It helps to look at the whole picture.
Outpatient therapy for children and adolescents ages 5–17, with care that looks at your child holistically and considers their home, school, relationships, community, and major life changes.
What are you noticing?
Sometimes the first sign that a young person may need support is simply that something has changed.
-
Worry seems to be taking up more space.
Sometimes worry, stress, or uncertainty begins affecting more parts of everyday life.
-
School has become harder to navigate.
Stress, routines, peer experiences, or changes in engagement can become part of the concern.
-
Big emotions feel harder to manage.
A young person may be having more difficulty managing emotions, frustration, or changes around them.
-
Friendships or confidence feel different.
Peer relationships, belonging, self-esteem, and social experiences may be part of what a family is noticing.
-
A major change is affecting everyday life.
Grief, divorce, separation, family conflict, or another major transition can affect a young person in different ways.
What therapy at TPI may look like
Every young person brings a different story. The clinician considers their needs and the family's concerns before determining an appropriate direction for care.
-
Understand
Begin with the whole picture.
The clinician explores what brought your family in and what may be happening across home, school, relationships, and current life changes.
-
Listen
Make room for both perspectives.
Caregiver input and the young person's own experience help inform the assessment. The clinician meets with the young person in a developmentally appropriate way.
-
Determine direction
Choose an appropriate next step.
The clinician considers the young person's needs and whether therapy at TPI is a good fit. Another assessment, consultation, or referral may be recommended.
-
Build from there
Shape care around the individual.
When treatment at TPI is appropriate, the clinician plans therapy, caregiver involvement, and any family participation around the young person's needs.
Meet our team
Child and adolescent therapy is part of The Parenting Institute's broader practice. Violeta is the main therapist for this program.
Practice team
David Finn, Psy.D.
Clinical and forensic psychology
Experience with complex families.
Dr. Finn founded Associates in Human Development Counseling in 2000. His background spans clinical and forensic psychology, including extensive work with complex family and court-involved matters.
Main program therapist
Violeta Suarez Hidalgo, M.A.
Counseling under supervision
Understanding starts with listening.
Violeta holds a master's degree in forensic psychology and provides counseling in English and Spanish. Her work with individuals and families includes complex relationships and significant life transitions.
Her approach begins with the caregiver's perspective and a developmentally appropriate assessment of the young person.
Practice team
Mark Hagler, LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
A warm, direct approach.
Mark has been a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor since 2001. His experience spans therapeutic schools, hospital care, and community mental health settings.
His work combines clear communication with attention to each person's needs and therapeutic goals.
Getting started
Starting the conversation
You do not need to know exactly what kind of help your child needs before reaching out. The first step is to start the conversation.
Call (847) 483-0800Ask about child or adolescent therapy.
-
Reach out
Call TPI and let us know you are asking about child or adolescent therapy.
-
Learn what comes next
A team member explains how to begin intake, including the information and forms needed for the next step.
-
Understand the young person
The assessment includes the caregiver's perspective and a developmentally appropriate meeting with the young person.
-
Determine the right next step
The clinician considers whether outpatient care at TPI is appropriate and recommends treatment, further assessment, or another next step.
Understanding the Whole Picture
A child or adolescent may be struggling in one area, but other experiences can influence what is happening. Therapy can consider home, school, relationships, community, and current life changes to help the clinician understand the young person more fully.
Home
Family relationships, changes at home, routines, and major life transitions can all be part of what a young person is experiencing.
School
School stress, routines, peer experiences, and changes in day-to-day functioning may be important parts of the larger picture.
Relationships
Friendships, belonging, conflict, and connection with others can shape how a young person experiences everyday life.
Caregiver involvement
You are part of the picture, too.
Parents and caregivers bring an important perspective to understanding what a young person is experiencing. Involvement is planned with the treating clinician around the young person's age, needs, circumstances, and treatment goals.
Your perspective matters
You can share what you are noticing at home, at school, and in relationships, along with the concerns that brought you in.
The young person has a voice
The clinician meets with children and adolescents in a developmentally appropriate way, giving their experiences and perspectives a place in the assessment.
The clinician helps define the balance
The clinician discusses caregiver participation, communication, and privacy expectations with the family based on the individual case.
A few things to know
- Ages
- Children and adolescents ages 5–17.
- Where
- In-person care in Barrington.
- Telehealth
- May be considered when clinically appropriate and available for the individual young person.
- Getting started
- Call (847) 483-0800 and ask about child or adolescent therapy.
Parent questions
Questions you may be asking
How do I know whether therapy might be appropriate?
You can start by sharing what you are noticing. A clinician considers the concerns, the young person's needs, and whether outpatient therapy at TPI may be an appropriate fit.
How are parents or caregivers involved?
Caregiver involvement is planned with the treating clinician based on the young person's age, needs, circumstances, and treatment goals. Family sessions may be included when clinically appropriate.
Will I know what my child talks about in therapy?
At the beginning of care, the clinician discusses caregiver communication, participation, and the young person's privacy based on the individual case. You can ask how information will be shared as part of that conversation.
Is telehealth available?
Telehealth may be considered when it is clinically appropriate, permitted, and available for the individual young person. The treating clinician determines whether it is an appropriate option.
What if TPI is not the right fit?
If the clinician determines that another service, specialist, or level of care would be more appropriate, they may recommend another next step.
You don't have to have the whole picture figured out before you call.
If something feels different and you are wondering whether therapy may help, start with a conversation.
Call (847) 483-0800Ask about child or adolescent therapy.
