Professional child counselors and therapists in the Palmer - Wasilla area, Alaska.

It’s tough being a child in today’s modern world. From jam-packed schedules and academic pressures, to the instant gratification and stimulation of technology, it’s harder than ever for children to navigate the nuances of relationships and social interactions.

Learning to navigate emotions can be difficult for kids. At MSMH, our counselors are experienced in working with kids to gain skills around emotional regulation and effective coping. Counseling can help your child translate these skills into their everyday life, increasing their successes and overall functioning.

Our MSMH child counselors will work with you and your little one to address the various factors that may be contributing to your child’s difficulties. From diet, nutrition, and issues with sleep, to the negative effects of too much screen time, our providers will work with you and your child to provide support in a wholistic and comprehensive way.

Meet the Team Of Professional Counselors

  • Wasilla Child Counselor

    Dr. Abigail Millard - PsyD

    Abegail has been serving clients in the mental health field since 2017, and has experience working with people across the lifespan. She enjoys carrying a diverse caseload, and has worked with an array of clients across a variety of settings. As a 10-year Veteran of the United States Coast Guard, she is especially passionate about providing psychological support to Veterans, and Active Duty personnel. She is thrilled to call Alaska home, while taking advantage of every opportunity for adventure. When not at work, you will find Abegail practicing yoga, paddle boarding, ice fishing, or entertaining friends and family.

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  • Sarah Bannister Wasilla Child Counseling

    Sarah Bannister - LPC

    Sarah is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 22 years of experience working within the mental health field. Though she has served clients in a variety of settings, the last 8 years have been dedicated to offering counseling support to individuals, groups and families in the private practice setting. When not working, Sarah can most often be found outside; hiking in Alaska’s stunning mountains, training for her next long distance run, adventuring with her daughters, or enjoying the quiet of an outdoor space with a cup of coffee and a good book.

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  • Wasilla Child Counselor Mary Kuepper

    Mary Kuepper - LPC-S

    Mary has over a decade of experience working in community based mental health. Though she has worked with people across the lifespan, she specializes in work with kids, teens and families, as well as in maternal mental health. Mary is passionate about giving people the tools they need to not only function well, but to thrive in their everyday life. Though not native to Alaska, she has fallen in love with the abundant resources of this beautiful place. When not working with clients, Mary can be found adventuring, hiking and exploring. She loves to fly fish our local creeks, dig in the dirt of her backyard garden, and get in quality time with her friends, and beautiful family.

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What you can expect from professional child counseling.

Wasilla Child Counseling Desk
Wasilla kids counseling office books

Once you reach out, our admin guru will be in touch to talk about your particular circumstances, and get you set up with an initial session. This initial session can vary depending on your wishes, and may include just the parent, the parent and child together, the parent and provider for a portion of the session, or the provider and child for a portion of the session.

While respecting the trust of your child, and the therapeutic limits of confidentiality, our providers make a habit of assisting with open communication between you and your child. There will always be a “check in” either prior to or following session, ensuring everyone on the treatment team is “on the same page.” During this time, your youth will be encouraged to share their experience of session, what they learned, what they’re taking away, or what their “homework” is.

Generally, therapy sessions with children occur one time weekly for 50-60 minutes. However, depending on the circumstances that bring your child into therapy and the interventions being used, it is at times helpful to flex this schedule according to your specific needs. These details will be discussed with you and your child throughout the process.

Can professional counseling help your child?

There are many ways your child might communicate they are in need of increased support. Some may engage in acting out behaviors, becoming increasingly defiant, disruptive, and disrespectful. Others, however, might withdraw, demonstrating isolative behaviors, a poor sense of self, tearfulness, etc. Our providers are experienced at exploring the underlying factors that may be contributing to your child’s difficulties, and identifying the root cause of their behavior, which can include a variety of symptoms.

However your child’s symptoms manifest and whatever their root cause, go with your gut. Remember, you know your kiddo best. If something seems off, and your attempts to support them don’t appear to hit the mark, it may be time to reach out for a little additional support. Our therapists in Wasilla are here to walk along side, offering unconditional positive regard, support, skill building and education to get your little one back on the right track.

