Pediatric Therapy for children and teenagers
Our children are precious and deserve more good days.
Therapy gives your child tools to manage big emotions, build confidence, and handle challenges in healthy ways. Early support can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
If your child’s emotions, anxiety, mood, or behavior are consistently affecting school performance, friendships, sleep, or family life, therapy may be helpful. Warning signs can include withdrawal, irritability, frequent meltdowns, declining grades, or ongoing worry that does not improve with reassurance.
Many parents seek therapy not because something is “wrong,” but because they want additional support and tools. A professional evaluation can provide clarity and peace of mind for you and your child.
“There are way too many therapists that keep their patients coming back just to check in and see how their week was. That’s not therapy. That’s not a plan.”
Dr. Clarissa Gosney, PsyD, Founder of GDMH
Why should you choose Good Day Mental Health for pediatric counseling?
Good Day Mental health has a comprehensive treatment team that includes counselors and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, with leadership from a Doctor of Psychology. Our team of experts comes together to provide you and your family a higher standard of care, with thoughtfully constructed care plans, highly-skilled therapy based on proven models, which results in faster and more complete improvement for your child’s mental health.
A simple way to evaluate your child’s therapy is to ask about the treatment plan. Effective therapy should be structured, goal-oriented, and based on approaches that have demonstrated results. If there is no clear plan with measurable goals, it becomes difficult to ensure real progress. Families deserve therapy that is intentional, evidence-based, and designed to create meaningful change.
Conditions We Treat
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD)
Anxiety
Depression
Misophonia
Insomnia
Counseling and therapy can help your child on their journey towards healing and relief.
PTSD and Trauma
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Selective Mutism (SM)
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We use structured, evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and gradual exposure techniques to reduce avoidance and build confidence. We can also do exposure therapy at the school or place of anxiety, in order to teach children to face their fears at the location where they struggle the most. Treatment helps children face fears in manageable steps while strengthening coping skills. Early therapy can significantly reduce long-term anxiety patterns and help children grow into confident, resilient adolescents and adults.
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Yes. Therapy can address underlying emotional triggers that drive behavior problems. Children learn emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, communication skills, and problem-solving strategies. Parent coaching ensures that consistent responses reinforce progress at home and school. Over time, families often see meaningful improvement in stability and cooperation.
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Therapy for young children often includes play-based techniques and strong parent involvement. Play therapy allows younger children to express emotions and practice skills in a developmentally appropriate way. Teen therapy typically focuses more on insight, cognitive skills, and independent coping strategies. Sessions are tailored to maturity level, developmental needs, and personal goals. These approaches build emotional growth without overwhelming your child.
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A child’s first therapy appointment is usually gentle, low-pressure, and focused on building trust. Often, the therapist meets with the parent or caregiver first. They may ask about what concerns brought you in, when the behaviors or emotions started, family background and home life, school performance and friendships, medical and developmental history, and any major life changes. These things help your therapist understand the child’s world before working directly with them.
The therapist also focuses on making the child feel safe and comfortable. They will also explain confidentiality in a kid-friendly way. The therapist may ask your child about feelings, observe behavior through play, or use a short questionnaire where age appropriate. Your child’s first session will also include a conversation about goals for therapy.
Can therapy and medication be combined for better results?
For some children and teens, combining therapy with psychiatric medication can improve stabilization and accelerate progress. Medication can reduce symptom intensity while therapy builds lasting skills and resilience. We can say that therapy teaches children the skills that open doors, while medication is the oil that can lubricate the hinges. Integrated care improves communication between providers and supports safer, more precise treatment decisions. At Good Day Mental Health in Ogden, families benefit from coordinated counseling and psychiatric expertise in one place.
Do parents participate in their child’s therapy sessions?
Parent involvement is often essential to successful pediatric therapy. We provide guidance, education, and practical strategies that parents can use at home. For younger children especially, parent coaching can significantly accelerate improvement. Therapy works best when families feel empowered and supported alongside their child.
What types of therapy do you offer for children?
We specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for children, delivered in a way that feels engaging and age appropriate. For children, we use CBT principles within play-based activities to help children feel comfortable while actively learning skills for emotional regulation, anxiety management, problem-solving, and coping.
For anxiety disorders and school refusal, we have specialized training and experience in exposure therapy, helping children and teens gradually face fears in real-world settings through guided, supported experiences such as visits to school or community locations. Treatment is practical, measurable, and focused on improving daily functioning.
For children and teens, we also provide Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD and trauma-related concerns. This structured approach helps young people safely process traumatic experiences while strengthening coping skills and emotional stability. At Good Day Mental Health, therapy is individualized, collaborative, and designed to promote lasting recovery and resilience.
Have more good days.
Are you ready to have more good days? Contact us through our form or give us a call. We are here to help.
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3785 Harrison Blvd, Suite 4
Ogden, UT 84403
United States
1480 Woodstone Dr, Suite 107
St. Charles, MO 63304
United States