Types of Therapy for Children and Adolescents & Why It’s Helpful

Therapy for kids and teens isn’t one-size-fits-all—and that’s a good thing. One of the most common and effective approaches, especially for younger children, is play therapy. Since kids don’t always have the words to explain how they’re feeling, play becomes their language. Through games, toys, and creative activities, therapists help kids express emotions, work through tough experiences, and learn healthy ways to cope.

There are other types too, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for older kids and teens, which helps them recognize and manage tricky thoughts and feelings, or family therapy to help improve communication at home. But at the heart of it all, therapy gives kids a safe space to be heard, understood, and supported. And that can make a huge difference in how they grow and face the world.