What is Therapy?
Therapy (also called counseling or psychotherapy) is a supportive space with clear goals where a trained mental health professional helps children, teens, and families build skills, process experiences, and work toward specific goals.
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At the NDC, therapy recommendations are always tied to a child’s developmental profile, strengths, challenges, and family priorities. We refer to therapists who use clear goals and strategies — not “observe and report” models where you simply talk each week without a plan.
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Types of Therapy We Often Refer To
This is not an exhaustive list — just the most common approaches we see as helpful for the children and families we see.
Play Therapy
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Who it helps: Young children who express themselves more easily through play than words; children processing big changes, grief, or trauma. This is especially helpful for children who struggle to put big feelings into words.
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What it involves: Toys, art, games, and role-play to help children explore feelings, problem-solve, and practice skills in a safe, creative way.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Who it helps: Children and teens with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or thinking patterns that feel stuck or unhelpful.
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What it involves: Understanding the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions, and practicing strategies to change unhelpful patterns.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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Who it helps: Preteens and teens with intense emotions, impulsivity, or difficulty in relationships.
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What it involves: Structured skills training in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS)
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Who it helps: Children who struggle with transitions, flexibility, or following directions without escalation; children with a high need for autonomy.
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What it involves: Collaborative problem-solving with adults to build skills while reducing power struggles.
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​Learn more about our virtual therapy services with a foundation in Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) provided by The Nuerodevelopment Collective.
Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
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Who it helps: Young children (ages 2–7) with frequent tantrums, aggression, or defiance.
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What it involves: Real-time parent coaching to strengthen relationships and encourage cooperation.
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
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Who it helps: Children with anxiety or OCD whose parents want tools to help at home.
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What it involves: Parent-focused sessions to reduce accommodations and build the child’s coping skills.
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Note: We’re excited to begin offering SPACE directly through NDC starting in April 2026!
Family Therapy
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Who it helps: Families experiencing communication breakdowns, conflict, or stress from life changes. This is often helpful when stressors affect everyone at home.
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What it involves: Joint sessions with some or all family members to improve relationships and problem-solving.
Group Therapy
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Who it helps: Children or teens with shared challenges, such as anxiety, social skills, or emotional regulation. Groups work best when well-matched in age and needs — not every child thrives in this format.
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What it involves: Practicing skills in a supportive group setting with peers.
Art or Music Therapy
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Who it helps: Children who connect best through creative expression; children processing trauma or grief; children needing sensory regulation strategies. These therapies don’t require artistic talent — they’re about expression and regulation.
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What it involves: Using creative mediums to support self-expression, emotional processing, and regulation.
Who Can Benefit From Therapy?
Therapy is not only for times of crisis. Many children benefit from having a safe, consistent space to:
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Build coping and problem-solving skills
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Navigate school or peer challenges
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Adjust to big life changes
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Process feelings about a sibling’s diagnosis or family stress
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Strengthen communication and self-advocacy
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Therapy can also support siblings, who may need a safe place to process their own feelings.
Questions to Ask a Potential Therapist
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What ages and diagnoses do you work with most often?
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Which therapy models do you use?
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Are you certified or trained in CPS, PCIT, SPACE, CBT, DBT, or other approaches?
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What specific goals will we be working toward?
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How will progress be measured and shared with me?
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What is your recommended session frequency?
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Will you coordinate with school or other providers?
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Do you offer telehealth, in-person, or both?
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What is your waitlist time?
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Are there specific ages or profiles you specialize in?
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How do you involve parents/caregivers in the process?
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy
How The NDC Helps You Decide
Choosing the right therapy can be overwhelming. As part of our comprehensive evaluations, we look closely at your child’s learning profile, emotional needs, and developmental strengths. We’ll discuss whether therapy is recommended, which approaches may be most effective, and help you find a provider who’s the right fit for your child and family.
We frequently connect families with trusted outside providers, but we’re also expanding what we can offer right here at NDC!
Beginning in April 2026, we’ll launch SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) directly through our clinic. In the meantime, families can already access neurodiversity-affirming virtual therapy with NDC therapist, designed to support both children and caregivers.