Kids & Teens Sessions
For those who:
Are learning to develop healthy manners, social skills, and respectful communication
Need support with emotional regulation, self-control, and managing big feelings
Want guidance in understanding biblical principles, discipleship, and building a strong foundation of faith
Are exploring identity, self-worth, and their sense of purpose
Are experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness, or relational struggles
Have difficulty with confidence, self-esteem, or expressing themselves
Are navigating challenges at home, school, or in peer relationships
Have experienced bullying or feel isolated or misunderstood
Are neurodivergent and would benefit from individualized, strengths-based support
Need help building communication skills or becoming more confident in social or performance settings
Are engaging in self-harm or other harmful coping behaviors
Have experienced trauma, loss, or significant life changes and would benefit from ongoing support and healing
A Biblically-sound therapeutic space for boys & girls 9+
Faren Zayda integrates Teleo software in her work with children and teens. However, parents have the option, indicated on the intake form, to choose the therapeutic approach they feel best suits their child.
How Virtual Sessions for Kids and Teens Work
Faren creates a safe, engaging, and supportive space where children and teens can feel comfortable being themselves. Through virtual sessions, she connects with each child in a way that feels natural and meaningful, helping them open up, process their experiences, and grow.
Her work primarily draws from Narrative Therapy, EMDR, and interactive online play therapy using Teleo. This allows sessions to be creative, developmentally appropriate, and well-suited for virtual care, especially for younger children and teens who express themselves best through play, art, and storytelling.
Before your child’s first session, parents or guardians complete a brief intake assessment. This gives Faren insight into your child’s unique needs and helps shape a thoughtful, personalized approach from the very beginning.
During sessions, Faren gently builds connection and trust while engaging your child or teen in a focused, age-appropriate therapeutic process. Whether through conversation, storytelling, or interactive virtual play, her goal is to help them feel understood, supported, and empowered as they work through challenges and build confidence.
Faren also values partnering with parents and caregivers. Because children and teens are deeply influenced by their home and school environments, she offers optional support between sessions through a secure messaging portal. This may include general updates, helpful insights, and practical resources, while still protecting your child’s sense of privacy and trust.
Parent or caregiver consultations of up to 20 minutes per week are available at no additional cost for children under 13, and for older teens with their consent. These sessions offer space for guidance, questions, and support along the way.
For families who desire it, Faren can thoughtfully incorporate a Christian perspective into the therapeutic process, supporting not only emotional well-being, but a deeper sense of purpose, identity, and growth.
Frequently asked questions:
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Faren has over 15 years of experience supporting children and teens, starting at age 17 in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, caring for abandoned infants. She completed formal training in Child Psychology and has worked with children aged 3 months to 18 years in schools, churches, non-profits, and private homes across South Africa, Canada, the USA, and Bolivia.
She has experience addressing sensitive family challenges such as divorce, terminal illness, abuse, and addiction, and supporting children with special needs, including ADHD, autism, selective mutism, FASD, and Down syndrome.
Faren has also worked as a nanny, mentor, homeschooling teacher, and classroom educator, including teaching second- and third-language learners. She partners closely with parents and caregivers, supporting families through everyday challenges and complex life situations.
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Faren partners closely with parents and caregivers, working from a Christian foundation while respecting each family’s unique worldview and beliefs. A thorough intake process, including a comprehensive intake form, invites parents to share their values, priorities, and faith-based preferences.
Faren is committed to aligning her therapeutic approach with both biblical principles and the family’s values, ensuring children receive guidance that reflects the convictions of their home. Her goal is to support children in growing emotionally, socially, and spiritually within a framework that honors both their faith and their family’s principles.
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Narrative Therapy helps children and teens tell their own stories in a safe space. By exploring how they see themselves and the challenges they face, they can reframe experiences, build confidence, and develop a stronger sense of identity.
Virtual Play Therapy uses online tools, games, and creative activities to help children express their feelings and work through challenges in a developmentally appropriate way. It’s especially helpful for younger children who communicate best through play.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma-focused therapy that helps children and teens process difficult memories or experiences safely, reducing emotional distress and supporting healing.
All of these approaches are tailored to each child’s needs, helping them grow emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
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The choice depends on your child’s needs and goals. Regular therapy, such as narrative or play therapy, is ideal for helping children build emotional skills, process everyday challenges, improve social skills, and strengthen identity and confidence.
EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy designed to help children safely process distressing or overwhelming experiences such as abuse, loss, or other significant events.
Faren can help assess your child’s situation and recommend the most appropriate approach or combination of therapies to support both emotional growth and healing.
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Child/teen sessions focus on your child and the therapeutic relationship. Faren uses this time to make observations, provide age-appropriate guidance, teach coping strategies, and implement interventions that support your child’s emotional, social, and behavioral growth.
Family therapy sessions are ideal when the main goal is improving relationships within the family. These sessions focus on communication, parenting strategies, and relationship dynamics, using interactive exercises to model healthy interactions and strengthen connections between your child and family members.
