Katie Riley
St. Louis Child Therapist
Relationship-based, Playful Therapy for Children, Teens, & Families
Child and Teen Therapy in St. Louis
Therapy can feel like a big step, especially when you’re a kid or teen, or when you’re trusting someone new to support your child. Katie believes therapy works best when you can feel safe enough to be yourself, let your real feelings out, and know that you won’t be judged for them.
Her approach is:
Warm
Collaborative
Grounded in genuine connection
She takes the time to get to know each client and family—their stories, strengths, hopes, challenges, and dreams—and works alongside them to find a path forward that feels right.
Therapy That Meets You Where You Are
Kid life can be so hard! So can teen life. And honestly, being an adult isn’t easy either.
Sometimes it can be difficult to put what you’re experiencing into words. Sometimes you don’t even know exactly what’s wrong—you just know that things feel harder than they used to.
That’s where Katie comes in!
Rather than expecting kids and teens to sit down and immediately talk about their feelings, Katie creates space for them to communicate in ways that feel natural. Depending on what you need, therapy might include:
Playing games or using imaginative play
Creating art and telling stories
Talking, laughing, or crying
Singing and dancing
Moving your body
Sitting quietly when words aren’t coming
Telling jokes and being silly
There isn’t one “right” way to do therapy. Katie follows you and your child’s pace while helping you work toward the goals that matter to you.
A Safe Relationship Comes First
Some of the most important healing happens inside relationships where we feel safe enough to be honest.
That means getting to know the kiddo behind the behavior— not just focusing on what a child is doing, but getting curious about what they might be experiencing.
Katie works to understand each client’s unique story, including their strengths, relationships, challenges, interests, and hopes for the future. She believes therapy should be a collaborative process rather than something that is simply “done to” a child or family.
And because therapists are human too, Katie believes in being honest when something doesn’t go as planned. If she gets something wrong, she’ll own it. Then, together, you can figure out what would work better.
Helping Kids and Teens Feel More Like Themselves
Katie’s goal isn’t to turn children into someone they’re not. It’s to help them better understand themselves, build skills that support them, and feel more confident navigating the world around them.
Through play, conversation, creativity, movement, and connection, therapy can give children and teens opportunities to:
Express feelings they may not have words for yet
Feel heard and understood
Build confidence and self-awareness
Practice coping and problem-solving skills
Explore relationships and social experiences
Discover and build on their existing strengths
Develop a stronger sense of who they are
Katie also values the people who surround a child. She works collaboratively with parents and caregivers so that the support happening in therapy can become part of everyday life.
How do you involve parents?
You may be thinking "Okay, so this helps kiddos, but what about me?" and I'm here to remind you that you are not alone. It is human and normal to need help.
Play-based therapies can help parents understand the why behind their child's behaviors, learn tools to try at home, and build stronger bonds and attachments with their children.
At Bud to Bloom we believe that parental involvement is paramount to therapeutic change. I can work with parents to help them discover more about their kids, manage this crazy thing called life, and feel their own sense of worth and value.
I believe that through collaboration, problem solving, and support, parents can heal and help their families heal. That is why I encourage families to really take a part in the process, by being present and invested, you and your child can build a stronger connection full of love and support.
Who Is Katie?
Katie grew up in New Mexico and later moved to St. Louis for graduate school. Since then, she’s built a life here and found a community she loves.
She’s loved working with children, teens, and young adults for as long as she can remember. Katie is grateful for the elders, mentors, and other people who have supported and guided her along the way, and she hopes to offer that same kind of steady support to the young people she works with.
Outside of therapy, Katie is a dog mom and loves spending time outdoors. She also speaks some Spanish, (sí, hablo un poco español) and is continuing to learn more.
Katie. knows that reaching out for therapy can be vulnerable. You may be wondering whether your child will connect with a therapist, whether they’ll actually talk, or whether therapy will make a difference.
You don’t have to know all the answers before you begin. Katie is here to meet you where you are, get to know you, and figure it out together.
You're Taking the First Step to Helping Your Child Bloom
Finding the right therapist can feel like a lot. At Bud to Bloom, we believe therapy should feel like a relationship where your child can be known, supported, and accepted for who they are.
Katie would be honored to walk alongside your child and family as they grow, heal, and discover what they’re capable of.
How to Get Started
1. Reach Out
Take the first step by contacting our Client Care team. We’ll listen to your family’s needs and match you with the therapist who’s the best fit. From there, we’ll get your parent intake scheduled.
2. Your Intake Session
In this 60-minute session I like to meet with parents to give them a chance to speak frankly about their concerns. I will get to know you and your child, hear your story, and work with you to create a personalized plan for care for. This is your chance to feel heard and supported from the very beginning.
3. Begin the Journey
Your child’s therapy officially begins. Through play, connection, and support, your family will take steps toward growth, healing, and blooming into your best selves.
Learn more about:
Child Therapy, Family Therapy, Parent Support
