Child and Family Therapy
Child and Family Therapy in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV
Tantrums lasting an hour. A stomachache every school morning. A child who went quiet after the divorce, or after a move from another state. Kids rarely say “I'm anxious.” They show you. Child therapy helps kids ages 2 to 12 work through big feelings, mostly through play, and shows parents what to do at home. Here's how child and family therapy works in Las Vegas and Henderson, and how to find a therapist with openings.
Last verified October 2026. Reviewed by Freddy Valinia, LCPC.
Signs Your Child Needs Extra Support
Ages 2 to 5
- Tantrums most days, lasting a long time
- Trouble separating at daycare or preschool, long past the first few weeks
- Losing skills, such as potty training or speech, after a hard event
- Hitting or biting other kids or pets
- Little playing, smiling, or connecting
Ages 6 to 12
- Stomachaches or headaches before school with no medical cause
- Worries, fears, or rituals taking up big parts of the day
- Sadness, irritability, or anger lasting weeks
- Falling grades or refusing school
- Pulling away from friends, or getting bullied
- Trouble after a divorce, a move, a death, or a new sibling
Trust your gut. You know your child. If a pattern lasts more than a few weeks or gets in the way of school, sleep, or family life, talk with your pediatrician or a child therapist. Raising a teen? See teen therapy in Las Vegas.
Play Therapy in Las Vegas
Kids work through feelings with toys, art, sand trays, and games, the way adults use words. In play therapy, a trained therapist uses play to help kids express feelings, cope with stress, and practice new behavior. The Association for Play Therapy says play therapy fits kids ages 3 through 12 best. Look for the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential, which means extra training and supervision in play therapy.
What a session looks like:
- About 45 to 50 minutes in a playroom
- Your child leads much of the play
- Regular check-ins with parents
- Usually weekly, for a few months
Family Therapy in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV
Family therapy brings parents, kids, and sometimes grandparents into the room together. A therapist helps the family change stuck patterns, such as constant arguing, a child playing parents against each other, or a blended family still finding its footing. Family therapy helps after a divorce, a death, a move, a new baby, or a child's diagnosis. Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) specialize in family therapy, and LCSWs, LCPCs, and psychologists offer family therapy too. Families in Green Valley, Anthem, Inspirada, and across Henderson meet in person or by telehealth.
Types of Therapy for Kids
| Therapy | Description | Often helps with |
|---|---|---|
| Play therapy | Therapy through play, art, and games | Big feelings, trauma, grief, behavior |
| Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) | A therapist coaches parents live, often through an earpiece, while they play with their child | Tantrums and defiance, ages 2 to 7 |
| CBT for kids | Coping skills for worries and fears, with practice at home | Anxiety, OCD, school refusal |
| Trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT) | Structured therapy for kids and caregivers after trauma | Abuse, violence, accidents, loss |
| Family therapy | The whole family in the room | Conflict, divorce, blended families |
| Parent coaching | Sessions with parents alone | Behavior plans, routines, discipline |
Child Therapist, Child Psychologist, or Child Psychiatrist?
- Child therapist (LMFT, LCSW, or LCPC): talk and play therapy, usually weekly. Start here for most concerns.
- Child psychologist (PhD or PsyD): therapy plus psychological testing for ADHD, autism, learning differences, and other questions.
- Child psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner: diagnosis and medication when therapy alone isn't enough.
Child psychiatrists are scarce here. Clark County has about 29 child and adolescent psychiatrists for more than 2 million residents. Psychiatric nurse practitioners and pediatricians fill much of the gap, and Nevada pediatricians get free child psychiatry consults through NV PAL. Ask your child's doctor about NV PAL.
Looking for a Child Therapist in Las Vegas or Henderson?
About 2 minutes. Free. We’ll email you within 24 hours with providers who have openings.
Free and Public Programs for Kids in Southern Nevada
Children's Mobile Crisis Response Team
24/7 crisis help for kids and teens under 18, at home, at school, or by phone, anywhere in Clark County.
Phone: (702) 486-7865
Website: knowcrisis.com
DCFS Children's Mental Health Services
State clinic with assessments, therapy, and medication care for kids and teens, plus early childhood services. Accepts Medicaid, some private insurance, and kids without insurance. Call intake to confirm ages served.
Address: 4530 S Decatur Blvd, Ste 201, Las Vegas, NV 89103
Phone: (702) 486-0440
Website: dcfs.nv.gov
Nevada Early Intervention Services (NEIS)
Free evaluations for kids from birth to age 3 with speech, motor, or developmental delays. Parents call directly.
Address: 1161 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: (702) 486-9200
Website: adsd.nv.gov
CCSD Child Find
Free special education evaluations for preschool-age kids not yet in school, plus homeschooled and private school students.
Address: 2625 E St. Louis Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Phone: (702) 799-7463
Website: ssd.ccsd.net
Hazel Health for CCSD Students
Free teletherapy for Clark County School District students, at school or at home.
Phone: (702) 718-0123
Boys Town Nevada Behavioral Health Clinic
Therapy and evaluations for kids 2 to 18, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, and behavior. Accepts Medicaid plans and most insurance.
