Worry & Fear
Frequent worry, fear, anxiety, or difficulty feeling comfortable in everyday situations.
Support for Growing Minds
Child & Adolescent Therapy
Sometimes it is hard to know whether your child is going through a normal phase or needs more support. Children and teenagers do not always have the words to explain what they are experiencing. Parents may instead notice changes in behavior, mood, sleep, school performance, friendships, confidence, or family interactions.
Transformations Counseling serves clients beginning at age 4, with appointments in Rockford, Lake in the Hills, and telehealth throughout Illinois when appropriate.
A Supportive Space to Grow
Helping Children and Teens Navigate Life's Challenges
Childhood and adolescence bring changes in emotions, relationships, school, and family life. When these experiences become difficult to manage, therapy can provide a supportive place for children and teenagers to explore their feelings and develop new ways of coping.
Treatment is tailored to each child's age, developmental needs, experiences, and goals. Depending on the child, therapy may involve conversation, play, creative activities, practical coping strategies, and parent involvement.
Request an AppointmentSupport for Every Stage of Growing Up
Our practice serves children beginning at age 4, preteens, and teenagers. Our intake team can help families explore clinician specialties, location, and current availability.
- Age-appropriate therapeutic approaches
- Support with emotional and behavioral concerns
- Help navigating school and peer relationships
- Parent guidance when appropriate
When to Consider Support
Signs a Child May Benefit From Therapy
Every child is different. When emotional or behavioral changes persist, intensify, or begin affecting everyday life, speaking with a therapist may help.
Sadness & Tearfulness
Increased sadness, tearfulness, or changes in emotional well-being.
Anger & Irritability
Frequent irritability, anger, or difficulty managing strong emotions.
Emotional Outbursts
Frequent emotional outbursts or difficulty recovering after becoming upset.
Social Withdrawal
Withdrawing from family members, friends, or activities the child previously enjoyed.
School Difficulties
School avoidance, declining performance, or increasing difficulty attending classes.
Concentration Challenges
Difficulty concentrating or managing everyday responsibilities.
Changes in Sleep
Noticeable changes in sleep patterns or difficulties with rest.
Confidence & Self-Esteem
Low confidence, negative self-perception, or increasing self-doubt.
Family Conflict
Ongoing disagreements or difficulty navigating family relationships.
Grief & Loss
Difficulty coping with the loss of a loved one or another important change.
Divorce & Family Changes
Emotional challenges related to divorce, transitions, or changes at home.
Bullying & Peer Problems
Difficulties with friendships, peer conflict, bullying, or social connections.
Expressing Emotions
Difficulty identifying, managing, or communicating feelings and needs.
Find the Right Fit
Featured Child & Teen Therapists
Explore clinicians with experience and interests related to children, adolescents, behavior, school concerns, and emotional well-being.
Child & Adolescent Therapy
Angie Tompkins
MSEd, NCC, LCPC
Focus
Children, adolescents, behavioral concerns, Play Therapy, ages 6–10, preteens, and teens.
Location
Rockford
Availability
Accepting New Clients
Child & School Support
Joshua Kolakowski
MA, LPC, CADC
Focus
Children, autism, behavioral and school concerns, and a prior background in third-grade teaching and special education.
Location
Lake in the Hills
Availability
Accepting New Clients
Children & Teens
Mackenzie Wilson
MA, LSW
Focus
Children, preteens, teens, ADHD, school issues, peer relationships, and emotional concerns.
Location
Rockford
Availability
Accepting New Clients
More Treatment Options
Additional Child & Adolescent Clinicians
Our additional clinicians work with various age groups and concerns. Contact intake to discuss clinician fit and current availability.
Leila B. Nelson
MA, CCMHC, LCPC
Focus: Children, preteens, teens, trauma, and emotional concerns.
Location: Rockford & Lake in the Hills
Accepting New Clients - Waitlist
Madeleine Stucky
MSEd, NCC, LPC
Focus: Preteens, teens, trauma, anxiety, and neurodiversity.
Location: Rockford
Cydney Oakes
MA, LPC
Focus: Preteens and teens.
Location: Rockford & Lake in the Hills
Keaton Aguilera
MSW, LSW, PEL
Focus: Adolescents and young adults.
Location: Lake in the Hills
Frequently Asked Questions
Child & Teen Therapy FAQs
Learn more about when therapy may help, what children can expect, and how parents can support the process.
How do I know if my child's behavior is normal or something I should be concerned about?
Look at frequency, intensity, duration, and impact rather than one isolated behavior. It becomes more concerning when a change lasts, intensifies, differs significantly from the child's usual behavior, or interferes with school, friendships, family life, sleep, activities, or everyday functioning.
What if my child doesn't want to go to therapy?
That is common, especially with teenagers. How therapy is introduced matters. It can help to explain that therapy gives them someone outside the family to talk with and is not punishment or proof that they are the problem.
Will I know everything my child tells their therapist?
Not necessarily. Privacy is important to trust, particularly with adolescents. Confidentiality also has limits, especially when safety concerns or other required disclosures arise. Your therapist can explain how privacy works for your child's care.
Will the therapist tell me if my child is in danger?
Safety is different from ordinary privacy. If a therapist is concerned that a child may be at risk of harm or facing another significant safety issue, there may be circumstances where parents, guardians, or others need to be involved.
Does my child have to have a diagnosis to go to therapy?
No. Children and teens may come to therapy because of anxiety, emotions, friendships, school, grief, family changes, confidence, stress, relationships, or another difficult experience.
Is therapy just talking?
Not necessarily, especially for younger children. Therapy may use play, drawing, activities, stories, games, movement, and other developmentally appropriate methods.
Can parents be involved in therapy?
Yes. Depending on age and needs, parents may participate in portions of sessions, separate parent conversations, family sessions, or strategies used at home.
Can therapy help with school problems?
Sometimes, depending on why school has become difficult. Therapy can address emotional or behavioral factors such as anxiety, depression, bullying, family stress, grief, low confidence, peer problems, or attention concerns.
What if my child won't talk during the first session?
That is okay. Building trust is part of the work. Silence, short answers, nervousness, or uncertainty during an early appointment do not automatically mean therapy will not be useful.
Can my child do therapy online?
Yes, telehealth can be an option for children and teenagers in Illinois. Fit depends on age, ability to engage through a screen, privacy at home, treatment goals, and the approaches being used.
Support for Your Family
Find a Child or Teen Therapist
If your child is having a difficult time, you do not have to figure out the next step alone. Our intake team can help you explore therapy options based on your child's age, needs, location, and clinician availability.
Find a Child or Teen Therapist