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Discover how starting child therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
2 therapists available in Chattanooga
If one has courage, nothing can dim the light that shines from within....
About
If one has courage, nothing can dim the light that shines from within.
Caitlin Merritt is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 6 years of experience working with clients of all ages. Caitlin is also passionate about working with children and adolescents, though her scope of practice has included working with individuals across all life stages. She specializes in treating a variety of mood disorders, trauma, stress-related disorders, ADHD, behavioral concerns, and adjustment disorders as well as family conflict.
Caitlin completed her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, after obtaining her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. Thanks to her personal and professional experiences thus far, Caitlin has a knack for helping children, teens, families, and individuals work through their own life stressors while providing a supportive environment for growth. To do this, Caitlin utilizes evidence-based approaches (including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative therapy (NT), Humanistic therapy (HT), and play therapy techniques (PT) to provide integrative care for her clients.
It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps toward change. Caitlin is confident in her ability to support and empower you on this journey. If you are interested in taking that next step for yourself or your child, schedule your appointment with her today.
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Just as no two people are alike, the pathway to recovery is different for everyone. I am a big believer in meeting a patient where...
Just as no two people are alike, the pathway to recovery is different for everyone. I am a big believer in meeting a patient where they are at and helping them decide on and move towards the next steps to wellness, on their own terms.
Lance Pritchard is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 10 years of experience in the mental health field. Lance is passionate about helping people identify and conquer the obstacles that stand in the way of them achieving the wellness and stability that they are striving for. He specializes in addictions, anxiety, depression, grief, and stress. After working in substance abuse treatment facilities for most of his career, Lance has accumulated a lot of experience working with folks struggling with addictions and the associated mood, relational, and other issues that frequently go along with that.
Lance completed his Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern Adventist University in beautiful Collegedale, TN. He has a great deal of experience using behavioral interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as integrating motivational interviewing and some solution-focused ideas into his therapeutic work. Lance brings a combination of real-world experience and technical knowledge to the table in a way that helps his clients feel heard, understood, and cared for. He emphasizes creating lasting change through identifying and changing negative beliefs that a client may have about themselves, the world around them, and their own ability to interact with that environment.
Lance will work with you to amend impaired thinking, change negative behaviors, and to develop a meaningful spiritual connection with a higher power of your own understanding. Maintaining a sense of wellness or making lasting positive change in your life is difficult even when things are going well around you. When you consider the amount of turmoil and chaos present in our society today, it is causing people who would normally be very functional and stable to struggle and falter under the pressure. This environmental stress also hurts those who may already be struggling with mental health or addiction issues, causing these conditions to worsen. This is nothing to be ashamed of, but also not something to be ignored. Lance doesn't have any magical answers, and doesn't promise that things will suddenly get easier; but he has the experience, empathy, and compassion to help you on the next leg of your journey to wellness. If you are looking for someone to empathetically walk with you through your current struggles, and to help you navigate upcoming hurdles as well, you are welcome to schedule an appointment with Lance today!
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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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 Chattanooga.
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 Chattanooga, TN 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 Chattanooga, TN 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.
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