Child and teen counseling · Louisville, KY and online
A child and teen therapist in Louisville your kid might actually talk to
Kids and teens don't always have the words for what's going on inside them, and even when they do, they don't always want to say it to a parent. A counselor who knows how to reach them can help them find their way, and help you understand what's happening.
- For kids 8 and up and teens
- Usually seen the same week
You might be here because
- Your child seems anxious, worried, or easily overwhelmed.
- Your teen has gone quiet and won't let you in.
- Big feelings turn into meltdowns, anger, or shutting down.
- Grades, friendships, or sleep have changed, and you don't know why.
- There's been a divorce, a loss, or a move.
- You're not sure if it's a phase, and you'd rather not wait to find out.
- Your child is hurting themselves, or you're worried about how they eat.
- Your child can't focus, can't sit still, or is falling behind, and it's affecting how they feel about themselves.
- Your child joined your family through adoption or foster care, and you want help understanding what they carry.
Is it a phase, or something more?
It isn't always obvious, and it's fair to be unsure. A few sessions with a counselor trained to work with kids is a low-pressure way to find out, and it's easier to help early, before patterns settle in.
What we help kids and teens with
- Anxiety and worry, including school refusal and panic (anxiety)
- Low mood and depression, when a child seems flat, tired, or hopeless (depression)
- Big emotions and anger: meltdowns, outbursts, or shutting down
- ADHD: focus, impulsivity, and the frustration and self-doubt that often come with it, using IFS, ACT, and CBT
- Self-esteem, including the pressure of social media and comparison
- Social anxiety and friendships
- School stress and perfectionism
- Self-harm, with safety first and a plan you're part of, using IFS, ACT, and CBT
- Eating disorders, alongside your child's doctor, using IFS, ACT, and CBT
- OCD, including somatic obsessions (with Luke): getting stuck on body sensations like breathing, swallowing, or blinking, and not being able to stop noticing them (OCD)
- Grief and loss (with Sophie and Luke) (grief)
- Trauma, and big changes like divorce or a move (trauma)
- Adoption and foster care
Faith at the center, never forced
Kids and teens have real questions about God, especially after a hard season. If your family wants faith in your child's counseling, it comes in at a level that fits their age, through prayer, a Bible story, or simply honest questions.
If your family would rather leave faith out, your child's counselor gives the same thorough care and follows your lead. How faith works at Freedom
What counseling for kids and teens looks like
Counselors meet kids where they are. With younger children, that often means art and creative activities: drawing, games, and hands-on activities that let a child show what they can't yet say. With teens, it means building enough trust that therapy feels like their space, not a punishment.
Our counselors use art interventions and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills for managing big emotions. For ADHD, self-harm, and eating disorders, they draw on internal family systems (IFS), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The approach always fits what your child is working through.
Why art helps
Younger children often can't explain what they feel, but they can show it. Drawing and other art activities give them a way to say what they don't have words for yet. A counselor helps them make sense of what comes up and practice new ways to cope. For your child, it can feel more like making something than like talking about problems.
Boys and teen boys
Boys often don't say "I'm anxious" or "I'm sad." It comes out as anger, silence, video games for hours, or "I'm fine." Luke Burgett works with boys and young men, 8 and up, through anxiety, depression, OCD (including somatic obsessions), and grief, and he almost always invites parents in for sessions of their own.
Grieving children and teens
Kids grieve differently from adults. It can come and go, show up as behavior instead of tears, or surface months later. Sophie and Luke both work with grieving children and teens, at a pace that fits their age.
Faith questions at their age
Kids and teens have real questions about God, especially after a loss or a hard season. Some teens start questioning the faith they grew up with. If your family wants faith in your child's counseling, those questions are welcome, and nobody is pushed toward or away from belief.
How we keep you involved
Kids do best when the adults around them are supported too. Depending on what's going on, a parent may join every session, or your child may meet one on one with their counselor. We often also recommend sessions with just the parents: most of what a child faces has roots in the family, and counseling works best when you have tools to help your child at home between sessions.
With teens, counselors balance confidentiality, so your teen has room to be honest, with keeping you informed about safety and general progress. Your counselor will explain exactly how this works for your child.
You can also come in for parent coaching on your own, even if your child isn't in counseling. And with your written consent, your child's counselor can talk with their school or pediatrician, so everyone is working from the same plan.
What to tell your child about counseling
- Younger kids: "You're going to meet someone whose job is to help kids with big feelings. You'll draw and talk, and you're not in trouble."
- Older kids and teens: "Things have felt hard lately. I found someone you can talk to who isn't me. What you say stays mostly between you two, and if you don't click, we'll find someone else."
- Avoid: presenting it as a punishment, or promising it will fix everything quickly.
Counselors who work with kids and teens
- Sophie Bowman Student Counselor, supervised by Tony Gore, LCSW Children, teens, and young adults, especially adolescent girls, using art interventions, including grief. $50 per session
- Luke Burgett LPCA, ACT-trained Boys and young men, age 8 and up, working through anxiety, depression, OCD (including somatic obsessions), and grief. $115 per session
- Rhonda Gore Marriage and Family Therapy Life Coach Older teen girls and young women working through anxiety, shame, and identity. $110 per session
- Kasie Secrest LPCA, EMDR-trained Older teen girls and young women working through anxiety, depression, grief, and relationships. $100 per session
- Tony Gore LCSW, Owner and Director Teens, young adults, and families. $165 per session
The first session
The first session usually includes a parent, so the counselor can hear what's been happening and what you're hoping for. From there, your counselor will recommend what fits: sessions together, one on one with your child, sessions with just the parents, or a mix. Sessions are in our Middletown office or online.
What it costs
$50 to $165
per 50-minute session
Student sessions with Sophie are $50. We don't bill insurance, but you can pay with an HSA or FSA card, and we'll give you a superbill to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Who we see
Freedom works with children 8 and older. For younger children, we'll gladly help you find the right next step.
Common questions
Will you tell me everything my child says?
With teens, counselors protect enough privacy for your teen to be honest, while keeping you informed about safety and general progress. Your counselor will explain how this works for your child's age.
What if my teen doesn't want to go?
That's common. A counselor experienced with teens knows how to work with that, starting with trust rather than pushing into hard topics.
What ages do you see?
Children 8 and up, teens, and young adults.
How do I know if my child needs counseling, or if it's a phase?
A few sessions are a low-pressure way to find out. Waiting months to see if it passes can let patterns settle in.
Can siblings see the same counselor?
Sometimes. Other times, separate counselors give each child a space that's fully theirs. We'll talk through what fits your family.
Will faith be part of my child's counseling?
Only if your family wants it.
Do you work with ADHD?
Yes, with the focus, frustration, and self-esteem pieces of it. If your child needs testing or medication, we'll coordinate with your pediatrician (with your written consent).
My child is hurting themselves. Can you help?
Yes. Your counselor starts with safety and builds a plan with you. If your child is in danger right now, call or text 988, or call 911.
Do you treat eating disorders?
Yes, in coordination with your child's doctor, who monitors the medical side.
Will you talk with my child's school?
With your written consent, yes. It helps when school and home are working from the same plan.
Help for your child, and for you
Request an appointment in about a minute, or call (502) 523-2970. Most families are seen the same week.
Prefer to talk? (502) 523-2970
If your child or teen is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call 911. This form isn't monitored around the clock.