Child & Family Counseling in Bellevue

At Eastside Center for Healing, we offer counseling for children ages six and up who are struggling with emotional or behavioral challenges. Childhood distress often shows up through play, behavior, or difficulty at school or home—rather than in words. Whether your child is dealing with anxiety, grief, trauma, anger, or significant changes in the family, we provide a nurturing and developmentally appropriate space to help them make sense of their experiences and build emotional safety.

We use trauma-informed, play-based, and expressive therapies to support children in processing emotions and learning new ways to relate to themselves and others. During the first two sessions, we conduct a gentle but thorough assessment, which may include observation, parent input, and play-based evaluation. In the third session, we collaborate with caregivers to establish a treatment plan that integrates your child’s needs with your family’s values, goals, and communication patterns.

Self-assessment: Anxiety in children screening tool

Our Process

Our counseling process is steeped in relationship-building and understanding using age-appropriate tools, family input, and clinical observation. This helps us understand your child or teen’s strengths, needs, and emotional functioning in the context of their development and environment.

In each session, we meet with parents or caregivers to discuss what is taking place at home week to week to help us understand the current issues the child is dealing with focus of therapy, goals, and recommended approach. We believe therapy works best when families are included in the process and are empowered with tools to support healing and growth outside of sessions.

We begin with a comprehensive assessment to understand your child’s emotional, relational, and developmental needs. Based on this, we offer recommendations that may include:

  • Individual therapy for children or teens

  • Family counseling

  • Trauma informed play therapy

  • Teen DBT skills group

  • Parent coaching and support

  • Referral to psychiatric or inpatient services when needed

Each child and family is unique. We create customized treatment plans designed to foster resilience, self-awareness, and emotional safety.

Helping Children Thrive

Younger children often express distress through play, behavior, or withdrawal rather than words. Our therapists use play-based and expressive therapies to help children make sense of their experiences. Techniques may include:

  • Sand tray therapy

  • Art, clay, or movement

  • Social storytelling

  • Puppets and role play

  • Visualization and body awareness

These tools allow children to externalize difficult feelings, build emotional vocabulary, and increase self-regulation in a safe, nonverbal way.

Supporting Adolescents

Adolescents face unique challenges as they navigate identity, autonomy, school pressures, social dynamics, and sometimes substance experimentation. Our therapists provide a space that is confidential, nonjudgmental, culturally aware, and emotionally attuned.

We use a blend of talk therapy, mindfulness, creative arts, and DBT informed skill-building to help teens explore emotions, manage stress, and improve communication at home and with peers.

The Role of Family

Parents and caregivers are essential partners in the healing process. We work collaboratively with families to:

  • Improve emotional communication

  • Understand behavior through a relational lens

  • Develop effective boundaries and parenting strategies

  • Support children through transitions, trauma, and recovery

Our family-based approach is respectful, inclusive, and designed to meet your family’s specific needs.

Common Reasons Families Seek Therapy

  • Emotional regulation challenges

  • Anxiety or school avoidance

  • Trauma or loss

  • ADHD or executive functioning concerns

  • Substance use or experimentation

  • Family conflict or communication breakdown

  • Identity exploration or gender and sexuality support

Ready to Begin?

We welcome families at any stage of concern, from early signs to more complex challenges. Whether you are seeking support for your child, your teen, or your whole family system, we are here to help.

 

Schedule Your Free 15 Minute Consultation