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The Ariel Difference
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The Ariel Difference  |  Types of Service  |  Supports  |  Locations  |  Getting Started  |  FAQs

What is child and family therapy?

Children who have experienced trauma, loss, or disruption carry those experiences with them, sometimes in ways they can’t yet put into words. Therapy gives them space to process what they’ve been through, build coping skills, and start to heal. Ariel’s therapy team works with children, youth, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) of all ages, genders, and cognitive abilities. The most common presenting concerns are anxiety, depression, and trauma, including trauma rooted in removal and foster care placement. At the heart of our approach is one foundational belief: behavior is communication about what someone has been through, not who they are.

The Ariel Difference

Many on Ariel’s therapy team have worked directly in the child welfare system. They’ve seen what removal does to children and families, and they understand the layers a foster care placement adds to a child’s life: the disruption, the complicated emotions around family time, the work of learning to trust again. That lived professional experience means less time spent on context and more time spent on the work that actually helps. When Ariel recognized how difficult it had become for families in this region to access qualified therapists, the decision was clear: bring therapy in-house, so the children and families we serve don’t have to look elsewhere for something this essential.

Being part of the same organization as foster care and family time means collaboration happens in real time, not through scheduled handoffs. When a bedtime routine starts unraveling, a case manager can walk down the hall and talk to the child’s therapist the same day. When a session is hard, the therapist walks a child out to the foster parent’s car and takes sixty seconds to share what matters. It’s the kind of coordination that’s genuinely difficult to replicate when services are spread across different organizations. When a child or family needs more intensive support, the team can adapt—therapists, case managers, and coordinators working together more closely for as long as that’s what’s needed. 

For children in therapy, consistency isn’t incidental — it’s part of the treatment. Appointments are predictable. Therapists show up. For a child who has learned not to count on things staying the same, that reliability is not a small thing.

Meet Marina

Reunification is one of the hardest things a family can work toward. For Marina, a parent navigating both recovery and the process of bringing her children home, therapy wasn’t another requirement to get through. It was the place where something shifted.

“Having a therapist who truly understands and supports me has made all the difference. I’ve learned to express myself, communicate my needs, and manage my emotions in ways I never could before. I no longer feel pressured or forced — I feel heard, valued, and supported through every step. This journey has not only changed my life but has also created a better future for my kids. I finally feel connected, and I’m incredibly grateful for the care and dedication that have helped me get here.” — Marina

Types of Child and Family Therapy Services

Ariel’s therapy team uses evidence-based approaches tailored to each person’s needs, developmental stage, and therapeutic goals. Children, youth, and adults with I/DD may participate in one or a combination of these approaches based on what will serve them best.

  • Individual Therapy | One-on-one sessions where a person works privately with a therapist to process experiences, build coping strategies, and work toward personal goals. This format provides a confidential space for deep, personalized support.

  • Family Therapy | Sessions that bring family members together: birth parents, foster parents, siblings, or other caregivers. The focus is on improving communication, strengthening relationships, and developing shared strategies for supporting a child’s healing.

  • Group Therapy | Small group sessions where people with similar experiences meet regularly to share, learn, and grow together. Led by a trained therapist, group therapy offers peer support and the grounding that comes from knowing you’re not alone. Ariel currently offers DBT groups for children and youth ages 5–14. Birth families may also be served in group formats.

Additionally, our team includes staff trained and specializing in the following modalities:

  • I/DD-Specific Therapy, Evidence-Based | Specialized approaches designed for children, youth, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, addressing unique cognitive, emotional, and behavioral needs through adapted techniques that support mental health and quality of life.
  • Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), Evidence-Based | Leverages play as the primary medium for expression and healing, allowing children to explore emotions and develop coping skills at their own pace. The therapist creates a safe, accepting environment where the child leads and the therapist follows.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Evidence-Based | Helps individuals manage intense emotions, reduce self-harm behaviors, and improve relationships through skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Particularly effective for those experiencing depression, impulsivity, or suicidal thoughts.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Evidence-Based | Focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to mental health challenges. Clients learn practical problem-solving skills, build self-confidence, and develop strategies to cope with difficult situations in the present.
  • Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Evidence-Based | Adapts CBT specifically to help individuals and their caregivers process and overcome trauma-related symptoms. This approach reduces negative emotional and behavioral responses following traumatic experiences through gradual, supportive work.
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Evidence-Based | Uses bilateral stimulation — eye movements, tapping, or pulsing devices — while recalling distressing memories to facilitate emotional healing. Originally developed for trauma, EMDR helps the brain reprocess difficult experiences in a less distressing way.
  • Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), Evidence-Based | A therapeutic model designed to meet the complex needs of children from hard places, addressing trauma through empowering, connecting, and correcting principles that support healing within relationships

Additional support available with Child and Family Therapy

Therapy at Ariel doesn’t operate in isolation. The same organization that provides therapy also coordinates foster care, family time, mentoring, and behavioral support — so the people working with your child or family are already in conversation with one another.

Where we provide Child and Family Therapy

Ariel’s therapy services are provided in person at our Grand Junction office, Monday through Friday. In-person care is intentional: it makes real-time collaboration with case managers and family time supervisors possible, and it gives patients the consistency that matters most in therapeutic work.

Grand Junction 2938 North Avenue, Suite G Grand Junction, CO 81504 (970) 245-1616

Telehealth sessions are available when appropriate and as needed, for example in cases of illness, rural access barriers, or specific diagnoses.

