Best child & adolescent counselors in West Columbia
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to child & adolescent counseling, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia | 86 | 4.9 (90) | — | Medication management plus therapy |
| 2 | Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia | 85 | 4.7 (281) | — | Wide clinician choice with telehealth |
| 3 | Annie Old, Counselor | 82 | 5 (18) | — | Trauma-informed one-on-one care |
| 4 | Sonja Middleton, Counselor | 82 | 5 (23) | — | Practical coping skills for teens |
| 5 | Pilar Reyna, Counselor | 73 | 5 (7) | — | A judgment-free space for hard conversations |
| 6 | Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia | 72 | 4.2 (151) | — | Building trust with anxious kids |
| 7 | Stephanie L McKenny, Counselor | 65 | 4 (8) | — | Confidence-building with take-home tools |
| 8 | Rene'e Hampton, Counselor | 65 | 5 (5) | — | Trauma work with a direct, goal-focused style |
| 9 | Psychology Services Center | 61 | 3 (9) | — | Low-cost assessments on a sliding scale |
| 10 | Sandra Mccloy, Psychologist | 55 | 5 (1) | — | Evidence-based therapy from a licensed psychologist |
| 11 | Melissa Miller, Psychologist | 31 | — | — | Autism spectrum and neuropsychological testing |
| 12 | Thomas Hutchison, Psychologist | 31 | — | — | Telehealth or in-office testing flexibility |
| 13 | Christopher Jones, Psychologist | 31 | — | — | Broad concerns including career and trauma |
| 14 | Jon Bos, Neuropsychologist | 31 | — | — | Pediatric neuropsychological evaluation |
| 15 | Lynne Fish, Psychologist | 29 | — | — | Long-tenured generalist practice |
Ranked picks
LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia
Why it ranks first
LifeStance combines psychiatry and therapy under one roof, which matters for families needing both a talk therapist and a prescriber who communicate with each other. Dr. Walkup is singled out repeatedly for getting medication right, and the practice offers telehealth for a first visit, useful for a nervous teen easing into treatment.
Pros
- Staff reschedule and accommodate family schedules
- Dr. Walkup praised for precise medication matching
- Telehealth available for first appointments
- Fast script turnaround reported by patients
Watch out: One patient reported no improvement after two months of Spravato treatment and unanswered follow-up emails.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia
Why it ranks second
With well over 250 reviews, Thriveworks Columbia has the volume to back up its reputation, and named clinicians like Celeste, Lee, Yvonne, and Susan draw specific praise for being collaborative and easy for clients to open up to. The telehealth option adds flexibility for busy family schedules.
Pros
- Multiple named clinicians with strong client loyalty
- Telehealth and in-person options
- High review volume suggests consistent booking availability
- Reviewers describe good therapist-client matching
Watch out: One reviewer described a therapist who cut a session short and was dismissive of complex needs, so ask about fit before committing.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, substance abuse counseling, career life coaching
Annie Old, Counselor
Why it ranks third
Annie Old draws a perfect rating across her reviews, with clients specifically noting she handles complex trauma with warmth rather than clinical distance. Notably, some of her clients hold psychology degrees or crisis work backgrounds themselves and still chose her, which speaks to the depth of her approach.
Pros
- Consistently described as an excellent listener
- Comfortable handling complex trauma
- Brings genuine optimism to sessions
- Willing to adapt approach to the client
Watch out: Review volume is modest, so confirm current availability directly.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Sonja Middleton, Counselor
Why it ranks fourth
Sonja Middleton has practiced as a licensed clinical social worker since 2000, and her reviews consistently mention concrete, usable strategies alongside a genuinely warm manner. That combination of experience and approachability is useful for adolescents who need real tools, not just talk.
Pros
- Warm, approachable style clients trust quickly
- Strong listening and empathy noted repeatedly
- Offers practical coping strategies, not just discussion
- Over two decades of clinical experience
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Pilar Reyna, Counselor
Why it ranks fifth
Every review Pilar Reyna has received is five stars, with clients describing her as patient and genuinely invested rather than going through the motions. The review count is small, so treat this as a strong early signal rather than a long track record.
Pros
- Compassionate and patient with every client
- Creates a judgment-free environment
Watch out: Only a handful of reviews so far, worth confirming experience with your specific age group or issue.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia
Why it ranks sixth
This Thriveworks location has a large review base and specific praise for counselors who build trust with anxious children and support families managing anxiety and depression. It also carries a serious complaint about a medication management incident, so it's best suited to families focused on talk therapy rather than psychiatric prescribing here.
