Children and Family Therapy
We currently have same-week appointments available for family therapy in Bozeman. Availability can change quickly, so we encourage families to reach out as soon as possible to secure an opening that fits their schedule.
We can help your child or family with:
Improving family or parent-child relationships
Learning how to establish healthy relationships/friendships
Reducing feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or numbness
Developing social skills
Increasing self-esteem/self-worth
Fostering independence and autonomy
Managing academic issues
Increasing self-regulation
Life transitions including divorce or separation, birth, death, aging, etc.
Developmental delays or other special needs
How do I know if my family needs therapy?
Family therapy can help even if you’re not in a crisis. It may be a good fit if you’re noticing:
The same conflict repeating with no real resolution
A child or teen withdrawing, escalating, or “shutting down” more often
Communication that quickly turns into arguing, criticism, or silence
Ongoing stress related to divorce/separation, co-parenting, or blended family transitions
Big emotions (anger, anxiety, sadness) affecting home or school
Everyone trying hard—but nothing seems to change
If you’re unsure, we’re happy to help you decide whether family therapy, child/teen therapy, couples therapy, or a combination makes the most sense.
How does it work?
Relationships influence and impact our development dramatically! Therefore, in counseling, we tend to focus on relationships in the beginning. It is typical for a child to feel embarrassed, anxious, or angry at the thought of counseling. These reactions are understandable and normal. For that reason, at Bozeman Therapy & Counseling, our first step is to establish a safe and accepting relationship with the children we counsel, which may take time and involvement from families. Once a secure relationship is built between counselor and child, then we develop our focus to setting and meeting collaborative goals between families and counselor. With younger children, ages 3-12 years old, it is typical to provide a combination of individual and family sessions. A common example of this combination is 2-4 individual child sessions and 1-2 family sessions per month. During these family sessions, we may focus on creating goals, exploring relationships within the family, building support systems, and problem solving (which may include academic or other social issues), among many other topics.
How do I find the right family therapist in Bozeman?
When choosing a family therapist, look for:
Licensure and training: a licensed therapist (or a supervised pre-licensed clinician) with experience in family systems work
Relevant specialty: teen conflict, blended families, co-parenting, anxiety/behavior concerns, etc.
A clear therapy structure: how sessions are organized (whole-family vs split sessions), how goals are set, and how progress is tracked
Confidentiality with teens: a therapist who can explain what stays private and what is shared with caregivers
Fit and logistics: scheduling, cost/insurance, and whether teletherapy is appropriate for your family
Meet our therapists to see each clinician’s training and family/teen specialties.
Our Services
Explore our children and family therapy services, thoughtfully designed to support emotional development, strengthen family relationships, and help children and caregivers navigate challenges with greater connection and confidence.
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We provide counseling and support for tweens and teens ages 11 and up.
At Bozeman Therapy & Counseling, we believe most teens can benefit from some type of counseling. Even parents who provide needed love and support can recognize that some issues are more easily discussed with a counselor. We can provide your teen with a nonjudgmental and compassionate space to talk through his or her problems. We can also be direct when needed.
We can help your tween or teen:
manage anxiety issues, including social anxiety, test anxiety, generalized anxiety, and others
increase self-esteem
make good decisions
think through real world consequences
find healthy ways to establish independence and individuality
develop social skills
overcome depressed feelings
learn to communicate effectively
find ways to relate to parents
manage academic issues
create structure
prepare for life transitions
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Families are shaped by the emotional patterns that exist between caregivers and children. When stress, conflict, or misattunement enters the system, it can affect everyone. We work with parents and caregivers to strengthen emotional connection, improve communication, and create a more secure foundation at home.
Couples and parents often seek support for:
Ongoing conflict or tension around parenting styles
Difficulty staying emotionally connected while raising children
Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or disconnected as parents
Navigating co-parenting after separation or divorce
Supporting a child with big emotions or behavioral challenges
Repairing ruptures and rebuilding trust within the family
Our work focuses on helping parents understand what is happening beneath behaviors, respond with greater emotional clarity, and create patterns of interaction that foster safety, cooperation, and connection for both children and caregivers.
Family therapy vs couples therapy: Family therapy focuses on the whole family system (parent-child relationships, sibling dynamics, co-parenting, blended-family transitions). Couples therapy focuses primarily on the partner relationship. Some families benefit from both, depending on the goals.
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Adolescence is a time of rapid emotional, relational, and neurological development. Teens are working to establish independence while still needing connection, guidance, and emotional safety. Counseling can offer adolescents a space where they feel heard, respected, and supported as they navigate this stage of life.
We support adolescents with:
Anxiety, mood changes, and emotional overwhelm
Identity development and self-esteem
Social challenges, friendships, and peer relationships
Academic stress and performance pressure
Family conflict or feeling misunderstood at home
Life transitions and changes within the family system
Our approach balances giving teens a confidential space to explore their inner world while also involving caregivers when helpful, so families can better understand each other and strengthen connection.
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Blended families often face unique challenges as new roles, boundaries, and relationships are formed. Children and adults alike may carry grief, loyalty conflicts, fear of loss, or uncertainty about where they belong. These experiences are normal and deserve thoughtful, compassionate support.
