Business Details
11 Years
experience
Expert Child & Adolescent Therapy Services in Athens, GA
Growth Therapy was founded on the belief that parents are the most powerful agents for change in their child's development. Our practice is built on 15+ years of experience working with children and families navigating anxiety, family transitions like divorce or remarriage, behavioral challenges, and the aftermath of trauma. We recognize that therapy must extend beyond the session room, which is why we actively involve parents through tailored strategies for home implementation.Our collaborative approach balances professional expertise with parental insight, ensuring therapy outcomes are reinforced in everyday environments. The creation of Athens Center for Counseling and Play Therapy in 2015 provided a dedicated space for child-focused therapeutic practices. Our commitment remains to maximize therapeutic impact by bridging clinical interventions with real-world application through parent partnership.
Services
Child Counseling
Parent Coaching
Virtual Play Therapy
Expert Witness Services
Behavioral Consultation
Details
- Year established: 2015
Highlights and features
- 15+ years of specialized experience in child therapy
- Parent-centric approach maximizing therapy outcomes
- Tailored strategies for home implementation
- Virtual therapy options for accessibility
- Collaborative therapist-parent partnerships
Services
Child Counseling
Specialized counseling for children addressing behavioral challenges, anxiety, and emotional development. Our sessions create safe spaces for self-expression while equipping caregivers with tools for continued support at home. Services include assessment, intervention, and progress monitoring.
Parent Coaching
Empowering caregivers through personalized coaching sessions that translate clinical insights into practical home strategies. We help parents understand child behavior patterns and implement consistent approaches for positive development across home, school, and community environments.
Virtual Play Therapy
Interactive remote therapy sessions using evidence-based play techniques to engage children in therapeutic exploration. Secure digital platforms maintain treatment continuity while maintaining confidentiality standards and caregiver involvement in the therapeutic process.
Expert Witness Services
Professional testimony and documentation services for legal cases involving child development matters. Our expertise provides court systems with clinically informed perspectives on child behavioral patterns and family dynamics in litigation contexts.
Behavioral Consultation
Comprehensive behavioral assessments and intervention planning for educational settings. We work with schools and families to create consistent support systems through classroom accommodations, teacher training, and home-school communication strategies.
People
Leslie Schwartz
Therapist
Leslie Schwartz is a licensed mental health professional with over 15 years of experience in child therapy. She co-founded Athens Center for Counseling and Play Therapy in 2015, creating Georgia's first standalone child therapy practice dedicated to family-integrated care. Her practice emphasizes parental collaboration as essential to therapeutic success.
Questions
What ages do you work with?
We specialize in children through adolescence, typically ages 3-18. Our methods adapt to developmental stages while maintaining consistent parental involvement across all age groups.
How involved do parents need to be?
Parental involvement is crucial. Sessions may alternate between child-only and parent-focused meetings, with regular check-ins to maintain confidentiality boundaries while sharing progress updates.
Do you accept insurance?
We operate as an out-of-network provider. Clients receive superbill documentation for potential insurance reimbursement. Payment plans may be available upon request.
Can therapy continue during school hours?
Yes, we coordinate with schools for virtual sessions during the school day when appropriate. Parent-teacher collaboration is encouraged for consistent support strategies.
What if my child resists therapy?
Initial resistance is common. We work with parents to establish rapport through play-based engagement while explaining therapeutic goals in child-friendly terms to build cooperation over time.
