Therapy for Children Struggling with Anxiety, Big Emotions, and Life Transitions

Is Your Child Struggling With:

  • Frequent tantrums or outbursts?
  • Anxiety at school, bedtime, or social events?
  • Trouble adjusting to divorce, moving, or change?
  • Challenges making or keeping friends?
  • Big reactions to small frustrations?
  • Feeling withdrawn, overwhelmed, or isolated?

You and your child don’t have to be alone.

Talk to a Therapist Now: (847) 579-9317

Understand What’s Really Going On

Kids rarely say “I’m anxious” or “I’m sad”—they show it. With tantrums, school refusal, withdrawal, or acting out.

At Coping Partners, we help you uncover what’s behind these behaviors and give you and your child tools to cope and thrive.

We Help Children Facing:

  • Generalized & Social Anxiety
  • Tantrums and Emotional Outbursts
  • Emotional Regulation & Impulsivity
  • ADHD & Executive Functioning Challenges
  • School Refusal or Avoidance
  • Peer Conflicts, Bullying, & Social Struggles
  • Autism-Related Social Challenges
  • Separation, Divorce, & Life Transitions
  • Grief & Loss

Therapy Tailored for Your Child—and Your Family

Our licensed therapists meet your child where they are: emotionally, socially, and developmentally.

We offer a range of evidence-based therapies:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Helps manage anxiety and change negative thought patterns.

SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions)

  • Helps parents reduce anxiety in their child without pressure.

Play Therapy

  • A creative, safe outlet for emotional expression.

Parent Coaching

  • Reduces conflict, builds communication, and empowers caregivers.

Social Skills Training

  • Helps kids build friendships, manage conflict, and grow empathy.

Family Therapy

  • Improves trust, communication, and connection at home.

Call us or Email for a Consultation Now: support@copingpartnersgroup.com

Why Parents Trust Coping Partners

  • Licensed therapists who specialize in kids and teens
  • Parent involvement is built into our process
  • Flexible scheduling—open every day of the week
  • Collaboration with teachers, doctors, and providers
  • Compassionate, strength-based support from first call to graduation

Real Words from a Grateful Parent

“Dr. Weisz helped our daughter manage anxiety and make friends for the first time. We’re so grateful.”
– Parent of a 10-year-old

What to Expect

Step 1: Phone Consultation

We listen to your concerns and match you with the right therapist.

Step 2: First Appointment

We meet with you and your child, build rapport, and gather insights.

Step 3: Personalized Care Plan

We tailor therapy to your child’s emotional and developmental needs.

Step 4: Ongoing Support

We track progress, adjust as needed, and offer support between sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my child needs therapy?
If emotions or behavior are affecting daily life, school, or relationships, it’s time to seek help.

Will I be involved in therapy?
Yes. We equip parents with tools, updates, and regular check-ins.

What ages do you work with?
We support kids ages 4 through adolescence.

How long will therapy take?
Some kids improve in a few months; others need more time. We’ll guide you throughout.

Do you work with schools and doctors?
With your consent, we work closely with educators and pediatricians.

How do I tell my child about therapy?
Say: “You’re going to meet someone who helps kids with big feelings and tricky situations.”

Meet the Experts Who Care

Clinical Psychologist & Founder

  • Dr. Leigh Neiman Weisz, PsyD

Child & Family Therapist

  • Michelle Bagan Winterstein, LCSW

Child & Adolescent Therapists

  • Kathy Solk, LCPC
  • Dana Turner, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Workers

  • Ben Kessler, LCSW – Clinical Supervisor
  • Michelle Bagan Winterstein, LCSW
  • Leigh Stein, LCSW
  • Elisa Rotman, LCSW
  • Carole Dolgin, LCSW
  • Alana Korzonas, LSW

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

  • Kathy Solk, LCPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

  • Hannah Sheriff, LPC

Masters in Social Work

  • Beth Jeffrey, LSW

In‑House Furry Canine Cuddly Therapy Assistants

  • Jazzy & Poppy

We’re a team of specialists who genuinely love helping kids and families thrive.

