Child and teen therapy in Michigan, by video

How we approach it

With children and teens we're person-centered and practical: helping them name their feelings, understand their patterns, and build coping tools they can actually use. Cognitive behavioral therapy is part of how we do that.

Therapy isn't a quick fix. It takes collaboration and consistency from both kids and caregivers, and small, steady changes add up. Parents can also join our virtual Parent Behavior Management Training group.

Like all our groups, the Parent Behavior Management Training group meets by video and is led by licensed therapists. It's for you: you learn ways to handle behavior at home, alongside other parents.

We also offer family therapy, with sessions that focus on communication at home, so the people around your child can be part of the work when that fits.

Here's who on our team works with children and teens in Michigan. Kirsten Curtis, LLPC, works with children, teens and adults, using person-centered therapy and CBT. David Copeland, LMSW, works with teens and adults, and his early training included nearly three years with adolescents at Wolverine Human Services. Hanna Newton, our founder, has more than 12 years of experience with kids, adults, couples and families.

For parents of young children with ADHD, the CDC's guidance on treating ADHD names parent training in behavior management as the first treatment for children under 6, before medication, and recommends it for children up to age 12. That's what our virtual Parent Behavior Management Training group is: training for parents in managing behavior at home.

What to expect

Email us with your child's age, a little about what's going on and how to reach you. We'll match your child with a clinician who works with their age group. Appointments are often available within the week.

Sessions are by video, from home or anywhere private in Michigan. Your clinician will talk with you about how you'll be involved and how you'll stay in the loop.

If your child is also working with a doctor, therapy can go alongside that care.

If your teen is 14 or older, Michigan law lets them start therapy on their own. Under the Michigan Mental Health Code (MCL 330.1707), a minor 14 or older can consent to outpatient mental health services without a parent's consent, for up to 12 sessions or 4 months per request. That doesn't include psychotropic medication.

Under the same law, a parent generally isn't told about those sessions without the teen's consent, unless the clinician finds a compelling need based on a substantial probability of harm and has told the teen first. After 12 sessions or 4 months, the clinician either ends services or, with the teen's consent, contacts a parent to ask for consent to continue.

The law also says these services should, as far as possible, support a teen's relationship with their parent or guardian and not undermine the family's values. So even when a teen starts on their own, there's room to bring parents in.