Counseling & Mental Health/Wellness
What is Child Counseling?
Child centered counseling is a type of therapy that focuses on helping children and adolescents to make sense of what is going on in their minds, bodies and lives in a way they can process and understand. A child counselor can offer invaluable insight into your child’s social and emotional development as well as assess their overall mental health. The goal of child counseling is to break down problems into manageable parts, so children from birth to adolescence can better understand and cope with them. Licensed mental health therapists have the knowledge and expertise to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of conditions including adjustment issues (divorce, new school, bullying, grief, etc.), psychological distress, or trauma.
Child counseling may vary depending on the child’s specific need, however it typically focuses on and addresses issues in a child’s life that are significantly impacting their growth, development, mental health, and well-being. The aim is to help children learn tools, techniques, and methods so that they can identify and cope with any issue or issues they are experiencing in a healthy way.
Some of the most common issues that child counselors treat include:
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Divorce
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Grief and the death of a loved one, pet, home, etc.
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Witnessing or experiencing a trauma event(s)
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Mental health conditions and psychological distress (i.e. anxiety and depression)
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Bullying
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Sexual, emotional, and/or physical abuse
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Relocation issues (i.e. changing schools, homes, families, and/or cities/states)
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Family substance abuse or addiction
Meet Our Psychotherapists
Jenni George, LCSWA
Jenni (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA). She graduated with her MSW from East Carolina University in 2023. Jenni was previously a middle school science teacher for seven years and received her M.Ed in 2014 from West Virginia University. Jenni interned with the Department of Veterans Affairs and DaVita Dialysis, and enjoys a collaborative approach to care. Jenni's focus in therapy is person-centered, letting the patient's unique needs drive each session. She feels that the relationship between the therapist and client is the most important part of therapeutic services and strives to create a positive, welcoming, and nonjudgmental atmosphere. Jenni has been studying trauma research for two years and has a particular interest in the way that trauma impacts the body. She has even started her own business to teach gyms and fitness professionals best practices in trauma-informed care. Jenni is certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a leading trauma treatment developed by the VA. She also pulls from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and utilizes psychoeducation and mindfulness practices to best assist each client. Jenni currently lives in Rolesville with her boyfriend, his son, and their dog. She enjoys reading, weight-lifting, playing racquetball, and doing anything artsy.