Child Therapy in Seattle, WA, Play Therapy, Same-Week Appointments

In short

Child therapy at Counseling Services for Wellbeing helps Seattle-area kids work through anxiety, big feelings and behavior changes, with play therapy for younger children who cannot yet talk it out. We accept most major insurance plans, book first appointments the same week and see children at our three offices or by secure video statewide.

Does this sound familiar?

You can tell something is off, even if your child cannot put it into words yet.

Maybe the meltdowns come out of nowhere and last longer than they used to. Maybe there is trouble at school, or a teacher has started sending notes home. Maybe your child is carrying big feelings in a small body that has no language for them, so it all comes out as tears, anger or a stomachache before the bus. Maybe the whole house has started walking carefully around one person, and bedtime has turned into the hardest hour of the day.

What most parents feel underneath all of that is a quiet worry: something is wrong, and I do not know who to ask. You are not overreacting, and you are not the only family living this. Children rarely struggle in a tidy, nameable way. They show it through behavior, sleep, appetite and the body long before they can sit down and explain it.

The right starting point is not a label. It is a therapist who works with young children every day and knows how to meet your child where they are.

What we offer

Child therapy for younger kids whose worry or behavior is getting in the way.

Meltdowns that come from nowhere

Big emotions that feel out of proportion, last longer than they used to, and leave you bracing for the next one.

Worry that gets in the way

Anxiety or fear that is making school, sleep or friendships harder than they should be at this age.

A change in the child you know

Sadness or withdrawal, a quieter or sharper version of your kid, where the spark seems to have dimmed.

Trouble at school

Behavior, focus or getting along with others, with notes home and a teacher who is concerned.

A hard family change

A move, a separation, a new sibling or a loss, and a child who is showing it more than saying it.

A professional eye on the rest

Developmental or behavioral concerns you want someone who works with young children every day to weigh in on.

If your child is older, our teen therapy in Seattle page speaks to the adolescent years, and the two pages cross-link so you land in the right place.

Our approach

How child therapy works here.

Therapy that meets a kid where they are developmentally, using play for younger children and matching every child with a therapist who fits how they show up.

1

Reach out

A short form or a call. We hear what you are seeing at home and at school, what worries you, and what you have already tried. No assessment battery to clear before we talk.

2

Get matched

The single biggest factor in therapy working is fit, and that is even more true with kids. At intake we pair your child with a therapist who fits how they show up, with play therapy for younger children who cannot yet talk it out.

3

Start this week

First appointment in person at one of three Seattle-area offices or by secure video anywhere in Washington. Your child sees the same therapist each session, so trust has a chance to build. The early sessions are about safety, rapport and understanding, for your child and for you.

The method

Why play is how young children do the work.

For younger kids, therapy does not look like the sit-down, talk-it-out picture most adults carry. It looks like play. Through play, a child can show what they cannot yet say, practice handling big feelings and build the skills that help them feel more settled. Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate way to help children express and work through what they are facing, which the Association for Play Therapy describes for the youngest kids.

Play therapy for the youngest children. Parent involvement and parent-child work where it fits. For older kids, age-appropriate talk approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma-focused work, with EMDR and DBT skills available on the team. You will not be left in the waiting room wondering what is happening behind the door. Every therapist works under an AAMFT-approved clinical director, so the care your child gets is supported by senior clinical oversight.

Play

therapy bench for the youngest kids

Matched

to how your child shows up

AAMFT

approved clinical supervision

	Hospital child clinics	Online-only therapy platforms	Counseling Services for Wellbeing
Acute and inpatient capacity	Crisis and inpatient capacity	Outpatient only	Outpatient, not for crises
Referral required	Often a PCP referral first	No referral needed	Reach out directly
Insurance accepted	Usually accepts insurance	Limited carrier coverage	Kaiser, Premera, Regence, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna
Play therapy for younger kids	Often available	Rarely a fit for young kids	Play-therapy bench on team
Same therapist each session	Rotating residents and trainees	Therapist rotation common	Same therapist, continuous care
Therapy + child psychiatry coordinated	Often under one roof	Therapy only, refers out for meds	Therapy + child psychiatry in one practice

