterns that fuel anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems. Kids learn practical skills to manage emotions and respond to challenges more effectively.

What CBT treats: Anxiety, depression, ADHD related challenges, anger management, OCD, social skills

Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT)

PCIT teaches parents specific techniques to improve their relationship with their child (typically ages 2 to 7) while reducing disruptive behaviors. Parents learn positive discipline strategies and how to strengthen attachment through coached live sessions.

What PCIT treats: Behavioral problems, defiance, tantrums, attachment issues, aggressive behavior

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT)

Specifically designed for children and adolescents who’ve experienced trauma. TF CBT gradually helps young people process traumatic memories in a safe, supportive environment while building coping skills.

What TF CBT treats: PTSD, abuse recovery, trauma, grief after traumatic loss

Family Therapy

Addresses issues affecting the entire family system. When one child is struggling, family therapy helps improve communication, resolve conflicts, and create healthier family dynamics.

What family therapy treats: Family conflict, parent child relationship issues, sibling problems, divorce adjustment

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services

Intensive support for children with complex behavioral or emotional needs. Our behavioral health specialists work with children in home, school, and community settings, teaching life skills and implementing individualized treatment plans.

What BHRS treats: Severe behavioral disorders, autism spectrum support, complex mental health needs

Signs Your Child or Teen May Need Therapy

Every child experiences ups and downs, but professional help may be needed if you notice:

Emotional warning signs: Persistent sadness lasting weeks, excessive worry or fear, frequent crying, mood swings, irritability, expressions of hopelessness, or statements about wanting to die or hurt themselves.

Behavioral changes: Aggression, defiance, withdrawal from family or friends, loss of interest in favorite activities, academic decline, school refusal, running away, lying, stealing, or destructive behavior.

Physical symptoms: Frequent headaches or stomachaches, changes in eating habits, sleep disturbances (nightmares, insomnia, sleeping too much), regression to earlier behaviors (bedwetting, thumb sucking), or unexplained physical complaints.

Social difficulties: Inability to make or keep friends, excessive social withdrawal, being bullied or bullying others, difficulty with social cues, or constant conflict with peers.

Trauma responses: Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoiding reminders of traumatic events, excessive fear, or emotional numbness after experiencing trauma.

Academic problems: Sudden drop in grades, inability to concentrate, frequent absences, behavior problems at school, or conflicts with teachers.

If concerns persist for more than two weeks or significantly interfere with daily functioning, it’s time to seek Professional Help.

---

Why Choose ILCS for Child & Adolescent Counseling?

✓ Specialized Child & Teen Therapists

Our counselors have advanced training in child development and youth focused therapies like play therapy, PCIT, TF CBT, and adolescent counseling techniques.

✓ 30+ Convenient Locations Across Oklahoma

Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Tahlequah, Pryor, Muskogee, and beyond. Therapy close to home, school, or work.

✓ Flexible Session Locations

Choose therapy at our office, your home, or at your child’s school. We meet families where it’s most convenient and comfortable.

✓ Evening & Weekend Hours

Therapy that fits your family’s schedule without pulling kids out of school or interfering with work.

✓ FREE for SoonerCare/Medicaid

If your child has Title XIX Medicaid or SoonerCare, all counseling services are 100% free. We also accept most major insurance and offer sliding scale fees.

✓ Parent Involvement & Support

We don’t just treat your child in isolation. Parents receive guidance, skills training, and support throughout the therapeutic process.

✓ Evidence Based, Age Appropriate Methods

No one size fits all. We match therapeutic approaches to your child’s developmental stage, learning style, and specific needs.

Skills Children Learn in Therapy

Emotional regulation: Recognizing and managing big feelings without meltdowns

Coping strategies: Healthy ways to handle stress, anxiety, and frustration

Problem solving: Working through challenges independently 

Communication: Expressing needs and feelings effectively 

Social skills: Making friends, resolving conflicts, understanding social cues

Self esteem: Building confidence and positive self image 

Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and disappointments

Insurance & Payment for Child Therapy

FREE for Medicaid/SoonerCare

No copays, no out of pocket costs for children with Oklahoma Medicaid or SoonerCare coverage.

Insurance Accepted

We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Oscar Health, Humana, and most major insurance plans for child and adolescent services.

Sliding scale fees

Sliding scale fees based on family size and income. Payment plans available. Cost should never prevent your child from getting help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if my child needs therapy or if this is just a phase?

If behavioral, emotional, or social concerns persist for more than 2 weeks, interfere with daily functioning (school, friendships, family), or cause significant distress to your child or family, professional evaluation is warranted. Trust your parental instincts.

Q: Will my child have to talk about feelings the whole time?

No! Younger children primarily engage through play, art, and activities. Therapy doesn’t feel like “therapy” to them. It feels like playing with purpose. Older children and teens gradually develop comfort talking about feelings as trust builds.

Q: What if my child refuses to talk to the therapist?

This is common, especially initially. Our therapists are skilled at building rapport with reluctant children. We start where your child is comfortable, often through play or activities, and gradually develop the therapeutic relationship. Resistance often decreases as trust builds.

Q: Can therapy work if only one parent is on board?

Ideally, both parents support treatment. However, one engaged parent is often sufficient for progress. We encourage both parents to participate in parent sessions when possible.

Q: Is therapy confidential for teenagers?

Yes, with age appropriate limits. Teens need privacy to open up, so we maintain confidentiality except for safety concerns (risk of harm to self or others, abuse, court orders). We discuss confidentiality boundaries with teens and parents upfront.

Please contact us to learn more about Child & Adolescent Counseling or any of our other counseling services.