Don’t Wait to Get Help

Watching your child struggle is painful—but relief starts with a single call. Let’s help your child become calmer, more connected, and confident.

👉 Get Started Today
📞 Call: (847) 579-9317
📧 Email: support@copingpartnersgroup.com
📍 450 Skokie Blvd, Suite #503, Northbrook, IL 60062
🗓️ Open 7 Days a Week

Get More Help for Parents

🎧 Listen to The Coping Podcast

Insights from our therapists: https://copingpartners.com/podcast

📰 Read Our Latest Articles

Practical parenting tips at: www.copingpartners.com

Episode Transcript:

Intro: 00:02

Hi, I’m Dr. Leigh Weisz, a licensed clinical psychologist at Coping Partners. If you’re here, chances are you’re looking for support, either for your child, yourself, or your family. First, I want to say this parenting doesn’t come with a manual. And when your child is struggling, it can feel overwhelming, confusing, and isolating. At Coping Partners, we are here to help.

Dr. Leigh Weisz: 00:32

We have an amazing team of therapists. We specialize in working with children and families who face all different kinds of challenges, whether a difficult life transition or struggles with relationships or their ability to manage big feelings. We believe that with the right support, we can help children and parents alike to thrive. So let me tell you a little bit about how we got started. Coping Partners was created with one mission in mind to help families feel more connected, confident, and supported.

Dr. Leigh Weisz: 01:02

We saw so many parents who were feeling lost when it came to their child’s anxiety. Big emotions or behaviors. And we wanted to create a place where both children and parents could be understood and empowered to feel better. Parenting today is no joke. The Surgeon General recently called it a serious public health concern.

Dr. Leigh Weisz: 01:32

Many parents come to us with concerns like daily tantrums, anxiety about school or social settings, constant power struggles, or even just a sense that something doesn’t feel quite right. We want to help parents feel supported and empowered to know how to help their children and their family. So what might your child be trying to tell you through their behavior? Well, children don’t always have the ability to express how they feel. Instead, they often show us through meltdowns, withdrawal, irritability, or defiance, to name a few.

Dr. Leigh Weisz: 02:02

And often, what looks like a behavioral problem is really a sign that a child is struggling with a big emotion underneath. Whether they feel anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally flooded. We help parents understand the root of these behaviors so they can respond through a lens of empathy and compassion rather than frustration. If you’ve noticed frequent outbursts, avoidance, trouble sleeping, or changes in mood or friendships in your child. These could all be signs that your child needs a little extra support.

Dr. Leigh Weisz: 02:32

So what does support actually look like? At Coping Partners, we offer a variety of therapeutic services, each tailored to your child. Often for younger children, we utilize play therapy to help children express their feelings and thoughts in their native language. Children use play to show us what is going on for them, and often we can use play to help teach them emotional and coping skills and just to help them feel understood in a safe and supportive environment. It’s not just kids playing, it’s meaningful, therapeutic work that helps your child work through their struggles in a way that is comfortable, engaging, supportive, even fun.

Dr. Leigh Weisz: 03:02

But therapy doesn’t just help the child, it supports the entire family. We often work with parents through coaching and regular check-ins. We often tell parents we’re only with your child less than one hour a week. Parent involvement is one of the biggest predictors of successful outcomes and change. We guide you through strategies that you can use at home so that progress happens between sessions, not just during them.

Dr. Leigh Weisz: 03:32

In family therapy, we help improve communication patterns, strengthen attachment relationships, reduce tensions, and create more peace at home. Some clinicians here meet with parents behind the scenes without the child in the room for parent work. Others have them check in each therapy session at the beginning or the end, sometimes both. Each therapist will make a plan that works best for your kiddo and your family. One of our common questions we hear is what will my child actually learn in therapy?

Dr. Leigh Weisz: 04:02

Well, kids in therapy here learn how to identify and name their emotions, how to calm their bodies when their emotions get big and overwhelm them, how to problem solve social challenges, how to tolerate discomfort without shutting down, and how to communicate their needs more clearly. Ultimately, therapy builds emotional resilience and life skills that your child will use for years to come.