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Children & teens

Play therapy, TF-CBT and age-appropriate counseling for kids, tweens and adolescents, with parents as part of the team.

Schedule an appointmentCall (843) 894-0000

Take the Conduct self-check

Children don't come to therapy the way adults do. A six-year-old works things out through play; a thirteen-year-old may not have words yet for what's wrong; a sixteen-year-old may have the words and no intention of sharing them with you. Our child and adolescent clinicians are trained for exactly that, and they involve parents as partners rather than bystanders.

Most of what brings families to us is ordinary and treatable: anxiety, big behavior, a hard year at school, a loss, a divorce, something scary that happened. Getting help early is usually faster and easier than waiting to see if it passes.

What we treat

These follow the DSM-5-TR. Diagnosis in children takes care and time, and our clinicians involve parents, and with permission schools, in understanding the whole picture.

Anxiety disorders
Separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobias, panic and selective mutism, which together are the most common reason children come to therapy.
Depression and mood
Major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (severe, frequent temper outbursts with chronic irritability, diagnosed between ages 6 and 18).
ADHD
Inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined presentations. We evaluate, provide behavioral parent training and skills work, and coordinate with pediatricians and schools. See our ADHD page.
Behavior problems
Oppositional defiant disorder (a pattern of angry mood, argumentative and defiant behavior, or vindictiveness lasting at least six months) and other disruptive behavior. Parent-focused treatment is the most effective approach for younger children.
Trauma and attachment
PTSD, acute stress, adjustment disorders, and reactive attachment and disinhibited social engagement disorders in children who experienced neglect or many changes of caregiver. We use TF-CBT and play therapy and work with foster, kinship and adoptive families.
OCD and related conditions
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviors such as hair-pulling and skin-picking, and tic-related concerns.
Grief and loss
Death of a parent, grandparent, sibling or pet; loss through divorce, deployment or incarceration; prolonged grief in children and teens.
Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
Addressed directly with safety planning, DBT-informed skills for teens, and close involvement of parents. If your child is in immediate danger, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Autism-related support
Counseling for anxiety, emotional regulation, social skills and family stress in children and teens who are autistic or have a related diagnosis. We don't provide autism diagnostic evaluations or ABA; we can refer you.
Life changes and school stress
Adjustment to divorce, moves, new schools, academic pressure, bullying and friendship problems.

How we treat it

Treatment is matched to the child's age and the problem. For young children that usually means play therapy and parent coaching, including parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) with trained clinicians. For school-age children and teens it means cognitive behavioral therapy adapted for their age, TF-CBT when trauma is involved, DBT-informed skills for emotional intensity and self-harm, and family sessions. Parents are involved at every age; with teens, your clinician will explain what stays confidential and what doesn't, so your teen can trust the room and you can stay informed about safety.

When to reach out

  • The behavior has lasted more than a few weeks and isn't improving
  • School has raised concerns
  • Your child is in distress that you can't talk them out of
  • Something happened and your child isn't bouncing back
  • Your child has hurt themselves or talked about dying
Schedule an appointmentCall (843) 894-0000

Common questions

At what age can a child start therapy?

Our clinicians see children as young as three or four using play-based approaches, with parents closely involved. For the youngest children, much of the work is with the parents.

Will I be in the room?

It depends on the child's age and the issue. Parents are usually part of the first session and are involved throughout, sometimes in the room, sometimes in separate parent sessions. Teens generally meet alone, with parent check-ins.

Is what my teenager says confidential?

Mostly, yes, and that's what makes therapy work for teens. Your clinician will explain the limits up front: safety concerns, including self-harm, abuse or danger to others, are always shared with parents. South Carolina law gives parents access to records, but clinicians will talk with you about what serves your teen best.

Can you work with my child's school?

Yes, with your written permission. We can communicate with teachers and counselors, provide documentation for 504 plans and IEPs, and coordinate on behavior plans.

Do both parents have to consent?

In most cases a parent with legal custody can consent to treatment. If there's a custody order, bring it to the first appointment so we can follow it; where parents share joint legal custody, we generally ask that both be informed.

Where to get help for children & teens

Available at every Oceanic® office and through our telehealth team.

Grand Strand

Midlands

  • West Columbia
    121 Executive Center Dr, Suite 102, Columbia, SC 29210
  • Forest Acres
    1800 Saint Julian Place, Suite 401, Columbia, SC 29204
  • Irmo
    7520 Irmo Dr, Columbia, SC 29212

Upstate

  • Greenville
    37 Villa Rd, Suite 508, Greenville, SC 29615
  • Anderson
    132 Broadbent Way, Anderson, SC 29625

Lowcountry

Anywhere in South Carolina

  • Online
    Secure video sessions, statewide

Diagnostic descriptions on this page are summarized in plain language from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR, 2022). This page is educational. It is not a substitute for evaluation by a licensed clinician, and only a licensed clinician can make a diagnosis.

Ready when you are.

Call us or submit a short intake form. A Patient Account Representative will match you with a therapist, and most new clients have their first appointment within a few business days.

Schedule an appointmentCall (843) 894-0000