Child Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ
Therapy for kids ages 5 and up and their families struggling with big emotions, behavioral issues, and navigating neurodivergence.
Are Your Child’s Behaviors Making You Want to Pull Your Hair Out?
The screaming. The meltdowns. The calls from school (again). The refusal to put video games away or eat anything that’s not shaped like a dinosaur. It’s enough to make any caregiver fantasize about running away to a remote beach with no Wi-Fi.
Kids often express how they're feeling through their behaviors, but you don’t always have a kid behavior-to-adult language dictionary. Sometimes you give them the tablet just to get five minutes of peace. You’re not lazy. You’re exhausted. You want to help them feel better, and you want to feel better yourself… but you just don’t know how.
That’s where I come in.
Whether your child is struggling with significant mental health issues like self-harm, needs support with social communication, or anything in between, therapy can help. At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we help kids and families heal from the past, regulate emotions in healthy ways, and grow as individuals and as a family.
Why Might Someone Seek Therapy For Their Child?
When your child is in pain, you’re in pain. So when you see them struggling, whether it’s with something seemingly simple, like putting the tablet away, or a significant event, such as an experience of trauma or major change in life, it can make you feel like the sky is falling. You may even feel like you’re failing at parenting as a result.
But you’re NOT failing at parenting. The fact is, parenting is hard, especially when your child is going through a tough time in life. When they’re happy and smiling, things are great. But when you get that 500th call from the school that your kid is in the principal’s office, it can feel like there’s no solution.
Child therapy can help with meltdowns, tantrums, aggressive behaviors, self-harm behaviors, low self-esteem, social skills, communication skills, setting boundaries, learning how to advocate for themselves, building and maintaining friendships, emotion regulation skills, identifying feelings, learning coping skills, and many other issues/concerns.
When your child is hurting, you're hurting too. Whether they’re refusing to get dressed... Even if your child isn’t facing a major crisis, therapy can give them tools to navigate life with more confidence and give you tools to support them.
You Want to Learn More About Child Therapy
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Generally speaking, play therapy is the gold standard of treatment for children. This is because children learn and experience the world through play, so we use play strategically to understand your child’s inner world and help them explore and process their emotions in a safe way. That being said, some children, especially older children, also benefit from other types of therapy as well. Regardless of your child’s age, your child’s treatment plan will be customized to them and their individual needs.
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A lot depends on the age and needs of your child. For most kids, a child therapy session involves the therapist following the child’s lead in play and talk in order to allow them to explore and express their feelings, identify feelings, learn how to cope with those feelings in healthy ways, and potentially achieve other goals. There are only three rules in the child therapy room:
1. We need to be safe.
2. We need to end on time.
3. We need to be mindful and respectful of others in the office.
Other than that, the therapist gives control of the session to the child. This allows kids to explore and assert some agency and choice in a world that often doesn’t give them much control at all. By allowing kids to guide the session, they experience a sense of safety and control they typically don’t get anywhere else. This sense of control helps kids feel safe enough to dive into distressing topics/memories and heal.
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Parents often ask, “Is this normal… or should I be worried?”... You don’t have to wait until things get worse. Therapy is most effective when it's preventative or supportive, not just reactive. Most parents seek therapy when there is a significant change in life that’s causing some distress (such as a divorce or a new baby at home) or when their child is having behavioral issues at home and/or at school. That being said, even if your child isn’t facing a major trauma or challenge, they may still benefit from therapy. Child therapy can help your child develop healthy coping skills for managing frustration, anxiety, and difficulties with not getting what they want, as well as working on social skills, developing friendships, and communicating their needs.
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The short answer is: you’ll know. Most kids “act out” behaviorally when they’re struggling with emotions or mental health. This is because they often don’t yet have the vocabulary to express their emotions the way adults do, and because the part of the brain that governs impulse control isn’t fully developed yet. So “I’m disappointed that Mom said no to ice cream” often looks like whining, yelling, or throwing things.
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Child therapy can begin at almost any age! Even toddlers can benefit from child therapy. At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we generally see kids as young as 5, but we may be able to see younger children depending on their needs. If you aren’t sure if your under-5-year-old would be a good fit for our services, please feel free to reach out or schedule a free consultation.
How We Can Help
When your child is struggling, it affects the whole family. Maybe they're melting down over what seems like small things, or they’re overwhelmed in noisy environments, refusing to go to school, or lashing out at siblings. You’ve read the parenting books, tried the sticker charts, and followed the advice, but nothing seems to stick. It’s not that you're doing anything wrong. It’s that your child needs support that goes beyond quick fixes.
