Working with Children and Teens

When your child or teenager is struggling, it can be hard to know what to do next. You want them to have a place where they can talk honestly, feel understood, and learn practical tools to cope.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Enid, OK, Darrell Ring provides child counseling and teen counseling with an approach that supports the whole family – not just the problem of the week.

Who Darrell Works With

Darrell offers child and teen counseling in Enid, Oklahoma for:

  • Children (roughly ages 6–12)

  • Teens and older adolescents (middle school and high school)

Common concerns include:

  • Anxiety, worry, and panic

  • Depression, sadness, or withdrawal

  • School stress, perfectionism, or overwhelm

  • Behavioral concerns at home or school

  • Difficulty with friends or social situations

  • Grief and loss

  • Family conflict, transitions, or divorce

  • Low self-esteem and identity questions

If you’re unsure whether counseling is right for your child or teen, Darrell is happy to talk through your concerns and help you decide next steps.

What to Expect: Child and Teen Counseling in Enid, OK

Darrell’s goal is to make counseling predictable, respectful, and safe for young clients and their caregivers.

1. Parent/Guardian Intake

Counseling with minors usually begins with a parent or guardian intake appointment:

  • You share your concerns, your child’s history, and what you hope will change.

  • Darrell explains how counseling works, how confidentiality is handled with minors, and what you can expect going forward.

  • Together you discuss whether child counseling or teen counseling is the best fit and clarify initial goals.

This meeting helps you feel informed and gives Darrell a strong foundation before he meets your child or teen individually.

2. First Session with Your Child or Teen

When your child or teen comes for their first session:

  • Darrell focuses on building trust and safety.

  • With younger children, this may include drawing, play, or age-appropriate activities.

  • With teens, it often looks more like a real conversation – honest, low-pressure, and respectful.

The goal of this first session is not to solve everything but to create a space where your child or teen feels safe enough to keep showing up and doing real work.

How Darrell Supports Parents and Caregivers

Parents and caregivers are a crucial part of effective child and teen therapy.

Darrell may:

  • Ask for updates about home, school, friendships, or behavior

  • Offer practical strategies you can try between sessions

  • Schedule parent-only check-ins to talk about progress, boundaries, and next steps

The aim is to help you feel supported and equipped – not blamed or criticized.

Confidentiality with Children and Teens

For counseling to help, your child or teen needs a space where they can be honest. At the same time, you as a parent or guardian have important rights and responsibilities for their safety and care.

Darrell works to balance both:

  • Your child’s need for privacy so they feel safe to talk

  • Your legal rights and role as the adult responsible for their wellbeing

In everyday practice:

  • Darrell does not share every detail of what your child or teen says in session.

  • He typically shares themes, progress, and recommendations (for example, “We’re working on coping skills for anxiety,” or “We’re focusing on friendships and self-esteem”).

  • If your child or teen shares something that suggests they are at risk of harm (to themselves or others), Darrell will involve you as quickly and respectfully as possible and help you understand what’s going on and what steps are needed.

How this fits with Oklahoma law

Under Oklahoma law, parents generally have broad rights to access and review their minor child’s medical records, unless another law specifically limits that access in certain situations.

Darrell complies with:

  • Oklahoma law on parents’ rights and minor medical records

  • Federal privacy rules (including HIPAA) that govern mental health information and psychotherapy notes. 

  • The ethical standards for Licensed Professional Counselors

If you ever have questions about what can be shared, or you want more detailed information about your child or teen’s records:

  • Darrell will talk with you directly about what the law allows or requires,

  • Explain what is contained in the clinical record,

  • And work with you and your child or teen to share information in a way that protects safety and still supports trust in the counseling process.

The heart of the approach is simple: keep kids and teens safe, keep parents informed, and still preserve as much honest, workable counseling space as the law and ethics allow.

Approach to Counseling with Kids and Teens

Darrell tailors his approach to each young person’s age, personality, and concerns. This may include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools to help kids and teens notice patterns in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

  • Skill-building around coping, problem-solving, and communication

  • Emotion regulation strategies for big feelings and outbursts

  • Family sessions when it’s helpful to work on communication and patterns together

For younger children, more of the work may be playful and creative. For teens, it is often more conversational and collaborative.

Underneath it all, the goal is the same: to help your child or teen feel understood, build resilience, and move toward healthier patterns over time.

Collaboration with Schools and Other Providers

Sometimes it helps to have everyone on the same page.

