Play therapy and parent coaching for sensitive children, teens, and adults in Montclair, New Jersey
Rooted Rhythm Therapy serves children, teens, and families in Montclair and across Northern New Jersey — specializing in sensitive, anxious, gifted, and neurodivergent kids who feel everything deeply.
Office Location: 28 Valley Rd, Montclair, NJ 07042
⭐ 4.9-star rating · 55+ family reviews
✅ Licensed in CO, TX, GA & NJ
❤️️ 2000+ families supported
Why Rooted Rhythm in Montclair
Your child isn't broken. They feel the world more deeply than most.
If your child has meltdowns that seem out of proportion, shuts down under pressure, struggles to make or keep friends, or carries anxiety that you can see but can't reach — you're not imagining it. And you're not alone.
Many of the kids we work with are incredibly perceptive, empathetic, and bright — and precisely because of that, they get overwhelmed by a world that doesn't always understand them. Our therapists in Montclair specialize in exactly these kids: the ones who feel everything deeply and need a therapist who genuinely gets that.
We serve children ages 0–12, teens ages 13–18, and the parents who love them — offering evidence-based play therapy, teen counseling, and parent coaching rooted in the science of high sensitivity and emotional development.
"We honestly noticed such a positive difference after working with the Rooted Rhythm team to think about our son's behaviors differently and learn how to support him as a highly sensitive child."
-Parents of a 5-year-old, Rooted Rhythm client
Our Montclair, NJ Location
Serving Montclair and surrounding Northern New Jersey communities including Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Verona, West Orange, and Essex County.
Telehealth sessions available throughout New Jersey for families who prefer virtual care.
Free 15-minute phone consultation to find the right fit for your family.
If any of this sounds like your child or teen, we can help.
Our Montclair therapists are trained to support a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns — always with a whole-child, whole-family lens.
Anxiety • Emotional Outbursts • High Sensitivity • Giftedness (including 2E - twice exceptional) • Adoption • Trauma • Sensory Sensitivities • Grief • Divorce • Behavioral Issues • Attention Difficulties • Depression • Oppositional Defiance • Self-Esteem • Parent-Child Conflict • Social Struggles • School Issues • Neurodivergence • Emotional Dysregulation • Technology Overuse • Bullying • And More
Our services in Montclair
Specialized care for children, teens, and the parents who raise them.
We offer both in-person therapy at our Montclair location and telehealth sessions across New Jersey. Every service is integrated with parent support — because your child's healing doesn't happen in isolation.
Child Play Therapy
Ages 2–12 · In-Person Montclair
Children don't have the language to explain what's happening inside — but they show us through play. Our licensed therapists in Montclair use evidence-based play therapy techniques to help children process big emotions, build coping skills, and develop the resilience to navigate a sometimes overwhelming world.
Our signature 12-Week Child Therapy & Parent Coaching Program offers a structured, goal-oriented path to real change — not indefinite open-ended therapy.
Trauma-informed, child-led play therapy
CBT techniques integrated for kids ages 8+
Parent coaching woven into every session
Specialized in highly sensitive & gifted children
Emotional & behavioral assessments included
School collaboration when needed for treatment
Parent Coaching
For caregivers of children & teens of all ages
The most powerful therapeutic tool your child has is you. Our parent coaching helps you understand what's actually happening underneath your child's behavior — and gives you practical, compassionate tools to use at home.
Built into every child therapy engagement
Individual parent sessions available
Includes Tuned In Institute® portal access
Courses for parents of sensitive children & teens
Teen Therapy & Counseling
Ages 13–18 · In-Person Montclair & Telehealth NJ
Adolescence is one of the most emotionally intense seasons of life — and for highly sensitive or neurodivergent teens, it can feel relentless. Our therapists specialize in supporting teens as they navigate identity, relationships, academic pressure, anxiety, depression, and so much more.
We work with teens — not just on them. We build trust first, and we honor their need for autonomy and privacy as developmentally essential.
LGBTQ+ affirming & gender-inclusive care
Identity development & self-esteem
Anxiety, depression & emotional regulation
Peer relationships, bullying & social struggles
Trauma-informed therapy for teens
Parent support integrated at the teen's pace
Telehealth Therapy in New Jersey
Available statewide in NJ for teens & parents
Not able to come in person, or prefer the comfort and convenience of home? We offer secure, private telehealth therapy for teens, and parents throughout New Jersey. The same quality of care, wherever you are.
Available statewide across New Jersey
Teen counseling & parent coaching
Secure, HIPAA-compliant video sessions
Flexible scheduling for busy families
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. Families who work with us also get lifetime access to the Tuned In Institute education portal, which includes access to our personal AI concierge, Remi.
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 Montclair, New Jersey
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.
Families who work with us also get lifetime access to the Tuned In Institute education portal, which includes access to to our personal AI concierge, Remi. The portal contains a 10 module course specifically designed for parents of teenagers.
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. Families who work with us also get lifetime access to the Tuned In Institute education portal, which includes access to our personal AI concierge, Remi.
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.
Meet Our Montclair, New Jersey Child Play Therapists
Erin Wheatley, MSW, LCSW | Clinical Supervisor & New Jersey Lead Therapist (Montclair, NJ)
Erin’s individualized therapeutic approach focuses on promoting a safe and welcoming space where clients can show up as the truest versions of themselves. With over a decade of experience in the social work field, empowering individuals and families has always been Erin’s goal. She completed her undergraduate degree in social work at the University of Pittsburgh and went on to receive her MSW at New York University. She has experience in a wide range of settings, including schools, inpatient hospitals, residential treatment facilities, and community-based programs. Most recently, Erin has experience as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, where she collaborates with teachers & parents to develop social-emotional skills that will aid in your child’s ability to feel supported and safe while they experience big emotions.
In addition to being a fully Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Erin is an Endorsed Early Childhood Family Specialist through the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health, a Registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator, and has completed various other trainings related to childhood mental health, parenting, and diagnosis. Furthering her belief in the significance of the mind-body connection, Erin completed her 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training and regularly practices yoga, breath work, & meditation.
Erin utilizes a trauma-informed lens while focusing on play, movement, mindfulness, and reflection in her therapeutic practice. She also integrates themes from attachment theory, systems theory, and CBT to ensure a holistic approach is being honored. It is her hope that through the therapeutic relationship, clients will feel connected, grounded, and at peace. Erin feels immense gratitude for the opportunity to walk alongside her clients as they explore personal transformation.
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!