Discover how starting child therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
5 therapists available in Gainesville
As a married mother of 3, I understand the challenges of life and family, as well as the anxiety and depression that can be caused...
About
As a married mother of 3, I understand the challenges of life and family, as well as the anxiety and depression that can be caused by the transitional stages of life.
I am a Registered Mental Health Intern with 1 year of experience supporting clients managing a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality, and psychosis. My work focuses on helping clients find their voice and feel heard by their family and friends. I aim to guide clients in learning how to communicate their emotions and needs effectively while recognizing that their diagnosis does not define who they are.
I earned a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. My therapeutic approach is holistic, empathetic, and client-centered. I help clients develop coping strategies, build emotional awareness, and strengthen communication skills to support lasting personal growth and resilience.
Taking the first step toward therapy can feel overwhelming, but it’s a powerful act of self-care. I encourage you to keep moving forward, reach out, schedule an appointment, and begin the process of finding clarity, healing, and connection. Together, we can help you discover the tools and confidence to reach your goals.
Education and training
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My role is to provide a safe, non-judgmental, supportive environment that will allow you to grow in awareness of yourself and modi...
My role is to provide a safe, non-judgmental, supportive environment that will allow you to grow in awareness of yourself and modify the things that create chaos and rigidity in your life, allowing you to optimize your health.
I am a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern with 24 years of experience supporting trauma survivors, including those affected by sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and homicide. I also work with clients managing anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. My approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and respect for each client’s journey. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where humor, vulnerability, and healing can coexist as clients move toward a more fulfilling life.
I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University. My integrative approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy, crisis intervention theory, and a strengths-based perspective. I am trained in eye movement desensitization reprocessing and have experience supporting individuals and caregivers in the neurodivergent community.
Life can feel overwhelming, and we all need community—especially during difficult times. Reaching out for help is a brave step. My goal is to provide a compassionate, empowering space where clients can rediscover their resilience and begin writing new chapters of healing, clarity, and growth.
I’ve learned that having a safe, judgment-free space to explore your experience can be crucial in times of stress....
I’ve learned that having a safe, judgment-free space to explore your experience can be crucial in times of stress.
I am a Registered Mental Health Counselor resident in the State of Florida. I work with clients from diverse backgrounds and age groups who may be navigating challenges such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, cultural struggles, or workplace concerns. I focus on helping clients build the tools and skills they need to cope with stress while also exploring the deeper issues impacting their emotional and mental well-being.
I hold a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University. My approach to care is holistic and integrative, blending evidence-based techniques with client-centered support. I believe every person knows themselves best, so I tailor therapy to meet individual needs and preferences in a safe, healing environment.
I am committed to walking alongside you as you work toward healing and growth. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, grief, depression, or life transitions. I will provide a supportive space where you feel heard and empowered. Together, we can create healthier patterns and meaningful change so you can move forward with confidence.
As a woman of color, I understand the unique issues of dealing with social and environmental conflicts....
As a woman of color, I understand the unique issues of dealing with social and environmental conflicts.
Kimberly Cohens is a Registered Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience. She specializes in assisting young adults in navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and self-worth. Kimberly strives to provide a safe, compassionate space for individuals to gain clarity, build coping skills, and foster resilience. She has worked with children in the foster care system and with patients of all ages in psychiatric hospital settings. Kimberly encourages clients to explore various negative thought processes and develop healthier more meaningful ways to deal with problem areas.
Kimberly received her Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She utilizes a variety of approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness-based methods.
Kimberly is passionate about helping others reach their goals and believes everyone has strengths that they can use to overcome even the most challenging circumstances. She brings a compassionate and non-judgmental approach to helping others reach their full potential and would be honored to work with you!
I believe in providing a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental, collaborative therapy space....
I believe in providing a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental, collaborative therapy space.
Vanessa Cumber is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. She is passionate about working with clients to help them face their unique challenges and barriers and achieve more quality and fulfillment in their lives. Vanessa specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, marital and relationship issues, major life transitions, life adjustment difficulties, symptom management, and addiction. She commits to being genuine and open to doing ongoing work to develop personally and professionally.
