Counseling for Kids & Teens

Sometimes young people need a space that feels safe, supportive, and truly theirs

Being a kid or teenager today can feel overwhelming in ways that are hard to explain.

Some children struggle to express big emotions. Some teens feel anxious, disconnected, misunderstood, or constantly pressured to keep up. Others may appear fine on the outside while quietly struggling with self worth, stress, friendships, family dynamics, identity, school pressure, or emotional overwhelm underneath.

At Compass Whole Health, we provide therapy for children and teens in a way that feels warm, collaborative, and developmentally supportive. We believe young people deserve a space where they feel emotionally safe, respected, and understood without judgment.

Our therapists help kids and teens better understand themselves, process difficult experiences, strengthen emotional regulation skills, and build healthier relationships with themselves and the people around them.

What Brings Children & Teens to Therapy

Young people often communicate stress differently than adults. Sometimes it looks like withdrawal, irritability, shutdowns, perfectionism, emotional outbursts, avoidance, or behavioral changes. Sometimes they simply need a trusted space outside of home where they can process what they are feeling openly.

Children and teens may benefit from counseling when they are experiencing:

Anxiety or chronic stress
Emotional overwhelm or mood changes
Difficulty with friendships or social situations
School related stress or academic pressure
Low self esteem or self criticism
Family conflict or major life transitions
ADHD, neurodivergence, or sensory overwhelm
Grief, loss, or trauma
Perfectionism or burnout
Behavioral struggles or emotional dysregulation
Depression, isolation, or withdrawal
Identity exploration or feeling misunderstood

Therapy can help young people develop emotional awareness, coping skills, confidence, communication tools, and stronger support systems.

Our Approach to Counseling for Kids & Teens

At Compass, we understand that therapy with children and teens needs to feel engaging, relational, and emotionally safe.

Our therapists work to build trust first. We move at a pace that feels supportive and developmentally appropriate while helping young people feel empowered rather than pathologized.

Depending on the child, teen, and therapist, sessions may include:

Talk therapy and emotional processing
Play based and creative interventions
Art and expressive techniques
Mindfulness and nervous system regulation
Parent support and collaboration
Strength based and neurodiversity affirming approaches
Attachment and relationship focused work
Trauma informed care

We believe kids and teens are not “problems to fix.” Often their behaviors and emotions are communicating something important that deserves understanding and support.

A Space Where Young People Can Feel Understood

Many kids and teens feel pressure to mask, perform, succeed, or keep difficult emotions hidden. Therapy can become a space where they finally feel permission to slow down, express themselves honestly, and feel accepted for who they are.

Our therapists work with children and teens navigating:

Anxiety and stress
ADHD and neurodivergence
Trauma and difficult life experiences
Family changes and divorce
Emotional regulation struggles
Self worth and identity development
School and social stress
Grief and loss
Depression and isolation
Perfectionism and high sensitivity

We understand every child and teen is different. Therapy should reflect that.

Get in Touch

Why Clients Choose Compass Whole Health Child Counseling?

Children experience and express emotions differently than adults. Sometimes big feelings show up as anxiety, behavioral challenges, emotional outbursts, withdrawal, school difficulties, or struggles in relationships. At Compass Whole Health, we provide child counseling that helps children feel understood, supported, and empowered while helping parents better understand and support their child's emotional needs.

Clients choose us because we offer:

We Meet Children Where They Are

We Understand That Every Child Is Unique

We Help Children Build Emotional Skills for Life

We Partner with Parents and Caregivers

We Create a Warm and Supportive Environment

Serving Portland & Vancouver

We provide individual counseling for adults in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, offering both in-person and virtual sessions to fit your schedule and needs.