Q and A with Carrie Manning, LPC-S, RPT-S

Carrie is a therapist and owner of Reach Counseling in Fort Worth, TX. In this article, she answers questions about herself, her approach to counseling, and her therapy services. Carrie also provides some advice for stressed-out parents.

Q. What are your credentials and areas of expertise?

A. I love working with children and teens to help them reach their goals and discover their strengths. My expertise is in helping kids (and their families) who are experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges. 

My credentials:

Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor

Registered Play Therapist Supervisor

Certified Aut-Play®  Therapist (a family play therapy approach designed to meet the needs of neurodivergent kids and teens)

TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) Practitioner 

Q. What types of people seek out your services?

A. Many parents/guardians reach out to me because they are concerned about their child or teen. Some parents start to notice that their child is experiencing symptoms such as excessive worries or fears, anger outbursts, or difficulties in school. Other parents contact me because their child has gone through something hard like losing a loved one, family changes, or a traumatic event. 

I work with many presenting problems while helping families customize a treatment plan that meets their needs. I work with ages four and up.

Q. What types of therapy do you offer?

A. For younger clients (ages 4-10), I offer play therapy which is an effective modality to work with children using their natural language of play. I use a “direct” approach to play therapy which means that I integrate lessons and creative ways to teach kids skills such as using positive coping strategies. For example, we might make a customized feelings chart or play “Coping Skills” Bingo in our session.

For tweens and teens, I offer individual therapy and utilize creative techniques such as arts, sandtray, games/activities, and talk therapy to help keep them engaged in their treatment.

I also provide parent consultation sessions to help give parents behavioral feedback based on my therapy observations, assess how the client is progressing, and help provide strategies to help the client and family at home and school.

Based on the client’s and family’s needs, I will provide family therapy sessions to help the client improve their communication and help build family connections.

TBRI - Trust-Based Relational Interventions - I utilize TBRI techniques to help clients who have come from a background of abuse, trauma, or neglect. I plan to offer TBRI Caregiver training in the future.

I offer AutPlay® Therapy for neurodivergent kids and teens (ages 3-18). AutPlay® is a family play therapy approach that addresses the mental health needs of individuals. It includes targeted interventions tailored to the client’s needs that focus on emotional regulation, social skills development, and connection-building.

We also offer Group Therapy . Contact our office to see what current groups we have available.

Q. Do you offer counseling via telehealth?

A. I prefer to see younger clients in person as this will be the most effective way to provide play therapy and other interventions. I can offer telehealth for teens if needed, but I prefer to meet the client in person before proceeding with telehealth.  I can provide telehealth options to parents for intake sessions or parent consultations.

Q. What is your therapeutic approach to counseling?

A. I use an eclectic approach grounded in Adlerian Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and trauma-informed care concepts. I hope to help clients learn new ways of thinking about themselves and infuse hope in their circumstances. I see parents and clients as co-partners in their therapeutic journey. I aim to establish a trusting relationship with my clients and their families that helps encourage growth. 

Q. What is your professional background?

A. I have over 14 years of counseling experience working with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional disturbance, Autism, ADD/ADHD, behavior problems, social skills challenges, history of abuse, and trauma. My counseling career started by working with survivors of sexual assault and victims of crime. I was a school-based counselor for 11 years, including nine years as a Special Education Counselor.

Q. What advice would you give a stressed-out parent with concerns about their child?

A. First, take care of yourself. It can be hard to see signs that your child is struggling. Put on your oxygen mask so that you can help your child. Get support and care when you need it. There are many options for mental health care for adults these days, including therapists who offer telehealth services, which is an excellent option for busy parents.

Start with communication and connection if you notice your child has emotional or behavioral challenges. Spend extra time with your child away from a screen. Go for a walk in the park or do an art project together. Reflect on the emotions that you observe. For example, “I notice that you seem frustrated when ____. Tell me more about that.” Or try to start a conversation, “Tell me about the silliest/funniest part of your day. Tell me about the scariest or most frustrating part of your day.” Listen without judging or correcting. Avoid saying things like, “That is nothing to be scared of!” or “You shouldn’t be mad about that!” Instead, reflect on what they say, such as, “That sounds scary and is hard for you.” Attuning to their emotions helps them to feel heard and understood.

If you need additional resources about concerns for your child, talk to your child’s school counselor. School counselors are skilled professionals who can help kids and families and connect them with community resources. You can also seek out the advice of a licensed therapist. Most therapists offer free consultations to parents and can help guide you in deciding the best treatment for your child. You can search for local therapists through directories such as www.psychologytoday.com, which allows you to filter by specialties such as “play therapy” or search for providers who accept your insurance. 

Q. How can people connect or follow you for more advice?

A. You can follow me on the Reach Counseling Facebook or Instagram page. You can also reach me directly at carrie@reachcounseling.com