Business Details
Child & Family Mental Health Counseling Services
At Alpen Counseling, we bring over three decades of specialized experience in child and family mental health to our practice. Our approach is rooted in relational, collaborative therapy that prioritizes creating safe spaces for emotional growth and lasting change. With a background spanning public schools, crisis centers, and wilderness therapy programs, we understand the complex interplay of developmental needs, social challenges, and family dynamics. Our work integrates evidence-based practices like expressive therapies and neurobiology research to address anxiety, behavioral issues, trauma, and more.We offer tailored parent coaching to help caregivers build stronger connections and navigate modern parenting challenges. As a licensed mental health counselor, we emphasize mindfulness, human resilience, and the mind-body connection in every session. Our practice welcomes individuals and families from all backgrounds, with a commitment to inclusivity and personalized care. Whether working with children aged ten and up or supporting guardians through life's difficulties, we focus on fostering belonging and purpose through therapeutic partnership.
Services
Child Counseling
Teen Therapy
Young Adult Counseling
Parent Coaching
Family Therapy
Expressive Therapy
Trauma Support
Behavioral Intervention
Emotional Regulation
LGBTQ+ Support
Highlights and features
- 30+ years of experience working with children and families across diverse settings
- Specialized in expressive therapies including art and play therapy techniques
- Offers parent coaching focused on practical solutions and accountability
- Licensed mental health counselor with expertise in neurobiology and attachment theory
- Inclusive practice welcoming all family structures and backgrounds
Services
Child Counseling
Specialized counseling for children aged ten and up addressing emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, and social skills development. Our licensed therapist uses play therapy and expressive techniques to create safe spaces for emotional expression. Evidence-based interventions help children process trauma, manage anxiety, and build resilience through age-appropriate therapeutic activities.
Teen Therapy
Targeted mental health support for teenagers navigating identity development, academic pressures, and social challenges. We employ neurobiology-informed approaches to address anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues. Our relational therapy model helps teens build self-awareness while maintaining family connections through structured therapeutic interventions.
Parent Coaching
Structured coaching sessions helping caregivers develop effective parenting strategies. We focus on practical solutions for behavioral challenges, communication improvements, and stress reduction. Our approach combines accountability frameworks with Adlerian principles of belonging to strengthen family dynamics through evidence-based coaching methodologies.
Trauma Support
Specialized therapeutic interventions for processing traumatic experiences using mind-body connection techniques. Our practice incorporates mindfulness-based approaches and expressive therapies to address trauma symptoms. We help clients develop coping mechanisms while maintaining safety through gradual exposure and neurobiology-informed recovery strategies.
LGBTQ+ Support
Inclusive counseling services supporting LGBTQ+ youth and families through identity exploration and social challenges. Our therapist provides affirming spaces for self-expression while addressing unique mental health needs. We combine developmental understanding with cultural competence to support gender-diverse clients across therapeutic modalities.
People
Kirke Mahy Hestad
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
With 30+ years of experience in child and family mental health, Kirke specializes in relational therapy for children, teens, and families. Their background includes school counseling, wilderness therapy, and crisis intervention. Kirke integrates expressive therapies with neurobiology research to create transformative therapeutic experiences.
Questions
What age groups do you work with?
We specialize in working with children aged ten and up, teens, young adults, and their families through individual and family therapy sessions.
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
Our practice integrates expressive therapies like art and play therapy with evidence-based methods focusing on neurobiology, attachment theory, and mindfulness techniques.
Do you accept insurance?
As an out-of-network provider, we don't take insurance directly but can provide receipts for potential reimbursement through your insurance provider.
What is parent coaching?
Parent coaching is a solution-focused service helping caregivers develop new strategies, reduce stress, and improve family dynamics through structured, goal-oriented sessions.
How are sessions structured?
Standard sessions last 50 minutes, with adjusted timeframes available for intake assessments or family sessions based on individual needs.
What issues do you commonly address?
We help clients navigate anxiety, behavioral challenges, emotional regulation difficulties, family conflicts, trauma, social skills development, and LGBTQ+ support needs.
