Therapists & Counselors For Children in the Waco Area

If there is one thing we as moms know, it’s that raising kids is messy and our lives are ever-changing. But when things get extra tough, what happens when we find ourselves unsure how to help our kids. How can we get them to work through their emotions? What do you do when you’ve tried everything and nothing works?

The number of adults in the United States seeking some form of counseling or psychological help is constantly on the rise, and when you think about it, it makes total sense. We all know how stressful and anxiety-ridden our lives can be. What we often do not think about is that children might need extra help processing through situations or events. It’s astounding how much earlier our children are introduced to different experiences and stressors than even I was as a child. In this day and age we put so much additional pressure on our children. So much more than in decades past.  Because of this stress, children from preschool all the way to adulthood can benefit from counseling. If you are concerned with your child’s behavior, it may be time to seek help from a counselor or therapist. Depending on their age, there are many different methods. Where a preschooler would need therapy through play, a teenager would be able to sit and discuss their feelings in a more traditional manner. Whether your child is having trouble in school, has behavior issues, experienced a traumatic event or just needs someone to vent to, Waco has a wide range of counselors specializing in treating children. This is by far not a full list of counselors available, but a good place to start.

• The Center for Children and Families
  The Center for Children and Families has family therapy, individual therapy, addiction specialists, and ADOS testing for autism spectrum disorder. They have 12 qualified counselors and therapists that are trained to work with children to adulthood.
• Waco Psychological
  Waco psychological associates has traditional services such as individual therapy and marriage and family counseling. They provide the newest approaches to learning difficulties and addictive behaviors.
• Katy F. Britt-Sharp, PSY.D.
  Dr. Britt is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. She works with mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse and couples therapy. She has a special interest in treating young children as young as age 3
• Cayce Connell, PSY.D, LSSP
  Dr. Connell, specializes in the treatment of behavior disorders, ADHD, anxiety, stress, and depressive disorders. Dr. Connell also provides psychological evaluations for children and young adults, utilizing her experience as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology to help both students and parents advocate within the school setting.
• Natalie Jones, MS, LPC
  Dr. Jones works with children ages 3 to 11 in play therapy and also provides therapy for teenagers or adults. She has experience with trauma, domestic violence, abuse, anxiety, and depression. Natalie also provides comprehensive career assessments to those who are seeking guidance to discover a major or specific career path.
• M & M Counseling
  – Michele Bostick, M.ED, LPC-NPI
  Bostick works with children, adolescents and families who are struggling with a wide of psychological and emotional difficulties. She believes everyone is entitles to mental health care so she has a sliding scale for payment depending on income.
• Texas School Neuropsychology
  – Jason Craig, MDiv, MS, LPC-S, LSSP, ABSNP
  Craig specializes in assessment of Autism, behavioral difficulties, academic struggles and Traumatic Brain Injuries.
• Shelley Ann Cano
  – Shelley Ann Cano, Ed.D., LPC
  Dr. Cano specializes in hardships and trauma effected adults and children as well as traditional child, adult and family counseling. She also works with children with behavioral problems and helping families better their communication and parent/child relationship.
• Kristy Donaldson
  – Kristy Donaldson, Ph-D, LPC-S, RPT-S, CHST
  Dr. Donaldson offers therapy for all ages and stages of development. She is a registered play therapist, works with marriages in all stages of intervention. She offers neurofeedback services that combats a wide range of symptoms. Although she is extremely busy she has recently hired a new registered female play therapist who will begin seeing children 0-12 by this fall as well as a male licensed professional counselor who will see teens and adults.

There are so many more therapists and counselors in the Waco area to explore depending on your child’s specific needs, but this is a good place to start. You can also search Psychologytoday.com for any additional therapists or counselors in your area.