Child and teen counseling
For parents walking a child or teen through a hard stretch. Your child will have a space of their own, and you'll learn how to help at home.
Request a free intro callIn person in McLean
Weekday appointments until 8 p.m.
Most people start in one week or less
We see kids from early elementary school through high school. A few reasons parents reach out:
For a younger child
“Meltdowns at home, calls from school.”
“He can't focus, and he knows it.”
“She worries about everything, even bedtime.”
“He has rituals he can't seem to stop.”
For a teen
“My teen has stopped talking to us.”
“She seems sad, or flat, most days.”
“His anxiety is keeping him from school.”
“I'm worried about how she's eating.”
With kids, the reason isn't always clear. If all you know is that something's off, you're welcome here too.
We treat nearly all of this in our outpatient setting. If you need more support, like an intensive outpatient or residential program, we'll help you find the right one.
Often, it's the small things:
He names a feeling instead of exploding.
She does what you asked. The first time.
He comes down for dinner after weeks of keeping to himself.
You see that old spark again.
And in you:
The phone rings, and you don't assume it's the school.
She's reading in her room, and your first thought isn't “something's wrong.”
She smiles at you. You smile back.
These moments look small now. But with kids, they work like compound interest. They can change the course of a life.
Kids and teens open up once they feel safe, not when they're told to. With younger children, our clinicians are play-informed, because play is how kids work things out and show what they don't yet have words for. Teens get room to talk, with someone who takes them seriously. Trust comes first. Everything else depends on it.
With a younger child, honesty might sound like the therapist wondering aloud, mid-game, why the dragon keeps getting angry. With a teen, it often starts small: who's dating who, a new video game, a TikTok that seems ridiculous. Caring about the small stuff shows them we'll care about the big stuff. That's when honesty becomes possible. With you, it's sharing what we see and how to help at home. You know your child better than anyone, and you're part of how things change.
Behavior is often how kids tell us something is wrong. The meltdown, the slammed door, the grade that slips: each is a signal, not the whole story. So we look at what's driving it and help your child build the skills to handle it. We help you understand it too, so home becomes part of the change.
Your child's therapist draws on well-researched approaches, chosen to fit your child's age and needs:
Play-informed care
Our clinicians are trained in and informed by play therapy. With younger children, a session may look like play, but real work is happening: building trust, naming feelings, and practicing new ways to cope.
CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
Helps kids and teens see how their thoughts, feelings, and actions feed each other, then practice skills to break the cycle, like talking back to a worry.
DBT skills for teens (dialectical behavior therapy)
Practical skills for riding out intense emotions, handling stress, and keeping relationships steady.
Each clinician's bio lists the methods they use.
Sessions often run 50 minutes, usually weekly or every other week. You and your child's therapist will decide together what fits. We'll see you at our office in McLean. Younger children often have a parent in the room for part of the session. Teens usually have the hour to themselves. At any age, you can also meet with the therapist on your own.
Is the whole family feeling the strain?
See Families →Meet the clinicians who work with children and teens. Each bio shares their training, their approach, and the methods they use.
Not sure who fits? That's what the intro call is for.
Request a free intro call Meet the whole team →Sessions range from $210 to $285, depending on your clinician.
Need a lower fee? Our Institute's supervised Clinical Interns see clients for $50 a session, or as little as $10 based on household size and income, and our staff clinicians can see a limited number of clients at a reduced rate.
Will I stay in the loop?
Yes. With younger children, you'll be closely involved. With teens, privacy is what makes therapy work, so we'll usually ask you to let the details stay between your teen and their therapist. You'll still hear how things are going and how to help at home. When you need to know something, we'll tell your teen first, then you. And if safety is ever a concern, you'll hear from us right away.
Can you work with my child's school?
Yes, with your written permission. Your child's therapist can talk with teachers or the school counselor to share what helps and hear what they're seeing. That way, home, school, and therapy pull in the same direction.
Can you see my child quickly if the school needs an assessment?
Yes. Sometimes a school asks for a safety assessment, or proof that your child is in therapy, before they can return. Call us at 703-677-8243 and tell us it's for school. We can often see you within days, and sometimes the same day. If your child is in danger right now, call or text 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
What happens on the intro call?
It's a free, 30-minute call with the clinician we think fits your child best, based on your request. You'll talk about what's going on and what you're hoping for, plus the practical stuff: fees and scheduling. It's also a chance for both of you to sense the fit. If someone else on our team is a better match, they'll make the introduction. You decide what's next.
Can I use my insurance?
Often, yes. We're an out-of-network provider, and many of our clients get part of the cost of each session reimbursed. Here's how it works: you pay at the time of your session, and we give you a superbill, a detailed receipt you submit to your insurance company. A quick call to your insurer can tell you what your plan covers. You can also pay with an HSA or FSA card.
A parent or guardian sends the request and joins the intro call. Your child doesn't need to be on it.
Send a short form. It takes about two minutes. Tell us who you're looking for help for and what's going on. A sentence or two is plenty.
Talk with a clinician. The clinician we think fits you best, based on your request, calls you for a free, 30-minute intro call. You'll talk through what you're looking for, fees, and format, and make sure it's the right fit.
Book your first session. We'll send you a link to schedule. Most people start in one week or less.
There's no commitment on the call. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you, and help you find who is.
Request a free intro callIn crisis? Call or text 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