Vanessa completed her Master's in Counseling Psychology at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She utilizes an eclectic approach to treatment, incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, solution-focused therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing.
Life happens and it is normal to feel stressed or overwhelmed. Seeking help can be scary, but Vanessa's supportive, collaborative approach lets clients feel safe and capable of moving toward desired change, growth, and healing.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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My go-to approach for helping kids in child therapy was to see the world and their experiences through their eyes as much as I possibly could. From there, I used a developmentally appropriate cognitive behavior therapy approaches, helping children learn skills for appropriately expressing their needs and getting their needs met. My therapeutic approach also involved keeping parent(s) in the loop on what skills were being developed so they can coach their child between appointments.
Children learn by modeling and by doing. Skills taught in therapy include the same cognitive behavioral therapy skills taught in adult therapy - but from a developmentally appropriate perspective. Children are taught:
I know a child is making meaningful progress in child therapy based on the child's self-report of improvement, parental report of improvement at home, reports on satisfactory or better academic performance, and improved assessment scores as indicated.
Children can supplement their time in child therapy by practicing skills learned in therapy. In all likelihood, this will not occur without parental encouragement. Parents can actively practice and model skills for their child as one way to extend the therapeutic benefits of the session.
To prepare for their first child therapy session, a child can learn what to expect in therapy. Parents can check the local library for age appropriate books to help children adapt to the therapeutic experience. It is important for parents to normalize the counseling experience so their child is more likely to have a positive initial experience. Often children feel protective of their parents and are anxious talking about what is going on at home that may be causing them stress. In this case, parents can give their child permission to talk about their feelings, even their feelings about their parents, home, school, and friends. Parents also need to respect their child's confidentiality and not ask them what they talked about in therapy. Trust that the therapist will discuss with you any safety concerns. When I work with children, I support the authority of the parental role and work to improve the parent-child relationship as much as I can.
Child therapy, also known as counseling for kids, helps young individuals better understand and manage the challenges that affect their mental health. Common challenges amongst kids include behavioral issues, trauma, bullying, depression, and anxiety. All ages of children can attend and benefit from child therapy at Thriveworks Gainesville.
Child therapy works by using multiple techniques tailored to fit the child’s needs based on their age group, their challenges, and the severity of their challenges. It might involve play therapy for younger kids or cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, art therapy, and others for varying ages. In any case, Thriveworks child therapists in Gainesville, FL have the expertise and experience to help kids at their level.
Child therapy is a type of therapy meant for clients within a specific age group, while play therapy is an approach to therapy that helps children with self-expression and stress relief, among others. Play therapy is a technique that is often used in child therapy to help children express what’s running through their minds when they do not have the words to express their thoughts and emotions. It can get children to express what’s wrong, what might be causing unwanted behaviors, or what they might need in a way that is accessible to them so that therapists can then work to treat the issue.
It’s not always obvious when a child should see a therapist for their behavior, though in the midst of challenges like divorce, loss, bullying, and other mental health conditions, it’s often a good idea to seek it out. Common behaviors that can indicate a need for child therapy include separation anxiety, bedwetting (at inappropriate ages), and agitation/excessive irritability — especially if it reaches a point of physical violence.
Cognitive behavioral therapy at Thriveworks in Gainesville, FL is one of the best types of therapy for children. However, it can be administered in child therapy sessions in a variety of ways that are more accessible to young minds, such as play therapy.
Child therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
The length of child therapy depends on your child’s needs as well as the goals that you and their therapist might have for them. Generally, child therapy sessions will last for several months.
At Thriveworks, we accept most major insurance plans, allowing many clients to pay as little as $0–$50 per session with their co-pay. We also offer self-pay options for those out-of-network or without insurance. Self-pay rates for talk therapy range from $160 to $240 for intake sessions and $135 to $195 for follow-ups, depending on your state. For psychiatry services, self-pay intake sessions are $255–$375, with follow-ups ranging from $175–$300, also varying by state. More information on current self-pay costs is available on our pricing page.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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