Acute and inpatient capacity
- Hospital child clinicsCrisis and inpatient capacity
- Online-only therapy platformsOutpatient only
- Counseling Services for WellbeingOutpatient, not for crises
Referral required
- Hospital child clinicsOften a PCP referral first
- Online-only therapy platformsNo referral needed
- Counseling Services for WellbeingReach out directly
Insurance accepted
- Hospital child clinicsUsually accepts insurance
- Online-only therapy platformsLimited carrier coverage
- Counseling Services for WellbeingKaiser, Premera, Regence, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna
Play therapy for younger kids
- Hospital child clinicsOften available
- Online-only therapy platformsRarely a fit for young kids
- Counseling Services for WellbeingPlay-therapy bench on team
Same therapist each session
- Hospital child clinicsRotating residents and trainees
- Online-only therapy platformsTherapist rotation common
- Counseling Services for WellbeingSame therapist, continuous care
Therapy + child psychiatry coordinated
- Hospital child clinicsOften under one roof
- Online-only therapy platformsTherapy only, refers out for meds
- Counseling Services for WellbeingTherapy + child psychiatry in one practice

Therapy is the primary work on this page, and for most children it is all that is needed. When a child may benefit from a psychiatric evaluation or medication, we have child psychiatry providers under the same roof, so families do not have to start over somewhere new. That conversation is never rushed and never coercive.

The team

Meet some of our child therapists.

A deeper bench than the five here, with a play-therapy focus for the youngest kids. We match your child with a therapist who fits how they show up.

Vanessa Davis MS

LMFT

Play therapyInfants to age 9Child-parent workBig feelings

Read bio Book with Vanessa

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Washington, with a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University.

Experience

I have provided a wide range of psychotherapy services to children, families, individuals, and couples over the past six years across diverse environments including, private practice, community mental health, medical facilities, public and private schools, early childhood education, and early intervention. I have worked with clients from all walks of life, ranging in experiences, cultural background and heritage, and personal identities. My therapeutic focus includes individual, dyadic and family sessions with infants to nine years old populations and their parents in supporting them, as they work through through life challenges together. I also provide dyadic sessions for parents, couples and families presenting relationship, communication, and related concerns. Clients I have worked with have experienced struggles with depression, perinatal/postpartum difficulties, anxiety, grief, trauma, adverse stress, relationship conflicts, life transition complications, and emotional, behavioral and developmental related concerns.

My Approach

My approach to the therapy is strength based, warm, inclusive, and collaborative. In my work with clients, I partner with them in determining goals to work on together, while using the strengths clients already have within themselves and in their existing relationships with others, as a catalyst for growth, healing, resilience, and transformation in a safe and empowering therapeutic environment. I am intentional in my approach to provide adult clients an opportunity through talk therapy to slow down from their busy schedules, to observe, reflect and discover newfound understandings and solutions for their presenting difficulties or concerns. For children and their parents, I use a combination of talk and play centered therapy as a means to see, hear and understand the child’s emotional experiences and potential needs underlying his or her behaviors. I am also intentional in my practice in offering additional space to parents for reflection and introspection to support their wellbeing as individuals, and within their roles as parents. The theoretical orientations I use include an integrated approach using Child Parent Psychotherapy, Solution Focused, Psychodynamic, Experiential, Gottman Method, and Family Systems models of therapy. My therapeutic approach is also informed by Perinatal/Maternal Mental Health, Women’s Mental Health and Play Therapy modalities. The therapy I provide to clients is always driven and centered around their specific life circumstances, values, and culture with respect to their personal identities as we begin our collaborative therapeutic work together. For each client that I partner with, the goal is always to empower them and their respected relationships with improved quality of life, and relationships with others to strive for a healthy and thriving future.

Sarah Yeung

LICSW

Play therapyPCITTF-CBTAnxietyFamily changes

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Locations: Telehealth

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in working with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and adjustment issues. I also work with children and parents on behavioral issues and family relationships. I love being able to have a wholistic approach to the family system and see children, adolescents and adults in my practice.

It is an incredible privilege to work with people in the therapy space. I feel that is an honor to sit with someone and be a part of their life and journey. I love helping people see themselves in a positive light. In sessions, I am present and available to listen to joys, sorrows, confusion, and victories. I think that lots of small steps are more sustainable than big goals. I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is built on trust and that therapy is a place to heal from past hurts, learn more about yourself, and grow into the person that you want to become. In sessions, I use directive and non-directive play therapy techniques, cognitive behavioral
therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solutions focused therapy and narrative therapy. I value the relationship between client and therapist is over theories and techniques but understand the importance of theories and evidenced based practices to guide and inform the therapy process. In working with children and adolescents, the relationship with parents is also incredibly important and I strive to maintain communication with parents while honoring the child’s space in therapy.

