Hi, I am Toawondia Underwood, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a passion for helping children, adolescents, and families navigate life’s challenges. I know that growing up isn’t always easy, and sometimes we all need a little extra support. Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or just feeling overwhelmed, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space where they can process their emotions and learn healthy ways to cope. tailor therapy to fit each client’s needs. My approach is warm, engaging, and interactive. I incorporate play, storytelling, and creative techniques to make therapy a comfortable and meaningful experience. My goal is to help children and teens build confidence, resilience, and the tools they need to thrive at home, school, and in life.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but my goal is to make the first session as comfortable and welcoming as possible. During our initial meeting, we will spend time getting to know each other—I want to hear about your story, what has been challenging, and what you hope to gain from therapy. If I am working with your child or teen, I’ll also talk with you as a parent or caregiver to understand your concerns and goals for their emotional well-being. This first session is a chance for me to listen and learn—there is no pressure, no expectations, just a safe space to share. I will ask some questions to better understand your child’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, but I will always move at their pace. Depending on their comfort level, we may use conversation, creative activities, or interactive exercises to help them express themselves in a way that feels natural. I will also explain my approach to therapy, answer any questions you have, and discuss how we can work together to create a plan that fits your child’s needs. Most importantly, I want them to leave feeling heard, supported, and hopeful—knowing that they are not alone on this journey. Therapy is about partnership and growth, and I am here to guide, encourage, and empower every step of the way.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to connect with children, adolescents, and families in a way that feels safe, supportive, and empowering. With over 20 years of experience working in schools, private practice, and community mental health settings, I understand the challenges that young people face—whether it is struggling with anxiety, trauma, depression, or major life transitions. My approach is warm, engaging, and interactive, ensuring that therapy is not just effective but also meaningful for each child I work with. I specialize in using evidence-based approaches, but I also recognize that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all. I take an individualized approach, incorporating play therapy, storytelling, and creative interventions to meet clients where they are developmentally and emotionally. I help children and teens understand their emotions, develop healthy coping skills, and build resilience, while also guiding parents and caregivers on how to support their child’s growth at home. Beyond clinical expertise, my compassion and dedication set me apart. I create a judgment-free space where children and adolescents feel heard, valued, and understood. I advocate for my clients both in and outside of therapy—whether it is helping parents navigate school challenges, providing trauma-informed care, or empowering young people to gain confidence in themselves. My mission is to help children, adolescents, and families heal, grow, and thrive in all areas of life.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I work best with children, adolescents, and families who are navigating anxiety, trauma, depression, adjustment difficulties, and emotional or behavioral challenges. My ideal client is a child or teen who feels overwhelmed—whether by school stress, family dynamics, or personal struggles—and is looking for a safe space to process their emotions and build resilience. Many of the young people I support have experienced anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, significant life transitions, or struggles with self-esteem and emotional regulation. They may have difficulty expressing themselves, feel misunderstood, or need guidance in managing their thoughts and emotions in healthy ways. I also work closely with parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support their child’s emotional and mental well-being. I believe therapy is a team effort, and I help families communicate more effectively, strengthen relationships, and create a supportive home and school environment. If you or your child are feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward, I provide a warm, engaging, and interactive approach by tailoring therapy to fit each client’s personality and needs. My goal is to help young people feel seen, heard, and empowered so they can build confidence, develop healthy coping skills, and thrive in all areas of life.
About Toawondia Underwood
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help children and adolescents identify negative thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and problematic behaviors. Through semi-structured sessions, I guide clients in recognizing the connections between their thoughts, feelings, and actions, helping them reframe unhelpful thinking into more positive and productive perspectives. I integrate creative and engaging techniques, such as journaling, role-playing, and visual aids, to ensure that young clients can grasp these concepts in developmentally appropriate ways. By reinforcing coping strategies and problem-solving skills, I empower children and adolescents to manage anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges effectively.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
For children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, I incorporate Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to help them process and make sense of distressing experiences. I work collaboratively with clients to challenge maladaptive beliefs about their trauma, reducing feelings of self-blame and helplessness. Using age-appropriate techniques, such as storytelling, art-based interventions, and structured discussions, I create a safe space where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions. Through this structured approach, I help them develop a more balanced and realistic understanding of their experiences, leading to increased emotional regulation and improved daily functioning.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to support adolescents struggling with intense emotions, self-harm behaviors, and difficulties in relationships. By teaching mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, I help clients build resilience and navigate challenging situations more effectively. I use interactive exercises, including guided breathing, grounding techniques, and role-playing scenarios, to make DBT skills relatable and applicable in real-life settings. My goal is to help clients learn to manage overwhelming emotions, communicate their needs assertively, and develop healthier ways of coping with stress.
Eclectic
Recognizing that no single approach fits every child or adolescent, I adopt an eclectic approach, blending various therapeutic modalities to meet the needs of each client. By drawing from CBT, DBT, ACT, CPT, MI, TF-CBT, and solution-focused therapy, I tailor interventions based on the client’s developmental stage, personality, and specific challenges. I integrate creative techniques such as play therapy, expressive arts, and bibliotherapy to make therapy engaging and effective. This flexibility allows me to provide holistic and personalized support, ensuring that children and adolescents receive the most beneficial and relevant interventions for their emotional and behavioral well-being.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to engage children and adolescents in exploring their ambivalence about change, especially in cases involving behavioral issues, school performance, or emotional challenges. By utilizing open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations, I create a supportive and non-judgmental space where clients feel heard and validated. I guide them in identifying their intrinsic motivations and strengths, empowering them to take ownership of their decisions. This approach is particularly effective in working with adolescents who may feel resistant to therapy, as it fosters autonomy and encourages self-driven growth.