Individual Therapy
At Therapy Etc's child therapy practice in Buffalo Grove, IL, your child's comfort and safety come first. Individual therapy gives children and teens a structured space to understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to work toward real, lasting change. For older children and teens, teen therapy often combines talk therapy with behavioral strategies, helping them identify and express the connection between how they think, feel, and act. Creative outlets like writing, art, and music offer additional ways for older kids to open up. For younger children, including preschoolers, play therapy is a natural and effective path to self-expression, using tools like dolls, sand tray, art, and movement to help them communicate what words alone may not capture. Individual therapy is one part of a broader therapeutic process, and parents are encouraged to stay actively involved, supporting their child every step of the way.
Children, teens, and families come to Therapy Etc. with a wide range of concerns. Our therapists are experienced in working with:
Anxiety and worry
Depression and mood difficulties
ADHD and attention challenges
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Behavioral challenges at home or school
Social skill difficulties
Life transitions, such as divorce, grief, or school changes
Family conflict and communication struggles
If you don't see your child's specific concern listed, reach out. Our team works with a broad range of emotional, behavioral, and social challenges across all ages.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is an extremely useful intervention to help a family cope with changes or transitions. We believe in the traditional use of family therapy, where all identified family members join together and are guided by a clinician to focus on the acknowledged and agreed upon difficulties. We believe that working with a family provides individual members an opportunity to grow and develop their identity within the family unit, while working collectively as part of the family system. Within the context of family therapy sessions, members learn to understand, appreciate and cope with presenting emotional, behavioral or social problems of a child, teen or parent. Many interventions may be utilized such as talk, play or behavioral strategies aimed at promoting encouragement, nurturing, understanding and ultimately change. We commonly explore the behavioral, social and emotional expectations of each member, and their roles within the family system. We also explore patterns of interactions, as well as, communication between family members. In order to promote change, we look to identify the dynamics that contribute to challenges while seeking to identify the strengths of each member and the system. Additionally, we view family therapy occurring when siblings work together to resolve issues such as concerns of rivalry or adjusting to changes in the family system. It is not uncommon for other identified extended family members such as grandparents or stepparents to become involved in a session if deemed appropriate or helpful.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is a strong fit for children and teens who benefit from connection with peers who share similar experiences, whether they're navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, or social difficulties. In a typical session, your child will join a small group of up to 8 peers, guided by one of our therapists, who creates a structured space where members can share personal challenges, celebrate successes, and practice real-world skills together. Groups may focus on specific concerns like ADHD, depression, or anxiety, or target skill-building areas such as coping strategies, self-expression, and social interaction. Because learning alongside peers can be just as powerful as one-on-one work, group members often find it easier to open up when they realize others share their struggles. Confidentiality is a priority in every group, with members encouraged to treat one another with respect and keep shared experiences private. Over time, your child can expect to build greater emotional awareness, stronger problem-solving skills, and more confidence in social settings.
ADHD Coaching
The goal of ADHD Coaching is to give children and adolescents tools to function more effectively in a variety of problematic situations. By targeting 1 to 2 specific behaviors at a time, such as using organizational tools and knowing how and when to ask for help, each session is individualized to meet the client's unique needs. Additionally, there are coaching homework assignments, which are designed to enhance the development of these skills. This allows the client to take ownership of the process by learning new techniques to enable success across social, emotional and academic areas.
Getting Started
To get started, call us at (847) 807-8777 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. Our team will help match your child or family with the right therapist and answer any questions you have before your first visit.