I graduated from California State University, San Bernardino in 2007 with a Masters in Social Work. I obtained my BA in Anthropology from the University of Washington. After graduate school in California, I had the opportunity to work in a community mental health setting with
children who had experienced trauma using Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT). I worked with young children and their parents using Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and did play therapy with children.

The call of the Pacific Northwest was strong, and our young family moved back to Seattle in 2010. After I moved back, I continued to work in community mental health with children and families, strengthening my knowledge and expertise in play therapy and cognitive behavioral
therapy. After working in community mental health for a few more years, I had the opportunity to join a group private practice and expanded my practice to include working with adults. I am thrilled to be at Counseling Services for Wellbeing and continue to see children,
adolescents, and adults in my practice. Outside of work, I think coffee is the best way to start my day, exercising is hard unless it is hiking or skiing, and ending my day with a good meal with friends and family is the best.

Seanna Hollinger

MSW, LSWAIC

CBTDBTAnxietyDepressionTeens

Read bio Book with Seanna

I am a dedicated and compassionate counselor with experience in working with youth and young adults. My therapeutic approach is rooted in evidence-based techniques, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which I tailor to each individual’s unique needs and circumstances. My practice is trauma-informed, emphasizing safety, collaboration, and empowerment throughout the therapeutic journey.

I believe that everything in life is about finding balance. Therapy, to me, is about working towards the balance of mental and emotional health. We are all human, and life is unpredictable, which brings with it many stressors and causes mental distress. Therapy is a tool you can use to develop coping and positive relationship skills to support yourself in becoming a healthier version of yourself.

From an early age and throughout different stages of my life, I experienced trauma in various forms. The experiences that I had caused me to seek support for myself and later sparked a desire to help support others in the process of finding their balance of mental and emotional health.

In 2007, I began volunteering with at-risk youth who were part of the child welfare system and exhibited behavioral issues. After doing this for a couple of years, I realized I was passionate about working with youth and others who had experienced trauma. In 2016, I went to school intending to work in social welfare and eventually clinical therapy practice.

In 2019, I completed a year-long internship with King County Juvenile Court as a probation counselor. Since then, I have worked professionally with youth involved in our criminal justice and child welfare systems as an employee at Echo Glen Children’s Center and the Department of Child Welfare. Since beginning in therapy, I have worked with clients in offices and provided in-school services to children, youth, and adults experiencing anxiety and depression, family conflict, as well as trauma and loss. I have a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Washington Tacoma.

About my approach: My therapeutic approach is collaborative, client-centered, and strength-based. I believe in empowering my clients to actively participate in their healing

journey. Together, we set achievable goals and work towards them using evidence-based techniques. My empathetic and non-judgmental demeanor allows clients to explore their thoughts and feelings openly, leading to deeper insights and lasting positive changes.

Specializations:

Anxiety and Depression
Emotional Regulation
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Stress Management
Teens

Seanna Hollinger, MSW

Master of Social Work

University of Washington – 2023

Bachelor of Social Welfare

University of Washington – 2021

Professional Licensure Washington State DOH

LISCW-A: SC. 61468677

Claudia Lockwood

MA, LMHC

Children & teensFamily systemsAnxietySelf-esteem

Read bio Book with Claudia

Locations: Burien

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Systems Counseling from the Leadership Institute of Seattle/Bastyr University. I have been providing counseling services in the Puget Sound Basin for over 25 years with a wide spectrum of culturally diverse populations. I work with adults, teens and children.

My Background

I am a second generation Seattleite, and for me, that means that I love the rain, the beautiful Seattle summers, Mt Rainier, all of the lakes, trees and greenery. I was raised in a large dysfunctional family with a dad who was a Boeing engineer and a mom who embodied the typical housewife of that generation, the quintessential 1950’s Seattle family. During my growing up years, my parents fought like crazy and I was often privy to their fights. The issue was not always the fighting, it was that there was never an apparent resolution, just a lot of residual anger. My growing up years had significant impact on my journey, because I sought to understand healthier communication skills within partnerships and families and also to learn what it means to manage hurt and anger.

Upon my graduation from the University of Washington, I became a reporter at the Herald of Everett. The job involved long hours, but what great perks! I met dignitaries and celebrities, yes, they did come to Everett, and I even got to fly with the Blue Angels. Despite the ongoing adventure that this profession offered, I left it all to live in India and study multicultural lifestyles and religions. When I returned to the USA, I found employment at an employment agency that involved career counseling. Sadly, my husband died of cancer, and I made a decision to attend graduate school and obtain the Masters in counseling, my true calling. I was eager to learn how to best serve individuals on their journey to mental health and wellness.