With your written consent, Darrell may:

  • Coordinate with teachers or school counselors

  • Share information with your child’s pediatrician or medical provider

  • Communicate with other professionals involved in your child or teen’s care

Any collaboration is focused on supporting your child consistently across home, school, and other settings.

How Parents Can Support the Process

You don’t have to be perfect for counseling to help – just engaged and willing.

You can support child or teen counseling by:

  • Making it as easy as possible for your child or teen to attend sessions on time

  • Completing all intake forms before the first appointment so sessions can be used fully for counseling

  • Respecting their need for some privacy about what they share in session

  • Trying out strategies or tools suggested in counseling and giving honest feedback

  • Letting Darrell know if you notice important changes between visits

Small, consistent actions over time often make a bigger difference than big one-time efforts.

How to Get Started: Requesting an Appointment

To begin child or teen counseling in Enid, OK, you’ll start by requesting an appointment:

  1. Submit an appointment request

    • Use the secure online appointment request form (through the SimplePractice client portal or contact links on this site).

    • You can briefly share what you’re hoping your child or teen will get help with.

  2. Darrell reviews and accepts the request

    • Once Darrell accepts your request, your child or teen’s appointment is scheduled.

    • You will receive a confirmation and follow-up emails from SimplePractice.

  3. You receive intake forms by email

    • SimplePractice will email you a link to complete online intake forms for your child or teen.

    • These forms include background information, consent for treatment, and important policies.

Intake Forms: Why They Matter and When They’re Due

The intake forms are not just paperwork – they are what allow Darrell to:

  • Understand your child or teen’s history and current concerns

  • Obtain your consent to treat a minor

  • Follow ethical and legal requirements for counseling

  • Use the first session to actually begin therapeutic work instead of spending it on forms

To protect your child and make the best use of your time:

  • All intake forms must be completed before counseling can begin.

  • If forms are not completed before the first scheduled session, Darrell will need to use session time to walk through and complete them with you.

  • In that case, the visit will still be charged as a regular session, but much less time will be available for actual counseling.

Completing the intake forms before you arrive:

  • Gives Darrell a clear picture of what is going on before you walk in

  • Allows the first session to focus on building trust with your child or teen

  • Helps you get the most value from the time you are paying for

The simplest way to optimize your child or teen’s first session is to finish all Simple Practice intake forms as soon as you receive them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child & Teen Counseling in Enid, OK

Does my child need counseling, or is this just a phase?

If you’re asking the question, it may be helpful to talk with a counselor. Some struggles do pass with time, but early support can keep patterns from getting more entrenched and can give your child (and you) tools to handle future stress more effectively. Counseling can still be valuable even if part of what your child is experiencing is “a phase.”

Will I know everything my teen says in therapy?

Not everything, and that’s on purpose. For teen counseling to be effective, teens need space to be honest without feeling like every word will be repeated.

In everyday practice, Darrell:

  • Shares themes, safety concerns, and recommendations with parents

  • Does not give a play-by-play of every conversation

At the same time, parents have important legal rights related to their child’s medical records, and Darrell follows Oklahoma and federal laws as well as professional ethics. If you ever have questions about what can or cannot be shared, he will talk that through with you directly so everyone is clear and on the same page.

Can I be in the room during my child’s sessions?

Sometimes. For younger children, a parent may be present for part or all of the early sessions to help the child feel safe. Over time, Darrell may recommend:

  • Some sessions with just the child or teen

  • Some sessions with parents or caregivers involved

The mix depends on your child’s age, needs, and what will best support progress.

Do you offer online counseling for kids or teens?

Telehealth may be available in some situations when:

  • Your child or teen is an established client

  • It is clinically appropriate for the child or teen

  • A private, confidential space can be ensured on both sides

  • The family resides in Oklahoma (due to licensing laws)

Telehealth is not the best fit for every child or teen, and availability can vary. You’re welcome to ask about this option.

How does payment and insurance work for child and teen counseling?

Darrell uses a simple private pay model instead of billing insurance directly. Many families appreciate this because it:

  • Keeps decisions about your child’s care between you and Darrell, not an insurance company

  • Avoids insurance limits on the type, length, or frequency of therapy

  • Protects a higher level of privacy, since a mental health diagnosis is not automatically sent to your insurance or added to a shared medical record unless you choose to submit a claim

Payment is due at the time of service, and many families use HSA or FSA funds to pay for sessions.

If you’d like to use your out-of-network benefits, Darrell can provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement amounts depend entirely on your specific plan.

For a step-by-step explanation of private pay, superbills, and how to check your out-of-network benefits, visit the Payment, Insurance, and Superbills page on this site.