Graceful Growth Clinic · Tooele, Utah
Child Therapy in Tooele, Utah
Young children rarely say they feel anxious or sad. They show it instead, with meltdowns that last too long, stomachaches before school, trouble sleeping, or play that keeps circling back to the same scary thing. You know your child, and you can tell something is off.
Graceful Growth Clinic offers child therapy and child counseling for kids ages 3 to 12 at our office in Tooele. Our child therapists use play therapy and family-focused care to help children work through big feelings in the language they know best, and we partner with parents every step of the way.
- Ages 3 to 12
- Play Therapy
- Most Insurance Accepted
When to Reach Out
Signs Your Child Might Benefit From Counseling
Every child has hard days. What is worth a closer look is a change that lasts more than a few weeks, shows up both at home and at school, or starts getting in the way of sleep, friendships, or learning. Parents in Tooele County most often call us about:
- Tantrums, meltdowns, or anger that feel bigger than the situation
- Worry, clinginess, or trouble separating at school drop off
- Stomachaches, headaches, or trouble sleeping
- Withdrawing, seeming sad, or losing interest in play
- Trouble at school with behavior, attention, or friendships
- Going backward after a big change, such as bedwetting or baby talk
- Struggling after a divorce, a move, a new sibling, or a deployment
- Grief after losing a grandparent, friend, or pet
You do not need to know what is wrong before you call. A first appointment with a child therapist often brings reassurance, and when it does not, you will leave with a clear plan.
What We Help With
What Child Counseling Covers
Child therapy here is shaped around your child and your family, not a fixed program. These are the concerns we see most.
Anxiety and Big Worries
Separation anxiety, fears, school worries, and perfectionism. See how we approach anxiety therapy.
Emotional and Behavioral Regulation
Tantrums, aggression, defiance, and kids who feel everything at full volume and need help learning to calm their bodies. In kids, low mood can also show up as irritability, so see our approach to depression therapy.
Trauma and Hard Experiences
Accidents, medical scares, abuse, domestic violence, or anything frightening your child has not been able to put down. Learn about childhood trauma therapy.
Grief and Loss
Helping a child understand a death or a loss in a way that makes sense for their age. More on grief therapy.
Family Change
Divorce, blended families, a new baby, a move, or a parent's military deployment. Read about family therapy and parenting support.
ADHD, Autism, and Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity-affirming support for children with ADHD, autism, or learning differences, focused on strengths, regulation, and confidence.
Our clinicians also work with children who talk about hurting themselves or not wanting to be here. If that is why you are reaching out, tell us when you call so we can see your child quickly. If the danger is immediate, use the crisis numbers further down this page.
What to Expect
What a First Visit Looks Like
Most kids walk in expecting a doctor's office. What they find is a room with toys, art supplies, and an adult who is interested in them.
- You call or textMike takes a few details, verifies your insurance, and matches your child with the clinician who fits what is going on.
- The first sessionA parent or guardian comes to the first visit to complete consent and share your child's history. Your child's therapist will explain how sessions work and how you will be involved.
- A plan you agree onWithin the first few sessions, you and your child's therapist agree on a few goals in plain language, and you will know how to support them at home.
- Regular sessionsYour child's therapist will recommend how long and how often sessions should be based on the assessment and your child's age. Progress with young children often shows up at home before it shows up in words.
For Parents
How Parents Are Involved
Parents are a big part of child therapy. Young children live inside their family's routines, so the most lasting change usually happens when the adults at home learn the same tools their child is practicing.
In practice that means regular check ins with your child's therapist, clear goals, and practical guidance on routines, limits, and how to respond when big feelings show up. Some sessions may include you, and some will be just your child and their therapist.
If the whole household is feeling the strain, we can bring more of the family in through family therapy and parenting support, or set up individual therapy for a parent who is carrying a lot.
How We Work
Play Therapy and Other Approaches for Kids
Children do not work through hard things by talking across a desk. They do it by playing, drawing, building, and acting out stories. Play therapy uses that natural language so a child can express what they feel and practice new ways of coping.