At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, our child therapists help kids make sense of their big feelings, build real coping tools, and learn how to manage daily challenges—from emotional outbursts to social struggles. And just as importantly, we help you—the parent—feel more confident and less alone. Our work together is about creating a safe space for your child to grow and for your whole family to breathe a little easier. Together, we create a space for healing and growth—one that feels safe for your child and sustainable for your family.
The Fuzzy Socks Therapy Approach to Child Therapy
Our approach to child therapy is warm, collaborative, and rooted in deep expertise with neurodivergent kids and kids dealing with anxiety, big emotions, or behavior challenges. We don’t force kids to talk if they’re not ready. Instead, we use play, movement, art, and sensory-informed strategies to help them express themselves and feel understood. Sessions are tailored to each child’s unique needs—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
What sets us apart? We’re not just here to manage behavior—we’re here to get to the root of it. With nearly 20 years of experience in child therapy and special education, we bring both clinical skills and practical tools to help your child build emotional regulation, social awareness, and resilience. We also keep parents in the loop, offering ongoing support so you feel empowered, not blamed. Because therapy should feel like a team effort, and your child deserves a team that gets them.
We follow their lead, work at their pace, and build a strong foundation of trust before diving into anything deeper... And when the grown-ups feel supported, too, everyone benefits.
Is Child Therapy Right for You?
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Yes! It’s important for parents/caregivers to be involved in their child’s therapy in some way because children exist in the context of their home environment and don’t live in isolation. What that looks like can vary depending on the family’s needs and goals. So that might mean we meet for family sessions every so often, or that could look like having parent-only sessions to help you understand what we’re working on in your child’s sessions.
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The first session is an intake session between the child therapist and the parents/caregivers. In order to best serve your child, I like to get a comprehensive picture of their history, what’s going on at home, and what your goals are. Just like a doctor examines a patient before prescribing medication, I want to make sure I understand all of the factors that may be contributing to the issues that bring you to therapy.
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For most kids, a standard 50-minute session is a good amount of time. That being said, for younger children, that might be too much, so we can talk about doing 30-minute sessions instead.
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Play therapy is the gold standard treatment for kids because play is a child’s primary language. Just like kids learn counting through fingerplay and songs, they explore and make sense of their world through play. Now, this doesn’t just involve the child therapist giving a child a toy and hanging out. Play therapy is a highly specialized treatment that requires extensive training and expertise to do well.
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You definitely want to look for someone with training in child development, child therapy, and play therapy. That’s because child therapy looks very different from adult therapy, so you want someone who you know has experience in this area.
What If My Child Doesn’t Want to Go to Therapy?
This is one of the most common concerns parents have—and it makes total sense. If your child is already struggling with change, transitions, or trust, the idea of talking to a stranger about their feelings might sound like the last thing they want to do. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience before, or maybe they’re just not the kind of kid who opens up easily. That’s okay.
At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we don’t force kids to talk—or expect them to come in ready to spill their guts. Building trust is part of the process. Some kids talk a lot. Others play silently for the first few sessions. Both are totally normal.
Our approach is child-led and pressure-free. We meet your child where they are, using play, art, movement, or quiet connection to slowly build a relationship. Many kids end up looking forward to sessions once they realize it’s a space where they won’t be judged, corrected, or pushed beyond their comfort zone.
We also support you, the parent, in navigating this. If your child is resistant, we’ll give you language to use at home to help them feel more comfortable and empowered about the process.
Bottom line? Therapy doesn't have to feel like a chore or a punishment. When it’s done right, it can feel like a safe, even fun, place where your child gets to be fully themselves, and that’s where the real healing starts.
See Your Child Build Confidence With Child Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ
You don’t have to keep guessing how to help your child or carry the stress of it all on your own. Child therapy can help your child learn to manage big emotions, build confidence, and handle everyday challenges with more ease. At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, Lianna Purjes is a caring child therapist who specializes in child therapy and support for neurodivergent and neurotypical kids.
To start your child’s therapy journey, follow these simple steps:
Meet with Lianna, a compassionate child therapist
Start helping your child feel calmer, confident, and connected—at home, at school, and in their everyday life.
Additional Services Offered at Fuzzy Socks Therapy
Child therapy isn’t the only service we offer in our Scottsdale, AZ office. We know you may be looking for other services that aren’t therapy for kids. Other therapy services at Fuzzy Socks Therapy include Discernment Counseling for couples deciding to split up to stay together, neurodivergence therapy, couples therapy, social skills groups for kids and teens, and neurodivergent parent coaching. For more on child therapy, check out my blog!