Child Play Therapy in Colorado Springs, CO
Play therapy for children with big emotions.
Office Location: 6475 Wall St, Suite 150, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
We offer child play therapy, teen therapy, adult therapy, parent coaching, and couples and family therapy in Colorado Springs, CO.
Child Therapy in Colorado Springs
We use evidence based play therapy methods that allow for an effective healing process to unfold, so that your child can communicate big feelings and challenges that are difficult to explain with words.
We specialize in working with emotional, sensitive, and gifted children who are experiencing big feelings of anger, sadness, or anxiety. (Curious to learn more about the sensitive child: take the highly sensitive child quiz here).
We also offer specific expertise in supporting children process traumatic events.
We work very closely with parents to help translate what we are learning from your child into supportive insight that will help you increase your understanding of your child’s emotional needs.
“I believe that therapy allows a child’s inner light to shine so that they can dismantle walls of shame and fear in order to continue to connect more deeply with themselves and with the loving people around them.”
- Sophie Schauermann, LCSW | Founder Rooted Rhythm Therapy
What’s unique about our approach for supporting children:
We work closely with parents, as a child’s relationship with their parents is the most important thing.
We aim to illuminate the root of what is leading to behaviors. Although our therapists are trained in assessing for and supporting all major mental health disorders, our goal is to treat your child holistically.
We see children for 12-week series of sessions (vs. ongoing treatment with an indefinite end). We can always extend the process if needed but we like to set goals over 3 months, initially.
THE ROOTED RHYTHM®CHILD THERAPY AND PARENT COACHING PROGRAM:
Parent orientation:
After establishing connection through a phone consultation with us, we will work together to schedule a 50 minute intake session. This is an opportunity for you (parents) to connect with your therapist, to share background on your child, and to get to know our therapy process. Some parents prefer to meet for their first sessions separately and in the case of divorce or separation, we do recommend each scheduling a 50 minute intake session. Your therapist will help with next steps for setting this up following your free consultation.
Child therapy sessions:
Over 3 months, your child will meet with their Rooted Rhythm® therapist weekly for twelve 50 minute in person sessions. The last 10 minutes of these sessions will include a parent update and support for you.
Parenting support:
Throughout your child’s therapeutic experience, you have the opportunity to engage in your own healing and growing as caregivers, if you choose to take the TUNED IN parenting course , you will have the opportunity to attend optional 20min parent connection calls with our lead parent coach, Sophie Schauermann LCSW. These calls give you an opportunity to ask questions and get support through your process in the program. If you need extra support, you can also set up parent coaching sessions as needed.
Parent closing session:
Your family’s process will close with a final 50 minute session with your therapist in which we will review your child’s process, come up with a sustainable plan for your family’s future and celebrate the growth that has occurred on both an individual level and for the entire family system.
Ongoing support:
Once you have joined the Rooted Rhythm family, we don’t forget your story. Although most families feel so very much at ease after the process and thus no longer in need of support, we often welcome kiddos and parents back for “tune up” therapy or parent coaching sessions…and you are welcome to continue to attend our weekly group parent coaching calls if that support feels good for you!
Teen Therapy in Colorado Springs
We also support sensitive teenagers struggling with issues of self esteem, identity development, and relationship to Self & Other.
We meet briefly with parents at the beginning of treatment, but prioritize trusting our teens to primarily guide their therapeutic process. We specialize in supporting emotional teens who often need support with self esteem, identity development, peer relationships, and connection to their family. We do require the teens who work with us are choosing to engage in therapy themselves.
For Parents of Teenagers
Our process for working with teens is different due to the very different developmental stage they are experiencing. Some key differences include:
Less parent involvement in therapy process
When working with teens, we meet for a single session with parents at the beginning of treatment, then prioritize trusting our teens to primarily guide their therapeutic process. It is both therapeutic and beneficial to communicate to teens that we trust them, by giving them space to be in their process with their therapist.
With that said, we often encourage teens to communicate their emotional needs more clearly to their parents and even invite parents into therapy when the time is right…but we give space for our teens to initiate parent involvement when they are ready. Our goal is to connect with parents for a 10 min check in at least every other week, with the permission of their teen.
Although it can be scary to unhook from our young teens, it is developmentally appropriate for teens to be creating some boundaries with their parents in this way, so they can form their unique sense of identity and belonging. A strong bond with a therapist during this time can insure that a safe adult is available to support this process.
A consensual agreement
We specialize in supporting highly sensitive teens who often need support with self esteem, identity development, sexuality, peer relationships, and healthy connection to their family. We do require the teens who work with us are choosing to engage in therapy themselves
Parenting support
Parents of teens also benefit greatly from diving into the TUNED IN course to support their own therapeutic work while their pre-teen or teen is working with our therapists. Additionally we are happy to offer 1 on 1 parent coaching or individual adult therapy to support parents as they navigate the challenging yet rewarding tasks of raising a teenager.
Varying lengths of time in therapy
Length of treatment also varies for our teenage clients. We recommend starting with weekly therapy for at least 8 weeks for your teen to build a connection with their therapist. Many teens benefit from longer term care following this initial connection period which would could look like weekly, biweekly, or eventually monthly therapy.
Adult Therapy in Colorado Springs
We often blend traditional talk psychotherapy, meditative practices, and experiential somatic techniques. We also offer cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) to target and clear specific traumas that may be contributing to current anxieties.
Meet our Therapist
Nicole Butler | Therapist (Colorado Springs, CO)
Nicole Butler specializes in supporting highly sensitive and gifted children, providing compassionate guidance to families navigating behavioral challenges at school, home, or in relationships. She understands that the frustration and exhaustion parents feel are often mirrored by their children, who may struggle with emotional regulation.
Currently pursuing her Master of Social Work online at the University of Oklahoma, Nicole’s approach is grounded in a deep understanding of the unique needs of sensitive children. She uses play therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to help children process their emotions, creating a safe and nurturing environment. Nicole also works closely with parents, offering coaching to foster a more harmonious family dynamic.
Nicole’s holistic approach draws on her extensive experience in NGO program design, conflict resolution, and peer counseling. With a postgraduate certificate in world religion and diplomacy from George Mason University, she brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her practice. She considers both her clients' internal experiences and the external systems that shape their lives.
As president of the Online Social Work Student Association and an interdisciplinary social justice fellow, Nicole empowers families with the tools they need to navigate their mental health journey with confidence.
Want to know more and see if our programs are a fit for your family?
Contact us for a free 15min phone consult to ask questions and get started!