Counseling Philosophy

So what do I bring to the table?

A broad spectrum of cultural learning.
A spiritual component based on world-wide travel and a wide study of many philosophies
A systemic view that we each have our place in the family system and shifts in that system can bring about remarkable healing.
A new “tool kit”: Many people go forth into life with a very unsuitable “tool kit” for living and often what they simply need are better life tools. Let’s get you some!
Finding your voice: Learning how to say yes and no. Particularly how to say NO and mean it. I have found that many people have the tiniest no and say yes when it isn’t true to their nature or spirit. Conversely, some are afraid and say no to everything, missing out on life’s abundant opportunities. Let’s sort this out and get to your true spirit.
Better self-esteem. This is the “gold standard” of mental health and it often comes from better structures and better boundaries (See yes and no above). Let’s learn how to put those into play in your daily life and watch your self-esteem flourish
Anxiety can simply come out of “what if…” thinking. Let’s find the “what is…” parts of your life.+ Using your tool kit to help with depression and regrets about the past.
I have had real success around fertility issues with couples.

We have lots to do. Together, we can take the big problems, break them down into smaller manageable tasks and find our way to a healthier, happier state of mind. Let’s get going, I can’t wait to meet you!

Ramla Mohamed M.S

LMHCA

Kids & familiesAnxietyBig emotionsTrauma

Read bio Book with Ramla

+ Meet the full team

Therapists and psychiatric providers across all three offices and by secure video.

Meet the team

Deeper bench than the five here. Tell us what you are seeing in your child and we will match them with the right therapist.

Where to meet

Three offices or secure video anywhere in Washington.

For families who are far from an office, who juggle work and pickup, or whose child does better from a familiar space, child therapy is also available by secure video across Washington. We see families Monday through Friday and on Saturdays, so it is easier to find a time that does not pull your child out of school.

Green Lake, Seattle

North Seattle, Wallingford, Ravenna, Roosevelt

View office →

Burien

White Center, SeaTac, Normandy Park, South King

View office →

Smokey Point, Arlington

Arlington, Marysville, north Snohomish

View office →

Secure video, statewide

Anywhere in Washington, when video is a good fit for your child.

Online therapy in WA →

Frequently asked questions

What parents ask before starting child therapy.

Do you take my insurance for child therapy?

We accept Kaiser, Premera, Regence, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna for child therapy. We will confirm your child's specific coverage before the first appointment, so you know exactly what to expect rather than guessing and there are no surprise bills after the first visit. If your plan is with one of those carriers, your child's care is likely covered.

How soon can my child be seen?

First appointments are available the same week. You do not have to sit on a weeks-long waitlist while your child struggles, the way much of the Seattle market books four to six weeks out or only takes cash. Reach out and we will find the first opening that works for your family, in person or by secure video.

What is play therapy and how does it help younger kids?

Play therapy uses play as the way a young child works through what is going on, because most young children cannot yet sit and talk through their feelings the way adults do. Through play, a child can express, practice and build skills. Several of our clinicians are trained in play therapy for the youngest kids. We describe what to expect plainly and never promise a guaranteed result.

What ages do you work with?

This page is for younger children, roughly from the early years through the pre-teen stretch, and the methods we use are matched to a child's developmental stage. If your child is an adolescent, our teen therapy in Seattle page is the better fit, and we will help you land in the right place when you reach out so you start with the right kind of care.

Can my child be seen online or only in person?

Both. Child therapy is available in person at our Green Lake, Burien and Smokey Point offices and by secure video across Washington with online therapy when video is a good fit for your child. Some kids do well from a familiar space at home. We will talk through which makes the most sense for your child at intake.

Will my child just be put on medication?

No. Therapy is the primary work, and for most children it is all that is needed. If a psychiatric evaluation or medication could help, we have child psychiatry providers in the same practice, and any step like that is a decision you make together with the team, never something pushed on you or rushed.

How do you match my child with a therapist?

At intake we learn how your child shows up and what you are worried about, then we pair your child with the therapist most likely to connect with them rather than whoever happens to be open. Fit is the single biggest factor in therapy working, even more so with kids, and your child sees the same therapist each session.

Also see

Real therapy for what your child is actually facing, matched to how they show up.

You can tell something is off, even if your child cannot put it into words yet.

Child therapy for younger kids whose worry or behavior is getting in the way.