If you’ve landed here, chances are you might be feeling lost, overwhelmed, or even desperate to find the right support for your child. Whether they're struggling with anxiety, navigating a big life change, or just having a harder time than usual, getting them into the right therapeutic relationship early can make a real difference.
But finding the right therapist—not just any therapist—is crucial. Most parents would love a trusted friend to point them in the right direction, but might not have a personal connection to a counseling practice.
That’s where this page comes in. My name is Kim DeRamus Lareau, and I’m a licensed therapist and the founder of Steady Hope Counseling in Decatur, GA. I created this resource for parents who are trying to find a great child therapist in Atlanta but don't have a personal referral to lean on.
Below, you'll find a list of child therapists—some from my own team, and a few trusted colleagues outside of Steady Hope—whom I personally recommend. As both a parent and a therapist myself, I understand that finding the right counselor for your child is one of the most meaningful things you can do for them. Every therapist listed below is someone I'd feel confident sending my own kids to.
Jump to a therapist
-
Angie Hartley: Good fit for kids and teens ages 11+ navigating trauma, especially those from cross-cultural or faith backgrounds
-
Lauren Jarrell: Good fit for adolescents ages 11+ experiencing self-injurious behavior or suicidal thoughts
-
Amanda Peters: Good fit for kids ages 11+ who've moved frequently, grown up between cultures, or are struggling with identity
-
Brenley Wiley: Good fit for kids ages 8+ with ADHD or anxiety, and families navigating perinatal stress at the same time
-
Fern Lima: Good fit for kids and teens ages 8+ working through grief, loss, or big life changes & looking for virtual therapy
-
Mia Bishop: Good fit for neurodivergent children (autism, ADHD) ages 3-18
-
Elia Lintz: Good fit for play therapy for young children
-
Root & Blossom Counseling: Good fit for group therapy for children and teens
Meet the Atlanta child counselors I recommend
.png)
Angie Hartley, M.A., APC
Good fit for kids and teens ages 11+ navigating trauma, especially those from cross-cultural or faith backgrounds
Angie specializes in trauma recovery for adolescents, and what sets her apart is the rare combination of two master's degrees, one specifically in Trauma Counseling and Crisis Intervention. Most child therapists have general trauma training, but Angie has spent her career focused on it, including direct work with refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of intimate partner violence.
For a child or teen whose trauma is layered with cultural complexity, spiritual questions, or a sense of displacement, she brings both the clinical depth and the relational steadiness to actually meet them there.
-
Credentials: Associate Professional Counselor #APC010286
-
Ages: Adolescents ages 11+
-
Specialty Areas: Adolescents, families, trauma, anxiety and depression, relationship issues, couples, spiritual issues
.png)
Lauren Jarrell, M.A., LAPC
Good fit for adolescents ages 11+ experiencing self-injurious behavior or suicidal thoughts
Lauren specializes in working with teenagers, and she has a special passion for supporting adolescents in serious psychological distress—the kids who need more than general anxiety support and whose parents are genuinely scared. Before joining Steady Hope, she worked inside a psychiatric residential treatment facility treating trauma and suicidality in adolescents, which means she has clinical experience that most outpatient therapists simply don't have.
Lauren also has training in EMDR and works from an attachment lens, meaning that she has the skills and experience necessary to both help teens stabilize in crisis and get to the deeper roots of their pain.
-
Credentials: Licensed Associate Professional Counselor #APC009879
-
Ages: Adolescents ages 11+
-
Specialty Areas: Adolescents, suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behavior, anxiety and depression, trauma, family conflict, social skills development
.png)
Amanda Peters, M.A.
Good fit for kids ages 11+ who've moved frequently, grown up between cultures, or are struggling with identity
Amanda has a passion for identity-based work with adolescents. Specifically, she is one of the only therapists in the Atlanta area with focused training and passion for working with Third Culture Kids, children and teens who have grown up between countries or cultures and often carry a quiet, hard-to-name sense of not fully belonging anywhere.
Beyond her TCK work, Amanda spent years in non-profit settings supporting adolescents and families through communication breakdowns and relational struggles before bringing that experience to Steady Hope. She works from an attachment-based, trauma-informed framework, which means she's skilled at helping kids understand how their story has shaped the way they see themselves and the world.
