What we treat
Child Therapy in Natick, MA
Child therapy at Aurora Counseling Associates is for kids approximately ages 3 to 12 and the parents who are trying to figure out how to help them. We work with anxiety, school refusal, behavior concerns, social difficulties, family transitions, neurodivergence (ADHD, autism, learning differences), grief, and the everyday struggles of growing up that have become bigger than they need to be.
Recognizing it
Does this sound like your child?
Children rarely say what is wrong. They show it, usually at the least convenient moment.
- Mornings have become a battle, and it is specifically school rather than getting up.
- The meltdowns are bigger or longer than they used to be, and the triggers make no sense.
- Stomach aches and headaches with nothing medical behind them.
- They were sleeping through and now they are not, or they are in your bed again.
- Something changed at home, and you can see them carrying it.
- A teacher has said something, gently, and you have been turning it over since.
Bringing a child in early is not an overreaction, and it is usually a shorter piece of work than people expect. Parent guidance often runs alongside, because a lot of what helps a young child happens outside the room.
What we work with
Children rarely walk themselves into therapy. Parents bring kids in for reasons that often include:
Anxiety
when worry has stopped being manageable for your child. When anxiety is the primary concern, our anxiety therapy in Natick page goes deeper on how we treat it across ages.
Mood
sadness, irritability, withdrawal, loss of interest in things they used to love.
Behavior
outbursts that feel disproportionate, defiance, sibling conflict that has become destabilizing, behavior at school that has the school calling home.
Social struggles
difficulty making or keeping friends, getting left out, being a target, struggling with the unwritten rules of peer interaction.
Family transitions
parents separating, a new sibling, a move, a death in the family, a parent's deployment or absence.
Trauma
medical procedures, accidents, witnessing violence or chronic conflict, abuse, the loss of a caregiver.
Neurodivergence
kids with ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, or learning differences who need support understanding themselves and developing skills.
Sleep, eating, and toileting
Sleep, eating, and toileting struggles that have a strong emotional component (note: we do not treat eating disorders as a primary presentation).
How child therapy works at Aurora
Children do not heal the way adults do. They do not sit and process verbally for 50 minutes. They show us what is going on through play, through drawing, through how they move in the space.
What that looks like:
- Play therapy is often the primary modality for younger children. The play is the work; we are watching what the child is showing us, gently engaging, and using play to help the child develop skills and process experiences.
- Art and expressive therapy for kids who connect more easily through drawing, sand tray, music, and movement.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy adapted for children when developmentally appropriate, often using games, stories, and concrete exercises.
- Parent guidance in parallel. This is critical. We almost always work with parents alongside the work with the child. Sometimes parents have their own sessions; sometimes the work involves parent-child sessions. The goal is that what is happening in the therapy room moves into the rest of the child's life.
- Coordination with schools when school is part of the picture, including communication with teachers, counselors, and any IEP or 504 team.
- Coordination with pediatricians and prescribers when needed.
What to expect
The first session is typically with the parents alone. We use it to understand what is going on, to gather background, and to plan how the work will be structured. The second session is often with the child; we do not usually start with the child and parents together unless that is the right structure for the situation.
Sessions are 45 minutes. The child therapist and the parent guidance work happen on a schedule that we will design together. Some families have weekly child sessions with monthly parent meetings; some have alternating child and family sessions. We will figure out what fits.
Talking to your child about therapy
How you frame therapy with your child shapes how the first session goes. A simple, plain version that often works:
"I want you to have someone outside the family to talk to about [the thing they are working on]. She is good at her job. There will be toys and games and you do not have to talk if you do not want to. The first time, you are mostly going to get to know her. After a few times, you will know if she is a good fit."
Avoid framing therapy as a consequence ("you have to go because of your behavior") or as something they need to fix ("you have problems and she is going to help you fix them"). The orientation is collaborative.
How you frame therapy with your child shapes how the first session goes.
Insurance and rates
Self-pay is $200 to $250 per session. In-network with BCBS, Tufts (HMO/PPO/GIC), Tufts Health Direct, Harvard Pilgrim, Point32Health, Optum, UBH, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, and Health Plans Inc. Some clinicians also accept Aetna and UHC; we confirm coverage at intake. HSA, FSA, and out-of-network superbills available. Rates and insurance.
Who you would work with
Clinicians who offer Child Therapy
Read how each person works before you reach out. If you are not sure who to ask for, we will help you choose.
Ruth Hanning, LMHC
Mary Patricia (MP) Reed, MA
Laura Buckley, LMHC
Eren Santana-Bykofsky, MA
These clinicians list this as a specialty. Most of our team works with it in some form, so if you have someone in mind, ask and we will tell you whether the fit makes sense.
Questions
Common questions
My child will not talk to a therapist. Will this work?
Will it traumatize my child?
Will my child resent me for sending them to therapy?
What if my child does not want to come back after the first session?
Will you tell me what my child says in session?
Do you work with the school?
Can you do telehealth with a young child?
Where to next
Related areas we work in
Get started
Ready when you are
If your child is struggling in a way you cannot quite reach, reach out or call (508) 650-0991. We will help you start.