If your child is experiencing difficulty coping, exhibiting concerning behaviors at home or at school, has experienced a loss, or has been through a traumatic event, therapy may be the best way to support your child and family.

A child is never too young to be seen. Often, younger children do not have the words to express their feelings about loss or trauma. Our Infant Mental Health Therapists are trained to work with parents, caregivers, and infants from birth, focusing on attachment and the parent-child relationship.

Signs that a child or teen may benefit from support:

• Defiant behaviors: Increased arguing, complaining, or becoming defensive — even over small things.
• Sudden shifts in habits: Changes in eating, sleeping, or personal interests.
• Regressions: Reverting to earlier behaviors like bedwetting, temper tantrums, separation anxiety, or "baby talk."
• Social isolation: Withdrawing from family and friends, turning inward.
• Expressions of self-harm: If your child or teen expresses any feelings or ideas of self-harm — including hitting oneself, banging their head, or digging nails into skin — seek help for them right away.

Need effective ways to talk to your child about tough topics? Visit our Ways to Talk to Children resource page.

We provide services for children, teenagers, and their families, parents, or adult caregivers — from prenatal through adolescence. Our Infant Mental Health Program serves pregnant women and children from birth to age 5. Through our Child and Family Center and school-based programs, we provide counseling for older children, teens, and the adults caring for them.

When you complete the prescreening process, our intake team will connect you with the most appropriate program, therapist, or community resource for your family.

You can get started by requesting an appointment online, submitting a referral, or calling us at 561-244-9499. Our intake team will walk you through the prescreening process and connect you with the right program and therapist for your child and family.

Referrals can come from parents, caregivers, schools, pediatricians, community partners, or other professionals.

During the first visit, your therapist will take time to get to know you and your child — understanding your family's unique story, strengths, and concerns. This initial assessment helps us develop the most effective treatment plan. Our approach is always warm, collaborative, and child-centered. We want you and your child to feel safe, seen, and supported from the very first interaction.

For young children, much of the assessment happens through play. For older children and teens, the therapist will use a combination of conversation, activities, and standardized tools as needed.

Absolutely — and we encourage it. Research consistently shows that treatment is most effective when parents, caregivers, or family members are actively involved. Our therapists will partner with you throughout the process, sharing strategies you can use at home and keeping you informed about your child's progress.

In many of our programs — including Infant Mental Health, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and our early childhood services — the parent-child relationship is at the center of the work.

Center for Child Counseling uses a public health approach to children's mental health built on three levels: prevention, early intervention, and treatment. We believe that the most powerful thing we can do for a child is strengthen the relationships and environments around them.

Our work is grounded in the HOPE framework — Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences — which shifts the focus from what has gone wrong in a child's life to what we can do right. While ACEs science tells us about the impact of adverse childhood experiences, HOPE shows us how positive childhood experiences — nurturing relationships, safe environments, social connectedness, and opportunities for growth — can build resilience and buffer the effects of adversity.

This philosophy is embodied in A Way of Being with Children, the cornerstone of everything we do. It is not a technique — it is how every adult at our organization shows up for children and families. Learn more about A Way of Being with Children.

We offer a comprehensive range of evidence-based therapies and services tailored to the unique needs of each child and family, including:

• Play Therapy — The foundation of our work with young children. Play is the language of childhood, and our trained therapists use it to help children express feelings, process trauma, and build resilience.
• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health — Specialized services focusing on attachment, the parent-child relationship, and healthy development from birth to age 5.
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) — An evidence-based model for children and teens who have experienced trauma.
• Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) — A relationship-based treatment for young children and their caregivers affected by trauma.
• Art Therapy — Creative expression as a path to healing, including our ArtClub program.
• SNAP® Program — Stop Now And Plan, an evidence-based program for children with behavioral challenges.
• Child First — A home-based intervention connecting vulnerable families with comprehensive services.
• Care Coordination — Helping families navigate complex systems to access the support they need.
• Telehealth — Virtual therapy sessions available for families who prefer or need remote access.

Our therapists are also trained in EMDR, Circle of Security, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and other best-practice approaches. The right treatment approach is determined collaboratively with you during the assessment process.

Play Therapy is to children what talk therapy is to adults. Children — even those who are talkative — express themselves more easily and completely through play. Child-Centered Play Therapy gives children a safe, nonjudgmental place to express their thoughts and feelings.

In the playroom, toys, games, and activities are used like words. Children develop problem-solving skills, practice self-control, rehearse experiences, engage in self-discovery, build communication and social skills, and strengthen relationships. Play Therapy allows children to work through, heal, and move past the difficulties in their young lives.

Research suggests Play Therapy is effective regardless of age, gender, or the nature of the problem, and works best when a parent, family member, or caretaker is actively involved. Learn more from the Association for Play Therapy.

Healthy infant development relies on relationships — relationships that help babies feel secure and confident that their needs will be met. 90% of brain growth takes place in the first three years of life, and early experiences profoundly shape later development.

