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Children First
On-Site Children’s School Counseling Program

Bringing Mental Wellness into Colorado Schools

The Children First program serves the unique mental health needs of children and their families with on-site children’s counseling services at 17 local schools. In 2021, we were able to provide over 3,300 sessions to students ranging from ages 5 to 18 – nearly a 700 session or 27% increase from 2020!

Children’s counseling to help kids succeed

The Children First program supports kids who are experiencing emotional, social, or behavioral problems and helps them develop new skills, improve peer relationships, focus on their academic performance and succeed in school. Children First offers an innovative and creative solution for schools that want to provide on-site counseling services to their children, including family therapy when needed, but lack the necessary budgets or resources to do so.

Children on a dock at lake. Playtime therapy is a form of children's counseling.

The Children First Program offers:

  • Individual counseling, including play therapy
  • Group child counseling
  • Communication and problem-solving skills for children and parents
  • Classroom interventions
  • Family Therapy
  • Resources for identifying children with more serious mental health needs
  • Grief Counseling

Children First counselors address the unique needs of each child while emphasizing self esteem as well as social and emotional skill development in all students.

Dedicated therapists for kids

The Children First program places highly motivated and committed graduate-level interns in schools to work with existing school staff. Over the years, this team approach has proven to be extremely effective in addressing the needs of children, their families, and the school.

Support mental wellness for your child’s school

Help children get the social/emotional support they need with a Children First Counselor at your school. If you’d like to start Children First Programming at your school, contact Heather Rera, LPC, Director of Co-located Programs, at 720-295-4536.