If Ariel isn’t able to accommodate you on a timeline that works, we won’t leave you without options. For those in the Grand Junction area, community providers we often refer to include:

If you’re outside the Grand Junction area: Colorado has a strong network of mental and behavioral health providers, and Ariel can help connect you with the right fit for your situation. Reach out to your Ariel case manager as a first step.

How to get started with Child and Family Therapy Services

How you connect with Ariel’s therapy team depends on your situation.

If your child is in Ariel’s foster care program: Talk to your case manager. They coordinate directly with the therapy team and can discuss whether therapy is appropriate and arrange the initial steps.

If you’re receiving Adult Services through Ariel: Speak with your case manager about therapy options. Depending on your situation, therapy may be covered through waiver programs.

If you’re a county caseworker or Guardian ad Litem (GAL): Contact Ariel directly at (970) 245-1616 or use our contact form to discuss therapy for a child or family you’re supporting.

Other access options: Ariel also accepts Medicaid and private pay for those seeking therapy independently or through other community partners. Call (970) 245-1616 and ask to speak with the Therapy Supervisor; they’ll walk you through the required paperwork and help with scheduling.

There’s typically a waitlist — we wish that weren’t the case. Clients connected to Ariel’s foster care or waiver programs take scheduling priority, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try to fit others in when we can. If the timing genuinely doesn’t work, we won’t leave you without options. We’ll connect you with other providers rather than send you off on your own.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you don’t find what you’re looking for below, feel free to ask your question via our Contact Form.

We accept Medicaid and private pay.

Ariel’s therapy team works with children, youth, and adults with I/DD of all ages and all genders. For children in foster care, therapy can begin very young, including toddler-age children using play-based approaches. There is no upper age limit for adults with I/DD.

Our therapy team is made up of master’s-level licensed professional therapists with specialized training in trauma-informed care. About a third of the team has worked directly in the child welfare system; they’ve been inside the foster care world and bring that context to every session. Our team welcomes people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities.

The first session focuses on completing required Colorado state paperwork, discussing current challenges and goals, and getting to know one another so we can best support you.

Each session is scheduled for one hour. How long someone participates in therapy depends on their diagnosis, attendance, and level of engagement. Some people benefit from a few focused months; others need longer-term support. Your therapist will discuss goals and progress with you throughout.

It depends on the therapeutic approach and what’s best for the child. Some sessions are individual; some include family members. The therapist will discuss what makes sense for each situation.

Therapists are trained to work with reluctance, and it looks different at different ages. For younger children or those who aren’t verbal, play therapy provides a way in that doesn’t require words. For older children and teenagers, therapists may use structured activities, skill-building exercises, or simply spend time building the relationship before going deeper. The goal is always to meet the child where they are — not to push them somewhere they’re not ready to go.

We do our best to accommodate therapist preferences while also considering the best fit for your specific needs and goals.

Sessions are primarily in person, held at our Grand Junction office. We do offer telehealth when appropriate and as needed, for example in cases of illness, rural access barriers, or specific diagnoses.

Typically, yes. Clients connected to Ariel’s foster care or waiver programs take scheduling priority, but we’ll always try to fit people in when we can. If the timing doesn’t work, we won’t leave you without options. See the location section above for referrals in Grand Junction, or contact your caseworker for resources outside the area.

Call (970) 245-1616 and ask to speak with the Therapy Supervisor. They’ll walk you through the required paperwork and help with scheduling.

Yes. We follow HIPAA and Personal Health Information (PHI) confidentiality requirements and treat your information with care. Exceptions include situations involving danger to self or others, suspected abuse, or a court subpoena. As an organization, we may coordinate services internally, but only information that’s relevant to your care is shared.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. We understand that things come up, but two consecutive no-shows may result in the loss of your preferred appointment time.

At this time, therapy sessions are scheduled Monday through Friday and are held at the Ariel office. We don’t offer weekend or in-home sessions.

No. Ariel does not offer Reunification Therapy.

No. Ariel’s therapists cannot make custody recommendations and will not testify as expert witnesses.

Ariel is not a crisis counseling center. If you’re experiencing a crisis, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital or emergency room.

Progress looks different for everyone. Some signs include better emotional regulation, improved relationships, decreased behavioral challenges, or an increased ability to talk about experiences and develop healthier coping strategies. Your therapist will discuss goals and track progress with you.

Therapy addresses underlying emotional and psychological needs, helping people process experiences and build coping skills. Behavioral services focus on observable behaviors and teaching specific strategies to manage them. The two often work together: therapy addresses the why; behavioral support addresses the what and how.

Yes. During our initial conversation, we’ll ask about your preferences so we can best match you with a therapist.

During your initial intake conversation, the team will ask about your availability and work to find a consistent time that suits both you and your therapist. Once that’s established, there’s not much to manage. You both simply know that Thursdays at 4 p.m. are yours, for example. When illness or other commitments come up, you and your therapist will work out an alternate plan.

Simple Practice is Ariel’s confidential online portal for managing paperwork and account information. You may receive information about accessing it once services begin. If you have questions, ask your therapist.

By and large, patients feel better overall. They develop stronger coping skills, experience more and deeper connections in their relationships, and carry more hope about what’s ahead. Many begin to engage more with their community and find daily living tasks easier to manage. For children, families often notice better emotional regulation, calmer behavior at home, and a greater ability to talk about difficult experiences.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or call 911 for immediate emergencies. For a comprehensive list of mental health and crisis resources, visit suicidepreventionmc.org/resources.

For challenges like food insecurity, housing instability, or job loss, community resources are available at 211colorado.org (statewide) or wc211.org (Western Slope).

We accept Medicaid and private pay.

>> Unless otherwise noted, all images and names represent real Members but actual images and names have not been used for privacy reasons. <<