We help blended families with:
Adjusting to new family roles and expectations
Navigating loyalty binds and complex emotions
Building trust between stepparents and children
Improving communication across households
Supporting children through transitions and changes
Creating a sense of belonging and emotional safety
Our work helps families slow down, understand each member’s emotional experience, and develop healthier interaction patterns so connection can grow over time rather than feeling forced.
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We offer secure teletherapy options for children, adolescents, and families in the Bozeman area when in-person sessions are not possible or practical. Teletherapy allows families to receive consistent, high-quality care from the comfort of their home while maintaining the same thoughtful, relationship-focused approach we use in our office.
Teletherapy can be especially helpful for families who:
Have busy schedules or multiple caregivers coordinating care
Live outside of Bozeman but want to work with our clinicians
Prefer meeting from a familiar, comfortable environment
Are navigating transitions, illness, or transportation challenges
Family teletherapy sessions may include parents, caregivers, and children together, or a combination of individual and family sessions, depending on your child’s age and needs. For adolescents, teletherapy can offer a sense of autonomy and ease while still supporting healthy family involvement when appropriate.
Our clinicians use HIPAA-compliant video platforms and will help you determine whether teletherapy is a good fit for your family. When beneficial, we may also recommend a blend of in-person and teletherapy sessions to best support connection, engagement, and progress.
If you’re located in or around Bozeman and curious whether teletherapy is right for your family, we’re happy to talk through your options and help you get started.
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Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) is grounded in attachment theory, which places emphasis on how our sense of self is highly influenced by the relationships we experience throughout our life, most notably the parent-child relationship. EFFT challenges families to examine their attachment with their family members, or more specifically children, to determine what patterns of interactions are occurring and how to attend to and repair potential attachment injuries or harmful interaction patterns. Sue Johnson, EFFT founder, refers to a cycle that families become stuck in as the “negative interaction cycle.” The prominent goal of EFFT is to promote secure attachment styles within the family, as well as improve interaction cycles, allowing children and parents to interact with a stronger sense of connection.
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Child-Centered Play Therapy
Play is highly regarded as the language of children, meaning play is an age-appropriate way to access children’s emotional experiences. Methods such as art therapy, games, puppetry, sand tray use, and other sensory play materials are used in the therapy playroom most commonly. The purpose of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is not to fix the child’s problems, but rather to assist the child in developing their sense of self, which will eventually include the ability to problem solve for themselves. This is important to establish early on in a child’s life in order to continue building a strong sense of autonomy. CCPT’s primary intervention is to create a safe and warm environment through unconditional understanding as well as acceptance in which a child feels comfortable sharing vulnerable information with a counselor.
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Developmental Assessments
Developmental assessments provide a structured way to understand a child’s growth across cognitive, social, emotional, and physical milestones. These assessments are not meant to label or diagnose a child, but rather to offer valuable insights into their strengths and areas where additional support may be beneficial. By observing how a child engages with their environment, responds to social interactions, and navigates learning tasks, developmental assessments help parents and caregivers make informed decisions about how to best support their child’s unique needs. Early identification of developmental concerns can foster greater confidence and resilience in children, ensuring they receive the guidance and resources needed to thrive. The goal of a developmental assessment is not to set limitations, but to create a foundation for growth by offering a clearer understanding of a child’s individual learning and emotional patterns.
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Early Intervention Therapy
Early Intervention Therapy focuses on supporting young children during critical developmental stages, providing them with the tools they need to navigate emotional, social, and behavioral challenges. The purpose of early intervention is not to correct or change a child, but rather to create an environment where they can develop the skills necessary to express emotions, build relationships, and engage with the world in a way that feels safe and secure. By working closely with caregivers, early intervention fosters strong parent-child connections, helping families establish a foundation of trust, communication, and emotional regulation. The goal is to equip both children and their caregivers with the resources and strategies needed to promote long-term resilience and well-being, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
What to ask in your first family therapy session
To make sure it’s a good fit, consider asking:
What approach do you use for families (for example, attachment-focused or EFFT)?
Who will attend sessions—and will you meet with caregivers and kids together, separately, or both?
How do you handle high-conflict moments during sessions?
How do you set goals and measure progress?
For teens: what is your confidentiality policy and how do you involve caregivers?
What should we practice between sessions to improve outcomes?
How long does family therapy take to see results?
Every family is different, but many families notice early improvements (communication, reduced escalation, clearer routines) within the first several sessions—especially when everyone practices skills between sessions. Deeper repair (trust, emotional safety, long-standing patterns) often takes longer.
Blended families and co-parenting situations may need additional time because new roles, boundaries, and attachment injuries can take time to stabilize. We’ll collaborate with you on goals and recommend a pace (weekly, biweekly, or a mix of individual + family sessions) that supports steady progress.
How can we prepare our family for therapy?
Tell kids/teens: “This is a place to help our family understand each other and feel more supported”—not a place to assign blame.
Choose 1–2 goals to start (ex: fewer blowups, better listening, smoother transitions between households).
Agree on basic session rules: one person speaks at a time, respectful language, and it’s okay to take a pause.
Bring context: what’s been happening, what you’ve tried, and what you hope will change.
Expect some discomfort at first—new patterns take practice.
Start Therapy Today
Fees & insurance
We accept several insurance plans and also offer private pay and sliding-scale options when available. For current rates, in-network information, and out-of-network superbills, please see our Insurance & Fees page.