Raising Brave Kids - Child & Family Therapy

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Portland, OR
Raising Brave Kids - Child & Family Therapy

Child and family mental health & wellness for kids, teens, and parents. Offering support in California & Oregon

***Disclaimer: Content shared on this page is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy or medical advice. If you or your child need immediate support, please seek help from a licensed mental health professional or call a national crisis hotline 988

Were Child Anxiety & OCD specialists

Anxiety, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in kids

can show up in big ways and leave families spiraling. Being parents ourselves we get that we can’t always prevent our kids from struggling, but we can give them the skills to thrive in the face of life's challenges. With skill building through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), we empower kids and parents to build a robust toolbox of science-backed strategies to conquer fears and reclaim their lives from anxiety and OCD. If You're Feeling Stuck Call Us, We Can Help

If you're feeling stuck us a call, we can help. At our practice, we focus on providing kids with the skills they need to manage life's challenges successfully. The therapy we provide focuses on teaching children to be aware of their own emotions, to notice and critically evaluate their thoughts and to employ adaptive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, and other self-soothing skills to help themselves remain grounded in difficult situations rather than getting swept away by worry or big emotions. Our team is playful, energetic, and collaborative, always finding fun, developmentally-appropriate ways to personalize treatment and connect with kids. We care deeply about helping families thrive and getting kids back to the stuff they care about. Parents Need Support Too

Parents need support too! The family environment is an important factor in children's behaviors and emotions. We get that anxiety not only bosses kids around but will often boss the whole family. Parents, we want to make life easier and so we offer both parenting group sessions and 1:1 parent consultation to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to support your child effectively. We’re here to help your family move forward with confidence.

06/16/2026

If you have an anxious child, this CBT strategy can help.

One of the most effective anxiety coping skills for kids is learning that thoughts are not facts.

When children struggle with anxiety, their brains often create a story:

“I’ll fail.”
“No one likes me.”
“Something bad is going to happen.”

Instead of arguing with the thought or offering reassurance, try asking:

💭 What’s another possible story?
💭 What else could be true?
💭 Is there another way to look at this situation?

This cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skill helps kids develop flexible thinking, reduce anxious thoughts, and build emotional resilience.

The goal isn’t positive thinking. The goal is helping children recognize that anxiety is only telling one version of the story.

When kids learn to consider multiple possibilities, they gain perspective, confidence, and stronger coping skills for anxiety.

Save this for the next time your child gets stuck in an anxiety spiral.

06/10/2026

One of the ways we help kids make sense of anxiety is by giving it a shape, a face, and sometimes even a name.

When anxiety becomes something outside of us, it's easier to get curious about it. Instead of "I am anxious," we can start to say, "Bob (or my worry brain) is getting really loud right now."

When kids create their own worry characters, we can explore together:
🍪 What "feeds" it?
Maybe it’s avoidance, seeking reassurance, or getting stuck in endless "what ifs."

🔎 What are its favorite tricks?
Does it predict bad things will happen? Tell you to stay home? Convince you that you have to follow one of its rigid rules to be okay?

💪 What helps it shrink?
Practicing bravery, facing fears, flexible thinking, self-compassion, and learning that uncomfortable feelings can be handled.

The goal isn't to get rid of anxiety completely. It's to help kids recognize its patterns and build confidence in their ability to respond differently.

That's the kind of brave work we get to do every day. 💙

06/04/2026

🌈 Happy Pride Month! One of the most powerful things we can teach our children is that everyone deserves respect, kindness, and the freedom to be themselves.

Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate diversity, learn from different experiences, and have meaningful conversations about acceptance and belonging.

When children feel seen and supported, they develop the courage to show up authentically in the world.

Here's to raising brave, compassionate kids who know that everyone deserves a place to belong 💛

05/28/2026

Books can help kids make sense of big feelings in ways that feel approachable, empowering, and a little less scary!

Marissa’s pick: Chloe and the Bossy Cloud by Natasha Daniels ☁️📘

A story that helps kids better understand worries, OCD, and the power of brave, flexible thinking 💪

For more books & resources, visit raisingbravekids.com/resourcesforchildanxietyandocd

05/19/2026

As you’re making summer plans, don’t underestimate the value of trying new things together as a family. 💛

Every new experience gives kids the chance to step outside their comfort zone, make mistakes, problem solve, and build resilience in real life. They learn that they can try something unfamiliar, be creative, and keep going — even when it doesn’t feel perfect the first time.

We visited Mike Bennett Studios in Portland and created a custom sign with a message that felt meaningful to us: ✨ “What if it all works out?” ✨

What we love about experiences like this is that they create so much more than art. They create connection, confidence, creativity, and opportunities for kids to see that growth happens when we’re willing to try.

Because resilience isn’t built by always getting things right — it’s built through curiosity, courage, flexibility, and learning to keep going.

If you’re in Portland, definitely add a visit to Mike Bennett’s free weekend art studio to your summer bucket list. Such a fun and inspiring family activity.

05/12/2026

☀️ Build confidence that lasts beyond summer ☀️

Our Confident Kids Summer Group helps children in grades K - 5 build emotional resilience, social confidence, and practical coping skills in a supportive, playful environment 💛

Kids learn how to:
✔️ Navigate big feelings
✔️ Challenge unhelpful thoughts
✔️ Build friendship and communication skills
✔️ Strengthen self-confidence
✔️ Practice coping tools they can use every day
✔️ Approach challanges with more courage and self-trust

Through connection, creativity, and skill-building, children leave with tools that support them long after summer ends.

Small, in-person groups in NW Portland 📍

Enrollment closes soon. Reserve your child’s spot today: raisingbravekids.com/confident-kids-group-summer

05/05/2026

We’re excited to be part of OCD Con 2026 ✨

Teana + Kat are bringing two interactive workshops designed to help kids face OCD in ways that actually click: through play, creativity, and real, evidence-based tools.

From rolling the dice in Roll for Courage 🎲 to sailing the “What-If Seas” in Swashbuckling Bravery 🏴‍☠️… it’s all about helping kids practice bravery in ways they can carry with them.

If you’re attending, come find us! We’d love to see you there 💛

04/28/2026

So your teen has a therapist and a plan - but in the moment, they still need language to ask for support without getting pulled into reassurance loops. 💛

And let’s be real, teens don’t always want to talk when OCD is loud. Having something simple they can point to or text can make a big difference.

👉 Try printing these out, saving them in their phone, or even giving each one a number they can use instead of explaining everything in the moment.

They’re not asking for less support --
they’re asking for the kind of support that actually helps.

That’s how teens build confidence, tolerate uncertainty, and take back control from OCD 💛

04/21/2026

We had to capture this moment 🎉

Teana & Kat were selected as scholarship recipients through the PANDAS Physicians Network for advanced training in Neuroimmune OCD! International OCD Foundation

They’ll be attending a pre-conference session at OCDCon in Seattle focused on diagnosis and coordinated care for PANS/PANDAS.

This work matters. Expanding access to informed, multidisciplinary care matters. We’re proud and excited for what this means for the Raising Brave Kids community 👏

📖 If you’d like to learn more about the incredible work being done by International OCD Foundation or Pandas Physicians Network - PPN explore:

iocdf.org and pandasppn.org

🔔 Clinicians: tickets are still available for the pre-conference training. Come hang out with us!

events.iocdf.org/event/OCDCON26/pre-conference-trainings

04/14/2026

We’re celebrating 3 years of Meg with Raising Brave Kids! 💛

As our Clinical Care Coordinator, Meg is often the first friendly voice families connect with & the steady presence behind the scenes keeping everything running smoothly.

From guiding parents through next steps to supporting our team day to day, she plays a huge role in the care we provide.

Meg brings a thoughtful, grounded approach to everything she does, always keeping families and their experience at the center. We’re so grateful for her dedication, care, and calm energy.

Thank you for 3 amazing years, Meg!

Address

2330 NW Flanders Street Suite 104
Portland, OR
97210

Telephone

+14159156279

Website

http://www.raisingbravekids.com/

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