Pros
- Skilled at building trust with children specifically
- Supportive with anxiety and depression
- Appointments reported to move quickly
- Online therapy option available
Watch out: A serious complaint describes a medication being stopped abruptly without proper monitoring; separate the therapy team from psychiatric care when booking.
Services: mental health counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching, child adolescent counseling
Stephanie L McKenny, Counselor
Why it ranks seventh
Stephanie McKenny gets credit for practical homework assignments and helping clients build confidence and boundary-setting skills, which suits adolescents working on assertiveness. Reviews are mixed on professionalism and scheduling consistency, so it's fair to call this a solid but uneven option.
Pros
- Attentive listening at the client's own pace
- Assigns practical homework between sessions
Watch out: Some reviewers cite unprofessional conduct in session and scheduling gaps from time away.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Rene'e Hampton, Counselor
Why it ranks eighth
Rene'e Hampton brings 25-plus years of experience and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional credential, with reviewers describing sessions as focused and growth-oriented rather than open-ended. The five reviews are all five-star, though the small sample and gap since the most recent review means it's worth checking current availability.
Pros
- 25+ years of clinical trauma experience
- Clear, goal-focused session style
Watch out: Very few reviews and the most recent activity is dated, so confirm she's currently taking new clients.
Services: child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling, mental health counseling
Psychology Services Center
Why it ranks ninth
Psychology Services Center stands out for affordability, with a sliding scale that opens the door to families who can't pay full private-practice rates, plus assessment services covering ADHD and autism. Reviews are genuinely mixed, though, with one long-term client reporting real progress and another describing dismissive treatment.
Pros
- Affordable sliding-scale pricing
- Structured, goal-oriented therapy approach
Watch out: Complaints cite unresponsive administrative staff, inconsistent communication, and one assessor accused of inaccurate reporting.
Services: mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, child adolescent counseling
Sandra Mccloy, Psychologist
Why it ranks tenth
Dr. Sandra McCloy holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and a regional testing director role, and her single review describes years of meaningful progress attributed to her warmth and practical guidance. The review count is minimal, so this is more a credentials-based pick than a sentiment-proven one.
Pros
- PhD-level licensed psychologist
- Uses evidence-based approaches like CBT and ACT
Watch out: Only one review on record, so there isn't much sentiment data to lean on yet.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Melissa Miller, Psychologist
Why it ranks #11
Melissa Miller is a licensed clinical psychologist whose listed services include neuropsychological testing and autism spectrum assessments, useful for families needing formal evaluation alongside therapy. There is no review history yet, so this pick rests on credentials rather than client feedback.
Pros
- Licensed clinical psychologist
- Offers neuropsychological testing
- Autism spectrum assessments available
Watch out: No reviews on file yet, so there's no client sentiment to confirm fit.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Thomas Hutchison, Psychologist
Why it ranks #12
Thomas Hutchison holds a PsyD (2019) and offers both in-office and telehealth appointments along with psychological and neuropsychological testing, giving families options on how sessions happen. There's no review record yet to confirm outcomes.
Pros
- Licensed psychologist with a PsyD
- Both in-office and telehealth appointments offered
- Neuropsychological testing available
Watch out: No reviews yet, so go in with credentials as your main signal.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Christopher Jones, Psychologist
Why it ranks #13
Christopher Jones lists doctoral credentials and a service range that spans trauma, anxiety, and career or life coaching, which suits a family wanting one clinician who can flex across issues as a teen grows. Review evidence is not yet available.
Pros
- Doctoral-level credentials
- Handles trauma and PTSD
- Also offers career and life coaching
Watch out: No reviews on record, so there's nothing yet to verify client experience.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Jon Bos, Neuropsychologist
Why it ranks #14
Jon Bos is board-certified specifically in pediatric neuropsychology with 26 years behind him, which makes him a specialist pick for families who need formal testing rather than ongoing talk therapy. No reviews are on file, so weigh this purely on his specialty credentials.
Pros
- Board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist
- 26 years of clinical experience
- Focused specifically on psychological and neuropsychological testing
Watch out: No review history available to confirm client experience.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Lynne Fish, Psychologist
Why it ranks #15
Lynne Fish has practiced since 1999 with a PhD in Counseling Psychology, and her listed services span ADHD, anxiety, depression, and trauma alongside career counseling. There's no review history to draw on yet, so this is a credentials-first inclusion.
Pros
- PhD in Counseling Psychology
- 25 years of practice since 1999
- Services span ADHD, anxiety, depression, and trauma
Watch out: No reviews on file, so client experience is unverified.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching