Child and adolescent counseling covers a wide range of support, from a kid struggling with anxiety or a rough divorce at home to a teenager dealing with depression, ADHD, school refusal, grief, or behavioral issues that have started disrupting family life. Sessions might involve play therapy for younger children, talk therapy and cognitive behavioral techniques for older kids and teens, or family sessions where parents learn how to reinforce what's happening in treatment. Some counselors also handle assessments for ADHD or learning differences, or coordinate with schools on IEPs and 504 plans. We've reviewed 8 counselors and practices in West Columbia that work with this age group.
Age range matters a lot here: a therapist who's great with a 7-year-old using play therapy isn't automatically the right fit for a 16-year-old working through social anxiety or self-harm. Ask directly about their experience with your child's specific age and issue. Beyond that, check:
A first call or consultation should give you a real sense of their approach and whether your child seems comfortable, not just a rundown of credentials.
Our ranking weighs credentials and specialization, responsiveness to new client inquiries, breadth of services (assessments, family therapy, school coordination), and patterns in client feedback about fit and communication. See the ranked list of child and adolescent counselors in West Columbia for the full breakdown, and our methodology page explains exactly how we weigh each factor.
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8 businesses, scored on recent reviews. The order weighs each business's overall score by how much of its reviewed work is child & adolescent counseling, so a lower-scored specialist can rank above a higher-scored generalist.
Every review is five stars. Clients consistently describe Karon Hopkins as a patient, caring listener who provides practical strategies for managing anxiety, trauma, and life transitions. People feel understood and supported, often noting they leave sessions more hopeful and equipped to handle their challenges.
Patrick stands out for insight, directness, and emotional support that often shifts how clients see themselves and their relationships. Multiple reviewers credit him with lasting personal growth. However, billing practices have raised red flags (stored cards, unexpected fees), and trauma-focused care may not suit complex PTSD cases.
People return week after week saying the staff feel genuine and make them feel heard quickly. Families find the right clinician match, the office is calm, and billing is straightforward-but watch for account charges and verify insurance coverage before starting.
Elizabeth Rummel draws consistent praise for emotional attunement and clinical skill. Reviewers highlight her supportive approach and ability to meet clients at their comfort level during difficult transitions.
Most clients experience a welcoming, attentive practice where counselors skillfully identify underlying problems and help people feel genuinely understood. One significant complaint noted a counselor's dismissal of the client's faith during couples work, which the reviewer felt contributed to the marriage ending rather than healing.
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Melanie Russell and the clinical team earn strong praise for guiding children through family transitions and working effectively with foster placements. Administration stumbles on insurance processing, billing accuracy, and appointment reliability, creating friction that contrasts sharply with the therapists' care.
Ashley and the team work well for clients who click with them: attentive, practical, and willing to adjust schedules. But the business has a pattern of no-show cancellations without calling ahead and applying charges for missed appointments on second visit, even when context suggested flexibility was warranted. Detail is limited: only seven reviews span three years, with sharp divisions between five-star loyalty and one-star service failures. The profile fits a practice with strong one-on-one skill but inconsistent administrative and boundary-setting practices.
Deeply polarized: a handful of patients credit Three Rivers staff with literal life-saving help and medication adjustment, while the majority report an understaffed, filthy facility where rudeness and racism are endemic. Several outstanding individual staff members (notably Ms. H, coordinators, and a few techs) do appear to deliver genuine care within a broken system, but systemic failures in oversight, cleanliness, communication, and patient dignity overshadow those efforts. The facility's inpatient model works for people ready to engage; those who arrive involuntarily or in distress encounter malfunctioning phones, extreme utility problems, thin blankets, and staff who seem more focused on control than healing. Family contact is nearly impossible. Administrative errors (missing PIN numbers, fictitious appointments) compound the damage.
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Last updated 2026-08-17