Child & Teen Anxiety Therapist in Centennial, CO | Play Therapy & Parent Support
I support kids, teens, and families in navigating anxiety, perfectionism, and neurodivergence so your child can ditch the masking and start moving through life authentically, confidently, and more regulated.
Child & Adolescent Therapy | Play Therapy | Parent Coaching & Support
Serving Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, & South Denver
Meet Lindsay Stenzel, LCSW & Certified Synergetic Play Therapist
If your child is struggling with anxiety, emotional outbursts, or shutting down at home, you’re not alone—and you don’t need to figure this out alone.
Your child might seem “fine” on the outside, holding it together at school, meeting expectations, doing what’s asked of them.
But at home, everything spills out.
Meltdowns after school. Shutdowns over small things. Big emotions that seem to come out of nowhere. Or feelings so internalized that you don’t know how much they’re holding until it’s too much.
Maybe your child is:
Anxious, sensitive, or easily overwhelmed
Hard on themselves and afraid of making mistakes
Masking their struggles during the day
Acting like two completely different kids, depending on the environment
You’re trying to help, but it’s hard to know what they actually need. Therapy can help your child manage anxiety, regulate emotions, and feel more in control of their reactions, both at home and at school.
Using play-based, nervous-system-informed therapy, I help children express what they don’t yet have words for and make sense of what’s happening inside.
Play is a child’s natural language. Through it, kids can safely process anxiety, release what they’ve been holding in, and build regulation skills in a way that leads to meaningful, lasting change.
I take a neurodivergent-affirming approach—this leads to fewer meltdowns, better emotional regulation, and more confidence over time while still celebrating who your child is and their unique strengths.
Authentic, Compassionate Care
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Authentic, Compassionate Care 〰️
Who I Work With & What I Help With
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Therapy isn’t just for your child—it’s support for you, too. You don’t have to manage this all alone.
I work closely with parents so you can:
Understand what your child’s behavior is communicating
Respond with more confidence during meltdowns or shutdowns
Support regulation at home (especially after school)
Feel more connected to your child, even in hard moments
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Play therapy for children who are struggling with anxiety, emotional outbursts, or shutting down, especially when they don’t yet have the words to explain what’s going on.
I support children experiencing:
Perfectionism, high self-pressure, and negative self-talk
Neurodivergence, including ADHD, autism, and twice-exceptional (2e) profiles
Emotional overwhelm, masking, and post-school restraint collapse
Depression and low self-esteem
Trauma, grief, and loss
Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
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Therapy for pre-teen and teen girls navigating anxiety, perfectionism, and emotional overwhelm, especially those who are high-functioning on the outside but struggling internally.
I support pre-teen and teen girls navigating:
Perfectionism, high self-pressure, and negative self-talk
Neurodivergence, including ADHD, autism, and twice-exceptional (2e) profiles
Emotional overwhelm, masking, and post-school restraint collapse
Depression, low self-esteem, and withdrawal
Trauma, grief, and loss
Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
Unique challenges for pre-teen & teen girls, including friendship conflict, transitions, and identity formation
Frequently Asked Questions
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Therapy can be helpful if you’re noticing patterns like ongoing anxiety and worry, emotional outbursts, frequent meltdowns, or your child shutting down and withdrawing. You might also see things like perfectionism, intense frustration over small mistakes, difficulty with transitions, or a big difference between how your child functions at school versus at home.
You don’t have to wait until things feel severe or overwhelming. If you’re starting to wonder whether your child needs more support, that’s often a good time to reach out. Early support can help your child build skills and prevent patterns from becoming more ingrained over time. I strongly believe in trusting parents’ intuition—you know your child best, and you know when something isn’t quite right.
If you’re unsure, a consultation can help you sort through what you’re seeing and whether therapy makes sense right now.
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For younger children, therapy is play-based and helps them express emotions, process experiences, and build regulation skills in a way that is developmentally appropriate. For pre-teens and teens, sessions include conversation, skill-building, and support in understanding their thoughts and emotions. I also work with parents so you feel confident supporting your child outside of sessions.
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Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT) is a neuroscience-informed approach to play therapy that helps children process emotions, build regulation skills, and heal from difficult experiences through the power of relationship and play.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which relies on verbal expression, Synergetic Play Therapy meets children where they are developmentally, using play as their natural language.
Synergetic Play Therapy integrates play therapy techniques, nervous system attunement and regulation, attachment theory, and mindfulness, leading to long-lasting nervous system re-patterning, integration of past traumas and challenges, and lifelong skills.
For more information about Synergetic Play Therapy and how it works, click here.
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This is very common, especially for teens. We can talk through what you’re seeing and come up with a plan to introduce therapy in a way that feels less overwhelming. The foundation of my work is building a trusting and safe therapeutic relationship so kids and teens feel truly seen and heard. I move at their pace, consider their strengths and interests, and include them in goal identification when appropriate.
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Over time, many families notice fewer meltdowns, less emotional overwhelm, and an increased ability for their child to manage anxiety, panic, and frustration. Overall, children and teens become more resilient and better able to manage their emotions and face challenges head-on.
Children often become more confident, better able to express their feelings, and more in control of their reactions. Parents also feel more equipped to respond in ways that actually help. I hear from parents that they feel more connected to their children and home feels calmer and more regulated.
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The length of therapy depends on your child’s needs, goals, and level of family support. On average, families see major changes in 15-20 sessions. Some families come for short-term support around a specific challenge, while other families prefer to have long-term support in place. Sessions typically start on a weekly or biweekly basis and then move to a biweekly or monthly basis before termination.
We’ll talk through your goals and adjust the pace as we go, so the process feels supportive and realistic for your family.
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I am a private pay practice and do not bill insurance directly. My intake and session fees are $155. I offer limited reduced rate slots and also work with the Second Wind Fund Grant, which fully covers 12 sessions for youth 19 and under who are at-risk for suicide.
I can provide a superbill that you may be able to submit for out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan. Fees and options can be discussed during your consultation so you have a clear understanding before getting started. For more information about fees and out-of-network reimbursement, click here.
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I offer in-person therapy in Centennial, CO, as well as virtual sessions for teens and parents when appropriate. Younger children tend to benefit most from in-person, play-based sessions, while virtual therapy can be a good fit for some older kids and teens depending on their needs.
Contact Lindsay
Ready for support? Let’s work together!
Fill out some info, and I’ll be in touch shortly to schedule a free 15-minute consultation call. I can’t wait to hear from you!