Meet Our Child Therapists
Compassionate Experts Helping Children Heal Through Play and Connection
Choosing the right therapist for your child is one of the most important decisions you'll make. At Nurture Nest, our child therapists are specially trained to connect with children in developmentally appropriate ways, helping them express emotions, build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and overcome life's challenges. With offices in Danville, Harrodsburg, and Somerset we are eager to support you and your child across Central Kentucky through Play Therapy.
Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, ADHD, behavioral concerns, trauma, grief, emotional regulation, or family transitions, we're here to help.
Why Choosing the Right Therapist Matters
Choosing a therapist for your child is an important decision, and finding the right fit can make all the difference. Every child is unique, with their own personality, strengths, and challenges. That's why we believe therapy should never be a one-size-fits-all experience.
One of the strongest predictors of successful therapy is the relationship between the child and their therapist. When children feel safe, understood, and accepted, they are more likely to express themselves, build trust, and develop the skills they need to overcome life's challenges.
At Nurture Nest Play Therapy & Counseling, we thoughtfully match each child with a therapist based on their age, personality, presenting concerns, and therapeutic needs. Whether your child is navigating anxiety, behavioral challenges, ADHD, trauma, grief, emotional regulation, autism, or family transitions, our goal is to connect your family with a clinician whose experience and approach best support your child's growth.
Our team includes therapists with specialized training in evidence-based approaches for children, including Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Art Therapy, AutPlay Therapy, family therapy, and parent consultation. Because children often communicate differently than adults, having a therapist who understands child development and uses age-appropriate interventions is essential.
If you're unsure which therapist is the best fit, you don't have to make that decision alone. Our scheduling team is happy to learn more about your child's needs and recommend the clinician who can best support your family. We're committed to making the process simple, supportive, and focused on helping your child play, heal, and soar.
Research consistently shows that the relationship between a child and their therapist is one of the strongest predictors of successful therapy.
Meet our experienced child therapists and learn more about their specialties, clinical interests, and the children and families they serve.
Rebecca Patterson, LPCC-S, RPT-S
Owner, Clinical Director Rebecca has more than 20 years of experience helping children heal, grow, and thrive through the power of Play Therapy. She specializes in working with children ages 2 and older at our Danville and Harrodsburg offices, supporting concerns including anxiety, trauma, ADHD, behavioral challenges, emotional regulation, and family transitions. Rebecca is AutPlay® Certified, TraumaPlay™ trained, Filial Play Therapy trained, and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ (RPT-S). She is passionate about creating a safe, accepting environment where children can communicate through play while partnering closely with parents to foster lasting growth both in and outside of the playroom.
Rebecca may be a great fit if your child...
✔ has experienced trauma
✔ struggles with anxiety
✔ has autism
✔ needs Play Therapy
✔ is under age 12
Hannah Phelps, LPCA
Mental Health TherapistHannah specializes in treating children ages 3+ through the healing powers of Play Therapy in our Somerset office. She has completed extensive training in Play Therapy and enjoys helping children experiencing anxiety, behavioral challenges, ADHD, trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, and life transitions. Hannah creates a warm, supportive environment where children feel safe to play, heal, and grow.
Hannah may be a great fit if your child...
✔ has experienced trauma
✔ struggles with anxiety
✔ has autism
✔ needs Play Therapy
✔ is at least 3 years of age
Brittany Rose, LPCA
Mental Health TherapistBrittany specializes in treating children ages 3+ through the healing power of Play Therapy in our Harrodsburg office. She has completed extensive training in Child-Centered Play Therapy and enjoys helping children experiencing anxiety, ADHD, behavioral challenges, trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, and life transitions. Brittany creates a warm, playful, and supportive environment where children feel safe to express themselves, build resilience, and develop healthy coping skills.
Brittany may be a great fit if your child...
✔ has experienced trauma
✔ struggles with anxiety
✔ has ADHD
✔ needs behavior support
✔ needs Play Therapy
✔ is at least 3 years of age
Kaleena Gerber, PAT, ATR-BC
Art Therapist, Outpatient TherapistKaleena specializes in helping children ages 4+ express themselves through the healing power of Art Therapy and Play Therapy. She provides services in our Harrodsburg office and has extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, and families as they navigate anxiety, trauma, behavioral challenges, emotional regulation, and life transitions. Kaleena creates a warm, creative, and accepting environment where children can safely explore their emotions, build resilience, and develop healthy coping skills.