From there, your child's therapist draws on the approach that fits:
- Play therapy for expressing feelings and working through hard experiences
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for children affected by trauma
- EMDR therapy in Tooele when a specific frightening event is driving the symptoms
- Family systems work that looks at how relationships at home shape a child's well-being
- Practical calming, sleep, and coping skills your child can use at home and at school
Meet the Team
Our Child Therapists in Tooele
Two of our clinicians see young children, so we can match your child with a person who fits their age and needs. If the first match is not right, tell us and we will help you find a better fit.
Child and family specialist for ages 3 and up, play therapy, EMDR, TF-CBT, and neurodiversity-affirming care.
Children, teens, and adults, using acceptance and commitment therapy, internal family systems, and narrative therapy.
Have a teenager? Our teen therapy page covers ages 12 to 18. You can also meet the whole team or browse all of our services.
Care That Stays Local
Child Counseling Close to Home
A weekly appointment in Salt Lake means pulling your child out of school early, a long drive, and a tired kid in the back seat. For a lot of families, that drive is the reason therapy stops after a few visits.
We are at 134 W 1180 N, Suite 6 in Tooele, and we see children from Tooele, Grantsville, Stansbury Park, Erda, Lake Point, Stockton, and the rest of Tooele County. Our clinicians live here and know the schools, the schedules, and how military and shift-work families juggle it all.
Coverage
Insurance and Cost
Graceful Growth Clinic accepts most major Utah plans. Mike verifies your benefits before the first appointment, so you know what you owe before you walk in.
- Select Health
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- United Healthcare
- Optum
- Aetna
- PEHP
- Humana
- GEHA
- DMBA
- Utah Medicaid
- Tricare West Region
- HSA & FSA
- Cash Pay
Tricare matters in this county. Many of the families we see have a parent at Dugway Proving Ground, the Tooele Army Depot, or in the Guard, and we know how to work with those benefits. Not sure what your plan covers? Call (385) 409-0363 and we will check.
Good Questions
Questions Parents Ask About Child Therapy
What ages do you see for child therapy?
We see children from age 3. Kids 12 and older can also work with our teen therapists, so a child who starts here can stay with the same clinic as they grow.
What is play therapy?
Play therapy helps children work through feelings and experiences using toys, art, and stories instead of only talking. With a trained therapist, play becomes a way to understand what a child is going through and to practice new coping skills.
Will I be in the session with my child?
It depends on your child's age and needs. Some sessions include a parent and some are one on one. Either way, you will know the goals, how things are going, and what you can do at home.
How do I explain therapy to my child?
Keep it simple and positive. You might say they are going to meet someone whose job is helping kids with big feelings, and that there will be toys and games. Try not to present it as a punishment.
How long does child therapy take?
It depends on what your child is working on. Some families come for a few months around one concern, while others benefit from longer support. Your child's therapist will review progress with you regularly.
Do you have appointments after school?
Yes. We are open Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 7 PM, with evening and weekend times available by arrangement.
Do you prescribe medication for children?
No. We provide counseling and do not prescribe general psychiatric medication. If your child already has a prescriber or pediatrician, we can coordinate with them.
Is child therapy covered by insurance?
Usually. We accept most major Utah plans, including Select Health, PEHP, Utah Medicaid, and Tricare West Region. Call (385) 409-0363 and we will verify your child's benefits before the first visit.
If Your Child Needs Help Right Now
If your child is in immediate danger, do not wait for an appointment. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential 24 hours a day. You can also call the HMHI Crisis Line at 801-587-3000. In an emergency, call 911.
Start Child Therapy in Tooele
The first call is often the hardest part. You do not need the right words or a diagnosis. Tell us what you are seeing, and we will help you work out the next step.
Graceful Growth Clinic · 134 W 1180 N, Suite 6, Tooele, UT · Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 7 PM, with appointments available seven days a week by arrangement.