Young children exposed to toxic stress — prolonged neglect, violence, or prenatal substance exposure — may develop anxiety, impulsivity, aggression, sleep problems, and vulnerability to later mental health concerns. Our Infant Mental Health services focus on strengthening the parent-child relationship, because when we nurture the parent, they can nurture the child.

We are proud members of the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health, and our President & CEO serves as President of the FAIMH Board.

Our therapists are highly trained professionals. All clinical staff are licensed or working toward licensure with degrees in mental health counseling, clinical social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy. Our team includes Registered Play Therapists, Infant Mental Health Specialists, and clinicians with advanced training in evidence-based treatment models including TF-CBT, CPP, EMDR, PCIT, Circle of Security, and more.

We invest deeply in professional development — providing free clinical supervision for licensure, ongoing training, and a nationally recognized internship program. All credentials are explained during the prescreening and intake process.

We provide services at the following locations across Palm Beach County:

• Executive & Operations Office: 4400 PGA Blvd., Suite 401, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
• Admin & Program Offices: 8895 N. Military Trail, Suite 300C, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
• Child and Family Center: 5205 Greenwood Ave., Suite 105, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
• Family Visitation Center: 3335 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406
• UB Kinsey Education Center: 720 8th St., West Palm Beach, FL 33401

We also provide services via telehealth, at your child's childcare center or school through our co-located partnerships, or in the home through programs like Child First. In-home availability may be limited due to travel requirements.

Administrative Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm

Appointments and Services: Monday – Saturday, 8:00am – 7:30pm (depending on availability)

To schedule an appointment, call 561-244-9499 or request an appointment online.

Yes. We have therapists co-located at schools, childcare centers, and community partner sites throughout Palm Beach County. Our school-based services bring therapy directly to children where they already are — reducing barriers like transportation and time away from work for families.

We also provide prevention education through our KidSafe programs, including Stay KidSafe!™ personal safety education and Feelings and Coping curriculum for schools.

Yes. We offer telehealth services for families who prefer or need virtual sessions. Telehealth can be an effective option for therapy, parent consultations, and some assessment services. Your therapist will discuss whether telehealth is appropriate for your child's specific needs.

Treatment usually takes place over 12–16 sessions but can vary depending on the intensity of needs or history of trauma. Our therapists use evidence-based treatments — specialized forms of therapy proven effective for children and teens.

If your family does not have one of the insurances we accept, we work on a financial sliding scale determined during the prescreening process. You will know the cost of treatment before services begin. As a nonprofit, we have a variety of financial options to make treatment accessible and affordable for your family.

Yes. We accept the following insurance plans:

If we don't accept your insurance, we will provide you with all the information needed to submit claims to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.

Yes. As a nonprofit, our mission is to ensure that every child who needs support can access it. We offer a sliding fee scale based on income and family size, and many of our prevention and education programs — including Stay KidSafe!™ for schools — are available at no cost. Our intake team will work with you to find a financial arrangement that makes treatment possible for your family.

Yes. We will review the assessment your child has already received as part of our evaluation, but our therapists need to meet with you and your child directly to make their own assessment. An accurate and thorough diagnostic assessment is the key to recommending the most effective treatment for your child and family.

• We specialize in children's mental health — it is all we do, and we have been doing it since 1999.
• We use evidence-based therapies designed specifically for children, teens, and their families.
• We partner with you to make the best treatment decisions for your child.
• We offer a full continuum of care — from prevention and education to early intervention and intensive treatment.
• We use creative, child-centered approaches like play, art, and music to connect with children in the way they communicate best.
• We provide care coordination for families who need help navigating complex systems.
• Our work is grounded in the HOPE framework and the science of positive childhood experiences — we focus not just on what has gone wrong, but on building what is strong.

Yes. Center for Child Counseling is a nationally recognized training organization offering continuing education for mental health professionals, educators, childcare providers, and community organizations. We are an APT Approved Provider (#09-263) and Florida CE Provider (#50-11511).

Our training includes Play Therapy workshops, Trauma-Informed Care, A Way of Being with Children, and specialized clinical intensives through our Institute for Clinical Training. On-demand courses are available at BeKidSafe.org.

To bring training to your school or organization, submit a training request.

Yes. We believe that when we strengthen the adults in a child's life, we strengthen the child. We offer parent education workshops, online learning through BeKidSafe.org, tip sheets, videos, and our parent and caregiver resource page.

Our A Way of Being with Children resources are available for parents, educators, and professionals — helping adults show up for children in ways that build safety, resilience, and connection.

KidSafe is our nationally recognized education and prevention program dedicated to protecting children from sexual abuse, human trafficking, and exploitation. KidSafe includes:

• Stay KidSafe!™ — A free, engaging personal safety curriculum for PreK through 5th grade, used in schools across Palm Beach County, Martin County, and nationally.
• CampSafe® — The nationally recognized child abuse prevention training for camps, serving 180+ camps across the U.S. and internationally.
• Feelings and Coping — A social-emotional learning curriculum teaching children lifelong coping and self-regulation skills.

All KidSafe training is available online at BeKidSafe.org.