Kaleena may be a great fit if your child...
✔ has experienced trauma
✔ struggles with anxiety
✔ needs support in regulating emotions
✔ needs Play Therapy
✔ is at least 3 years of age
Zach Reid, CSW
Mental Health TherapistZach specializes in treating children ages 6+, adolescents, and teens in our Danville office. He has experience helping young people overcome anxiety, ADHD, behavioral challenges, depression, emotional regulation difficulties, and life transitions while creating a safe, supportive environment where they can build confidence, resilience, and healthy coping skills.
Zach may be a great fit if your child...
✔ has experienced trauma
✔ struggles with anxiety
✔ has behavior concerns
✔ needs support with emotional regulation
✔ needs Play Therapy
✔ is at least 6 years of age
Erin Henderson, LPCA
Mental Health TherapistErin specializes in treating children ages 3+ through the healing power of Play Therapy in our Harrodsburg office. She has completed extensive training in Child-Centered Play Therapy and enjoys helping children experiencing anxiety, behavioral challenges, trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, grief, and life transitions. Erin provides a calm, nurturing environment where children feel safe to express themselves, build confidence, develop healthy coping skills, and experience healing through play.
Erin may be a great fit if your child...
✔ has experienced trauma
✔ struggles with anxiety
✔ has behavior concerns
✔ needs Play Therapy
✔ is at least 2 years of age
Why Nurture Nest is Different
Choosing a therapist for your child is an important decision. At Nurture Nest, we're committed to providing the highest quality care by ensuring every child receives developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed treatment.
Our Play Promise means that every therapist who provides services to children is committed to following the Association for Play Therapy's Best Practices and Standards, including receiving specialized training and ongoing clinical supervision in Play Therapy. We believe children deserve therapists who understand how they naturally communicate, learn, and heal through play.
Not Sure Which Therapist Is Right?
That's okay!
Most parents aren't sure where to start—and you don't have to make the decision alone.
When you contact Nurture Nest, we'll learn more about your child's:
age
personality
concerns
goals
insurance
location
Then we'll recommend the therapist who we believe is the best fit.
When your family chooses Nurture Nest, you can expect:
Specialized Play Therapy Training
Every therapist serving children has completed specialized training in Child-Centered Play Therapy and continues to grow their skills through ongoing education and supervision.
Supervision by a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™
Our child therapists receive clinical supervision and mentorship from Rebecca Patterson, MA, LPCC-S, RPT-S™, ensuring high-quality, developmentally appropriate care that aligns with the standards established by the Association for Play Therapy.
Evidence-Based, Child-Centered Care
We use research-supported approaches that meet children where they are developmentally, helping them express emotions, develop coping skills, and build resilience.
Creative Therapeutic Approaches
In addition to Play Therapy, our team offers specialized services including Art Therapy and other evidence-based interventions tailored to each child's unique needs.
Trauma-Informed Treatment
Every child deserves to feel safe. Our therapists approach care through a trauma-informed lens, recognizing the impact of adverse experiences while fostering healing, connection, and emotional safety.
Collaboration with Families
Parents and caregivers are essential partners in the therapeutic process. We provide education, support, and practical strategies to help families reinforce progress beyond the therapy room.
School Collaboration
When appropriate and with consent, we work collaboratively with teachers, school staff, physicians, and other professionals to provide coordinated care and support children across environments.
School-Based Counseling
Our therapists provide services in schools throughout Central Kentucky, helping children access care in an environment where they spend much of their day.
Convenient Access Across Central Kentucky
With multiple office locations, school-based services, and telehealth options, we're committed to making high-quality mental health care accessible for children and families.
Why Families Choose Nurture Nest
Families choose Nurture Nest because they know their child will be cared for by compassionate professionals who understand child development, value the therapeutic relationship, and are committed to helping children play, heal, and soar.