Address: 8390 W Windmill Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89113
Phone: (702) 888-1340
Website: boystown.org
UNLV Health Mojave Counseling for Kids
Therapy and psychiatry for kids and teens 5 to 18.
Address: 6375 W Charleston Blvd, Ste A-100, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Phone: (702) 253-0818
Website: unlvhealth.org
UNLV The PRACTICE
University training clinic with a School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic for kids 5 to 16.
Address: 4505 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89154
Phone: (702) 895-1532
Website: unlv.edu/thepractice
Jewish Family Service Agency
Counseling for kids and families. Accepts Medicaid, with discounted rates for some families without insurance.
Address: 5851 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Phone: (702) 732-0304
Website: jfsalv.org
Nevada PEP
Free support for families of kids with mental health needs or disabilities, including help with school IEPs.
Address: 7211 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89117
Phone: (702) 388-8899
Website: nvpep.org
Medicaid and Nevada Check Up for Kids' Therapy
Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check Up cover child therapy, family therapy, psychiatric care, and approved testing, usually with no copay. Through Healthy Kids (EPSDT), kids on Medicaid get medically necessary mental health care through age 20, including ABA therapy for autism. Nevada raised Medicaid therapy rates 10% for kids and teens in January 2025. See how to find a therapist who takes Medicaid.
Who Has to Agree to a Child's Therapy in Nevada?
In Nevada, a parent or legal guardian usually consents to therapy for a child under 18. Nevada law lists a few exceptions, such as minors living apart from their parents. When divorced or separated parents share joint legal custody, Nevada courts expect parents to consult each other on major health decisions, and many therapists ask for both parents' consent or a copy of the custody order before the first session. Bring your custody paperwork to intake. This section is general information, not legal advice.
Two Stories From Around the Valley
These stories are examples, not real people or reviews.
Mia, Mountain's Edge
Mia, 5, started screaming at kindergarten drop-off every morning and waking up at night after her grandmother died. Her parents tried sticker charts and treats. Maria, an LMFT and Registered Play Therapist, saw Mia weekly in a playroom full of dollhouses and sand trays, and coached her parents on bedtime and goodbyes. Three months later, drop-off takes two minutes.
The Tran Family, Green Valley
After a move from California and a new baby, 9-year-old Ethan started hitting his little sister and refusing homework. His parents argued about discipline every night. They started family therapy by telehealth with Daniel, an LCPC, who helped them agree on one plan and carve out one-on-one time with Ethan. The fights at home went from daily to rare.
What Child and Family Therapy Costs in Las Vegas
Most insurance plans, Nevada Medicaid, and Nevada Check Up cover child and family therapy. Without insurance, typical rates:
| Type of visit | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Therapy with a graduate student therapist | About $40 to $60 |
| Therapy with a post-graduate intern | About $90 to $125 |
| Therapy with a fully licensed therapist | About $125 and up |
| Family therapy session | About $125 to $175 |
| First psychiatric evaluation | About $150 to $375 |
| Psychological testing at UNLV's training clinic | About $300 to $1,000, sliding scale |
See our Insurance and Cost guide or free and low-cost options.
Need Help Right Now?
For kids and teens under 18, call the Children's Mobile Crisis Response Team at (702) 486-7865, 24/7. Call or text 988 any time. Text HOME to 741741. If someone is in danger, call 911.
Child and Family Therapy FAQ
How do I find a child therapist in Las Vegas?
Ask your pediatrician, call your insurance, or tell us your child's age, concern, and insurance on our Get Connected form. Within 24 hours, we'll email you child therapists with openings.
What age can a child start therapy?
Kids as young as 2 benefit from therapy, usually through play and parent coaching. Play therapy fits ages 3 to 12 best, and PCIT works with kids 2 to 7 and their parents.
What is play therapy?
Play therapy uses toys, art, and games to help kids express feelings and practice new behavior. Look for a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), a therapist with extra training in play therapy.
Does Medicaid cover therapy for kids in Nevada?
Yes. Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check Up cover child therapy, family therapy, psychiatric care, and approved testing, usually with no copay.
Do both parents have to consent to therapy in Nevada?
Usually one parent or guardian consents. With joint legal custody, Nevada courts expect parents to consult each other on major health decisions, so many therapists ask for both parents' consent or the custody order. Check with a family law attorney about your situation.
How long does child therapy take?
Many families notice progress within a few months of weekly sessions. Your therapist sets goals with you at the start and checks progress along the way.
Where can I find family therapy in Henderson, NV?
Licensed marriage and family therapists and other family therapists see Henderson families in Green Valley, Anthem, Inspirada, and across the city, in person or by telehealth. Tell us what you need, and we'll email you options within 24 hours.
Should my child see a therapist or a psychiatrist?
Start with a therapist for most concerns. A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner helps when symptoms are severe or therapy alone isn't enough. Clark County has few child psychiatrists, so ask your pediatrician about NV PAL consults.
What if my child is in crisis?
Call the Children's Mobile Crisis Response Team at (702) 486-7865, 24/7, or call or text 988. Call 911 if someone is in danger.
Ready to Find a Child Therapist?
Tell us your child's age and what's going on. Within 24 hours, we'll email you with vetted providers who have openings. Free.
Get Connected