-
Credentials: Master of Professional Counseling
-
Ages: Adolescents ages 11+
-
Specialty Areas: Adolescents, multicultural therapy, Third Culture Kids, life transitions, faith and spirituality, anxiety and depression, trauma
.png)
Brenley Wiley, M.A., LMFT, PMH-C
Good fit for kids ages 8+ with ADHD or anxiety, and families navigating perinatal stress at the same time
Brenley is an expert when it comes to supporting children and families, especially those impacted by ADHD or anxiety. She has specialized training in play therapy, an invaluable approach when working with younger children who may not have the skills or language to communicate their emotions with words.
Plus, Brenley is also a certified Perinatal Mental Health provider. That ability to support families where a child is struggling at the same time a mother is navigating postpartum depression, anxiety, or identity shifts is what truly sets her apart.
-
Credentials: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #MFT002160 in GA & #LMF8243 in SC, Licensed Telehealth Provider in Florida #TPMF1671
-
Ages: Children ages 8+
-
Specialty Areas: Children and adolescents, perinatal mental health, ADHD, anxiety and depression, spirituality, family issues, boundaries, couples
.png)
Fern Lima, M.S.W.
Good fit for kids and teens ages 8+ working through grief, loss, or big life changes & looking for virtual therapy
Fern specializes in working with grief, loss, and life transitions in children and young people—areas that might not warrant a diagnosis of anxiety or PTSD, for example, but still can profoundly impact how a child sees themselves and their world.
What sets Fern apart is her approachable, laidback style that helps kids feel comfortable enough to open up. For a child sitting with something heavy and tender, finding a therapist who makes the room feel safe from day one is often the deciding factor—and that's where Fern consistently stands out.
-
Credentials: Master of Social Work
-
Ages: Children ages 8+
-
Specialty Areas: Children and adolescents, grief and loss, life changes, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, anxiety and panic attacks, spirituality, communication
%20(1).png)
Mia Bishop, LPC
Good fit for young children with neurodivergence (autism, ADHD)
Mia is the owner of a local therapy practice, Sunny Hearts Therapy, who specializes in counseling for children and teens. While they can help kids with a wide range of issues, I believe that they truly stand out for the support their offer neurodivergent children.
Unlike many other autism therapy providers, Sunny Hearts doesn’t believe in making your child fit into a neurotypical mold. They celebrate your child’s uniqueness and give them the tools they need to thrive, which is why I highly recommend them. Plus, they work with children starting at age 3, so they may be a great fit if you need support for a younger child.
-
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor #LPC014697
-
Ages: Children ages 3-18
-
Specialty Areas: Children and teens, families, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, divorce, play therapy, parenting support
%20(1).png)
Elia Lintz, LPC
Good fit for play therapy for young children
Elia is another local therapist outside of our practice who I trust. She has nearly a decade of experience working with children and families, and she is a Registered Play Therapist—a credential that sets her apart from many other child counselors. Plus, Elisa sees children as young as toddlers, making her an important resource in the Atlana child therapy landscape.
-
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor #LPC011549, Registered Play Therapist
-
Ages: Toddlers, children, and pre-teens
-
Specialty Areas: Children and families, anxiety, behavioral issues, ADHD, body image, life transitions, parenting, school issues, self-esteem, trauma
%20(1).png)
Root & Blossom Counseling
Good fit for group therapy for children and teens
Root & Blossom is another local child therapy practice that I wholeheartedly recommend. Not only do they specialize in counseling for children and teens, but they also offer parenting support: a comprehensive offering to give parents the tools they need to navigate the challenges of raising teenagers.
Another element that sets Root & Blossom apart is the fact that they offer group therapy for children and teens. This can be particularly helpful for young people struggling with peer relationships or those looking for additional support alongside individual counseling. They also offer seasonal camps, another key service for Atlanta families.
-
Credentials: Various
-
Ages: Children, teens, and parents
-
Specialty Areas: Children and teens, parenting, emotional regulation, stress and anxiety, school issues, life transitions, identity, bullying, social skills, trauma