Child & Adolescent Clinic
Supporting Growth, Healing, and Connection for Children, Teens and their Families
Childhood is a critical period of growth, change, and exploration, and navigating it can be challenging for both kids and their families. At The Current, we understand the complexities of this transitional stage and offer compassionate, evidence-based therapy designed to support children and adolescents in their personal development while fostering healthier family dynamics. We believe that effective family involvement and collaboration is essential to the child’s success.
Child & Adolescent Therapy: Empowering Kids To Ride the Waves of Life
The child & adolescent years are often marked by a mix of excitement, confusion, and emotional turbulence. Our therapy services are tailored to meet the unique needs of children and teenagers, helping them build effective coping strategies to navigate the challenges they face.
Issues We Addressed in Child & Adolescent Therapy:
Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating and Body Image
Emotional Regulation: Managing intense feelings like anxiety, anger, sadness, and frustration.
Anxiety & Depression: Addressing issues related to stress, worry, low mood, and isolation.
Trauma: Supporting teens in processing and coping with traumatic events
Suicidal or Injurious Behaviors: Helping teens build effective coping strategies
Self-Esteem & Identity: Supporting teens in exploring and developing a healthy sense of self.
Peer Relationships: Helping teens build positive social connections and navigate peer pressure, especially helping them navigate a world with social media that increases comparisons and risk for negative peer interactions.
Perfectionism or Academic Stress: Providing tools for managing school-related stress and balancing responsibilities.
Family Communication Dynamics
Through a combination of individual therapy and parent consultations and creative approaches like Internal Family Systems or Play Therapy, we help children and teens explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe, nonjudgmental space. We work collaboratively to set goals and create a plan for positive change, building trust and rapport every step of the way. Our therapists that specialize in working with children & adolescents are Elise Smith, Stephanie Meals, Tyler Davis, and Jackie Esser.. The Current does not provide reunification support services, supervised visits, or support during legal custody issues.
Cost & Insurance
Child & Adolescent Individual Therapy
$110-125 per therapy hour, depending on clinician
Parent Consultations
$110-125 per therapy hour
Child & Adolescent therapists are in-network with United Healthcare (excluding the Medicaid Plans) and considered out of network for all other insurances
Eating Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence
Our therapy playroomWhen we think of eating disorders, we often picture teenagers or young adults who are restricting or underweight. But the truth is, eating disorders can and do affect children—even at surprisingly young ages. Early signs are often overlooked or mistaken for “picky eating” or “phase-related behavior,” but catching these concerns early can make a world of difference in a child’s long-term health and well-being. Early intervention matters! Children’s bodies and brains are still developing, which means untreated eating disorders can have lasting effects on growth, development, and overall health. The earlier a child receives support, the better their chances for a full recovery. Early intervention not only restores physical health but also helps children build healthier relationships with food, their bodies, and themselves.
Warning Signs Your Child May be Experiencing Eating Disorder Symptoms
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming “fat,” even in very young children.
Extreme pickiness or rigid eating habits that go beyond typical childhood food preferences.
Skipping meals, desiring to eat alone, hiding food, or expressing guilt after eating.
Excessive focus on body size, weight, or appearance.
Unexplained weight changes or stunted growth.
Emotional changes, such as withdrawal, irritability, or increased anxiety around mealtimes.
At The Current, our specialized child and adolescent therapists use evidence based treatments for eating disorders in childhood. Treatment requires both specialized expertise and developmentally sensitive care. We offer Play Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders for children and adolescents. These therapeutic approaches, combined with family involvement and collaboration with medical providers, provide a strong foundation for recovery. To learn more, check out our blog: Eating Disorders in Childhood: What Parents Need to Know
Meet the Child & Adolescent Clinic Team
Our team of specialized and highly trained child & adolescent therapist are dedicated to helping children and their families navigate challenges. Our approach is developmentally attuned, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based care. We work collaboratively with parents, caregivers, schools, and other providers to ensure coordinated, comprehensive support across a child’s environment. Our clinicians are also actively engaged in ongoing consultation and continued learning through our Child & Adolescent Consultation Team, strengthening the quality and depth of care we provide.
Assistant Clinic Director, Jackie Esser, LPC brings specialized expertise and ongoing advanced training in eating disorder treatment, equipping families with the guidance and support they need to navigate a diagnosis together with confidence and compassion. Jackie leads the Child & Adolescent Consultation Team where our therapists gather to seek consultation, continued learning, and enhance quality service delivery to our child & adolescent clients.
Elise Smith, MSW, LMSW has advanced training in childhood ADHD, OCD, and ARFID. She specializes in treating all eating disorders in children through young adults. Elise brings her expertise, empathy, and authenticity to every interaction with her clients and their caregivers, and her team.
Tyler Davis, MSW, LMSW works with teens and young adults navigating eating disorders, trauma, personality disorders, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, and low self-worth. His style is a balance between validation and directness, bringing lots of compassion and humor to his sessions. He strives to create a safe space for everyone.
Stephanie Meals, MSW, LMSW helps children and adolescents navigate a variety of emotional and behavioral challenges, including trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem concerns, and difficulties related to eating and body image. Stephanie brings a quiet strength, compassion to her sessions and helps clients and their caregivers feel supported and understood.