Children, Adolescents & Families
When Words Aren't Enough, We Find Another Way
Children and teenagers don't always have language for what they're carrying. What shows up as behavior, defiance, meltdowns, withdrawal, school struggles, changes in sleep or appetite, is often communication. It's a signal that something needs attention, not a character flaw that needs correction.
At Sanctuary Counseling, we meet young people where they are. And we walk with the whole family.
Who We Work With
We provide therapy for:
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Children ages 3 and up
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Adolescents and teenagers through age 18
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Parents and caregivers navigating a child's behavioral or emotional challenges
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Families experiencing conflict, transition, loss, or communication breakdown
What We Help With
Young people come to us navigating a wide range of experiences, including:
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Anxiety, worry, and fear
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Depression and emotional withdrawal
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Behavioral challenges at home or school
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Trauma and abuse
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Grief and loss
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Family transitions — divorce, relocation, new siblings, parental stress
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Attachment difficulties
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Social struggles and peer relationships
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Identity development in adolescence
For families: Sometimes the whole system needs support, not just the child who's been identified as struggling. Family sessions can help shift patterns, improve communication, and equip caregivers with tools to respond with connection rather than reaction.
How We Work With You
Our clinicians use developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed approaches tailored to each child's age, temperament, and needs.
Play Therapy gives younger children a natural medium for processing and expressing what they cannot yet put into words. The playroom becomes a safe space to explore, communicate, and heal.
Sand Tray Therapy offers a symbolic, non-verbal way for children and teens to externalize their inner world — creating scenes that give shape to experiences that are difficult to articulate.
Narrative Therapy invites young people to step back from the stories they've been handed about who they are and begin writing new ones — ones in which they are not the problem, but the author.
Family therapy is woven in when appropriate, supporting systemic change so that healing doesn't stop at the therapy room door.
Who You'll Work With
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Charissa specializes in work with children and families, with a focus on family systems and healthy development across childhood and adolescence.
Jori works with children and adolescents ages 3–18 and is trained in play therapy, with additional training actively underway in sand tray and narrative therapy.
Fred has a strong interest in working with youth, particularly young people who have experienced trauma, and is pursuing advanced trauma-focused training for younger clients.