Is play therapy only for young children?

Yes, play therapy is generally used with younger children who don't yet have the verbal skills to process emotions directly through talk therapy alone.

Will my teen's counselor tell me what they talk about?

Most counselors set confidentiality boundaries with teen clients and will explain those limits to parents during intake, sharing only safety-relevant concerns.

Should I look for a counselor who treats both age groups?

If you have kids at both ends of the age range, a practice with clinicians for each can simplify scheduling, but a specialist in one age group may offer a better fit for a single child.

Counseling for teenagers vs. younger children in Columbia

Child and adolescent counseling covers a wide age range, and the right counselor for a 6-year-old working through a divorce is often not the best fit for a 16-year-old dealing with social anxiety or school pressure. This page separates the two so parents can search for the age group that actually matters to them.

Younger children's counseling in Columbia often leans on play therapy, art, and parent-involved sessions to help kids express things they can't yet put into words. Teen-focused counseling shifts toward talk therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, and more one-on-one confidentiality between the counselor and the adolescent, with parents looped in separately.

Ask whether a practice specializes in play therapy for younger kids or has separate teen-specific clinicians
For teens, ask how the counselor handles confidentiality boundaries with parents
Some Columbia practices see the full age range; others focus on one end of it

What it costs

Session pricing is generally similar across age groups within the same practice, though specialized play therapy materials or family-inclusive sessions can factor into how a practice structures its rates. Insurance coverage for child and adolescent sessions works the same way as adult mental health coverage in most cases.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for child & adolescent counseling.

1. LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia
4.9★ · 90 reviews

86
2. Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia
4.7★ · 281 reviews

85
3. Annie Old, Counselor
5.0★ · 18 reviews

82

FAQ

Is play therapy only for young children?: Yes, play therapy is generally used with younger children who don't yet have the verbal skills to process emotions directly through talk therapy alone.
Will my teen's counselor tell me what they talk about?: Most counselors set confidentiality boundaries with teen clients and will explain those limits to parents during intake, sharing only safety-relevant concerns.
Should I look for a counselor who treats both age groups?: If you have kids at both ends of the age range, a practice with clinicians for each can simplify scheduling, but a specialist in one age group may offer a better fit for a single child.