Connect with licensed Marriage & Family Therapists who specialize in therapy for children ages 3-12. Play-based, evidence-backed care available in-person and via telehealth across all 50 states.
Child therapy is a form of psychotherapy specifically designed to address the emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges children face during their formative years. Unlike adult therapy, which relies heavily on verbal communication, child therapy uses play, art, storytelling, and movement as therapeutic vehicles — because these are the natural languages through which children process experience and emotion.
When children struggle with anxiety, behavioral problems, family transitions, trauma, or grief, they often lack the vocabulary and cognitive development to express what they are experiencing. A skilled child therapist creates a safe, structured environment where these experiences can be explored and processed in ways that are developmentally appropriate. The goal is not just symptom reduction — it is supporting healthy emotional development and building the coping foundations children will carry into adulthood.
Marriage and Family Therapists who specialize in children understand that a child's distress rarely exists in isolation. It is embedded in family relationships, school contexts, and developmental transitions. MFTs bring a systemic lens to child therapy — working not just with the child but with the parents and family system that is the child's primary environment. Parental involvement in child therapy is not optional — it is essential for lasting change.
Child therapy uses specialized, developmentally adapted approaches that are distinct from adult therapy. The right approach depends on the child's age, presenting concerns, and family context.
Play therapy uses a specially equipped playroom as the therapeutic medium. Children express, process, and work through emotional and behavioral difficulties through play with a trained therapist. Research supports play therapy for anxiety, trauma, behavioral problems, and adjustment challenges across the 3-12 age range.
Rooted in Carl Rogers' person-centered approach and adapted for children by Virginia Axline, child-centered therapy provides an unconditionally accepting relationship in which children can explore their inner world freely. The therapist follows the child's lead, trusting the child's inherent capacity for growth when given the right conditions.
PCIT is an evidence-based behavioral therapy for young children (typically ages 2-7) with disruptive behavior and emotional difficulties. Parents are coached in real-time by a therapist observing through a one-way mirror or earpiece, learning to build a warmer relationship with the child while setting effective, consistent limits.
CBT adapted for children uses age-appropriate activities, visual tools, and game-based exercises to help children identify the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is especially effective for childhood anxiety, OCD, phobias, and mild depression, typically involving parents as "co-coaches" at home.
Parent involvement is not just encouraged in child therapy — it is a core component. Children spend the vast majority of their time with their families, so lasting change depends on the home environment reflecting and reinforcing what is happening in therapy. A child therapist who works in isolation from parents is limiting the impact of their work.
Most child therapists schedule regular parent sessions (with or without the child present) to share observations, teach strategies, and discuss progress. For younger children, parents may participate in every session. For school-age children, therapists typically conduct individual sessions with the child but stay in close contact with parents through brief check-ins or periodic meetings.
This does not mean parents will know everything that was discussed in session — children need some privacy to feel safe in therapy, just as adults do. Your therapist will explain clearly what they will and will not share, and they are required by law to inform parents of safety concerns.
Showing 6 of 4,100+ verified child therapists
LMFT, PhD, RPT-S · 18 Years Experience
Dallas, TX · In-Person & Telehealth
Dr. Espinosa is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor with specialized expertise in trauma-informed child therapy. She works with children ages 3-10 navigating trauma, anxiety, behavioral challenges, and family transitions. She has particular experience supporting children in bilingual and bicultural households and trains other therapists in play therapy approaches.
Insurance: Aetna, United Healthcare, Ambetter, CHIP Texas
LMFT · 12 Years Experience
Atlanta, GA · In-Person & Telehealth
Jerome specializes in ADHD, behavioral concerns, and emotional regulation in elementary school-age boys. He uses CBT adapted for children alongside parent coaching, helping families develop consistent structures that support — rather than fight — their child's neurodivergent brain. His warm, playful approach makes reluctant kids genuinely want to come back.
Insurance: Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Peach State Medicaid
LMFT, MA · 9 Years Experience
San Jose, CA · In-Person & Telehealth
Lily specializes in selective mutism, social anxiety, and school refusal in children ages 5-12. She uses CBT and child-centered approaches in close collaboration with parents and school teams to help anxious children gradually and safely expand their world. She is fluent in Mandarin and brings cultural understanding to families navigating academic pressure and parenting expectations.
Insurance: Anthem, Kaiser CA, Blue Shield, Medi-Cal
LMFT · 11 Years Experience
Chicago, IL · In-Person & Telehealth
Christopher works with children experiencing grief, loss, and major family transitions including parental divorce, remarriage, and blended family adjustment. He is trained in PCIT and provides a warm, structured approach that helps young children process confusing emotions they cannot yet name. He works closely with parents to strengthen attachment and provide consistent, loving limits.
Insurance: Blue Cross IL, Cigna, Aetna, Medicaid Illinois
LMFT · 14 Years Experience
Minneapolis, MN · In-Person & Telehealth
Anna provides play therapy and child-centered approaches for children ages 4-11 struggling with trauma, fearfulness, and difficulties at school. She brings a gentle, patient presence to the playroom and has extensive experience helping children who have experienced early relational trauma rebuild trust and emotional safety. She collaborates closely with foster and adoptive parents.
Insurance: HealthPartners, PreferredOne, Cigna, BCBS MN
LMFT, MS · 8 Years Experience
Phoenix, AZ · In-Person & Telehealth
Dominic works with children ages 5-12 presenting with anger, aggression, and behavioral challenges that often mask underlying pain, fear, or unmet needs. He uses a combination of CBT and strengths-based play therapy, and involves parents in every aspect of treatment to build alignment between home and therapy. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Insurance: United Healthcare, Aetna, Mercy Care, AHCCCS Arizona
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Children as young as 2 or 3 can benefit from therapy, particularly play-based approaches like PCIT that focus primarily on the parent-child relationship. Individual play therapy is typically most accessible for children ages 4 and up. The right age depends less on a fixed number and more on the specific concern, the child's developmental stage, and the family's readiness to engage. A skilled child therapist will assess appropriateness during an initial consultation.
Play therapy is based on the principle that play is a child's natural language for processing experience, emotion, and meaning. In a play therapy room equipped with toys, art materials, puppets, and sometimes sand, children express and process what they cannot yet put into words. The therapist observes, reflects, and sometimes participates — using the play as a therapeutic window into the child's inner world. Research supports play therapy for anxiety, trauma, behavioral problems, grief, and adjustment challenges in children ages 3-12.
Yes — children almost always do better when parents explain therapy in honest, age-appropriate language. You might say: "We are going to someone who is really good at helping kids with big feelings" or "This is a special play space where kids work on things that feel hard." Avoid framing therapy as punishment or suggesting the child is going because something is wrong with them. Children who understand they are going somewhere safe and helpful tend to engage more quickly and openly.
Look specifically for therapists who list children ages 3-12 in their specialty populations — not every therapist who sees adults has training in child development or child-specific approaches. Look for credentials like Registered Play Therapist (RPT), training in PCIT, or mention of play therapy, child-centered therapy, or TF-CBT for children. MFTFinder allows you to filter by age group and specialty so you can find therapists with the right training for your child.
Most insurance plans with mental health coverage will cover therapy for children when a qualifying diagnosis is present. The Mental Health Parity Act requires insurers to cover children's mental health services at parity with physical health. Some plans require prior authorization or limit sessions per year. Call your insurer to confirm your child's benefits before scheduling. Many child therapists also offer sliding-scale fees for families with limited coverage.