Child and Adolescent Therapy
Therapy that meets young people where they are
At Bluebird Counseling Center in Lititz, PA, we offer warm, developmentally informed therapy for children and teens aged 6-21, helping them build emotional tools they'll carry for life.
Every child desreve a space to feel heard, understood, and capable of growth.
Support for chidlren, tweens, and teens in Lancaster County
Young people face a landscape of pressures - academic demands, social complexity, family changes, and a world that moves quickly. When a child is struggling, early support can make a meaningful and lasting difference. Our clinicians work with children and adolescents across a range of developmental stages, meeting each young person with warmth, patience, and an approach tailored to their age and needs.
Anxiety and Worry
Depression and Low Mood
Behavioral Challenges
Social Difficulties
ADHD and Attention Concerns
Trauma
Grief and Loss
Family Transitions
Emotional Dysregulation
Identity and Self-Esteem
Academic Distress
Anger and Frustration
Impulse Control
Life Transitions
Common concerns we address
Our Methods...
Evidence-based, developementally informed care
We draw on approaches that are proven effective for young people and adapted to their developmental stage - therapy is never a one size fits all model.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps children and teens recognize how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect, and gives them practical tools to challenge unhelpful patterns and build resilience.
Directed Play Therapy
Unlike traditional play therapy, directed play therapy utilizes games, activities, and coloring to help support the therapeutic process at a developmentally appropriate level. Please understand, we do not currently offer traditional play therapy.
Trauma-Informed Care
We prioritize safety, trust, and choice in every session. For children who have experienced adverse events or stress, our approach is paced, compassionate, and grounded in understanding the nervous system and providing comfort and holding space.
Family Involvement
Change doesn't happen in isolation. We offer parent consultation and family check-ins to help caregivers understand what their child is working on and how to support growth at home. We encourage caregivers to reach out if they have any questions or concerns.
Mindfulness
Teens and older children benefit from learning emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills that assist them in grounding in the present moment and calming their mind and body.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Brittany works alongside Sadie, a animal assisted therapy dog, to create warmth and reduce anxiety in session. This can be powerful for teens that are guarded in traditional therapy settings. Brittany works with clients over the age of 14.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
If you've noticed significant changes in mood, behavior, school performance, sleep, or social relationships - or if your child has expressed distress - reaching out is a great first step. You don't have to be certain that something is "wrong" to reach out.
Will you share what my child says in sessions?
Confidentiality is important, especially for teens. We discuss with families upfront what will be shared and what will stay private, so your child feels safe being open. We ask that your child's privacy be respected, safety concerns are always an exception for confidentiality.
How involved will I be as a parent?
Very involved, especially at the start, especially if your child is younger. We see parents as partners - you are always welcome to provide information, and ask questions. We will work to give guidance of how you can best support your child between sessions. As your child is a little older, in order to respect their autonomy in services, how involved a parent is ongoing may depend on the teen's wishes - though we always encourage a team approach.
Do you accept insurance?
We accept most major insurance plans, though which plans are accepted may depend on the specific provider. We encourage you to contact us to verify if your specific insurance is in-network for a provider that would be a good match for your child's needs.
How long does therapy typically last? Therapy with children and adolescents is rarely a straight line. Building trust and rapport takes time — especially with younger children or those who are guarded — and that foundation is what makes everything else possible. Progress can be slow in the early stages as your child's therapist finds the right approach, whether that means adjusting techniques, trying different modalities, or simply waiting for your child to feel safe enough to open up. Children often don't yet have the words or self-awareness to express what they're experiencing, so part of the work is helping them develop that capacity first. Duration varies widely depending on the child, their age, and the nature of their concerns, but many families find that meaningful progress unfolds over 6–12 months or more. We revisit goals regularly and you'll always be kept in the loop.
How often will my child need to attend counseling? For most children and adolescents, we recommend starting with weekly sessions — and for younger children especially, this consistency is often essential. Frequent, regular contact is what allows trust and rapport to develop, and without that foundation, the deeper work of therapy is hard to access. For younger children in particular, weekly sessions tend to produce the best results over time; too much space between appointments can slow momentum and make it harder to maintain the sense of safety and continuity that therapy depends on. As older children and teens build that foundation, many are able to transition to every other week — and that rhythm works well when things are going steadily. That said, if a teen is going through a particularly difficult period, returning to weekly sessions may make the most sense. Weekly sessions tend to produce progress more quickly, and we always encourage families to start there if they're able. We also understand that financial pressures and busy schedules are real, and biweekly sessions can absolutely still be meaningful and effective when weekly isn't practical. We'll work with you to find a cadence that supports your child's growth while being realistic for your family.