Some of the Issues often addressed in child counseling sessions:

  • Bullying

  • Low self-esteem

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Poor social skills

  • Academic difficulties

  • Issues with sleep

  • Issues with diet

  • Too much screen time

  • Too little movement and exercise

  • Difficulties with focus, attention, concentration, impulsivity

  • Trauma

  • Abuse

  • Exposure to domestic violence

  • Loss, grief

  • Divorce, separation, family transitions

How long does child counseling typically last?

The length of time an individual is in counseling is situation specific and can vary. However, we at Mat-Su Mental Health are passionate about giving our clients the tools and skills they need to thrive and function well. We will cast a wide net at the onset, looking for all the variables that may be contributing to your child’s behaviors. We will build skills for managing symptoms and explore underlying root causes. We will take as little or as much time as you need, but we will do our very best to get your child back about the business of living their life.

How to schedule child counseling in Wasilla.

Ready to get started? Call or email us today. Our contact info is at the bottom of this page.

Once you reach out, our on-boarding admin will contact you to gather information regarding your specific situation. They will explore with you what provider will likely best meet your needs, and support you in getting set up in our electronic health record.

Mat-Su Mental Health uses Simple Practice, a medical record and portal system that will allow for confidential and HIPAA compliant messaging that ensures your privacy. You will be sent a portal link that directs you to online documentation to be completed prior to your initial session.

This is a great time to ask any questions you might have. After all, where you go for support is your choice, and we want you to feel empowered to assess whether or not we are the right fit for you! Here at Mat-Su Mental Health, our providers believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential in the process of creating change. These initial conversations are important in assessing fit, as therapy is not “one size fits all.”

Our MSMH office is conveniently located in Wasilla. Feel free to arrive a few minutes prior to your child’s scheduled session to grab a cup of tea and relax before session begins. We look forward to meeting you, and are honored you have chosen us to do this work alongside you.

 FAQ’s

  • Yes, we bill insurance on behalf of our clients. We also accept self pay clients.

  • We do not offer a sliding scale fee for services. Many community based mental health agencies in our area, such as Denali Family Services and Matsu Health Services, do. We would encourage you to reach out to one of them if you are in need of/ looking for services offered on a sliding scale.

  • We are in network with Premera, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, UMR, TriCare, TriWest and Moda. We bill most other insurances as a courtesy; many of which offer out of network benefits. If you are not insured with one of the above contracted payers, we would encourage you to reach out to your insurance company and find out the specifics regarding your out of network benefits for mental health services in an office setting. More often than not, our clients find out that services are covered, most often after having met their deductible.

  • MSMH has a 24 hour cancellation policy. Though our providers certainly realize that “life happens” and late cancellations are sometimes unavoidable, we do ask that you do your best to notify your provider of a cancellation 24 hours prior to your scheduled session. Doing so allows us to fulfill other clients scheduling needs, and best serve our community.

    This policy is in place out of respect for our providers, AND our clients. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are difficult to fill. By giving last minute notice, or no notice at all, someone else is prevented from scheduling into that cancelled slot, and a 60 minute hole is left in your providers schedule.

    Please be aware that clients who no call/ no show or cancel last minute will be responsible for the full billable cost of their missed session.

    In an effort to avoid such circumstances, MSMH does offer a courtesy contact, either by text or voicemail, 24 hours prior to your scheduled session. Should you receive this notice and realize you are unable to attend the following days appointment, please communicate that directly with your provider through a phone call, text or email.

  • At MSMH, we do not have a psychiatrist or prescribing physician on staff. Unfortunately, we do not offer any medication management services at our practice. If you think you may benefit from medication, please reach out to your Primary Care Physician, and or a community based mental health agency, as they do have med management providers in house. We are happy to offer therapeutic supports to pair alongside med management services, but we do not do the prescribing.

  • We do not offer court mandated evaluations. If you have been ordered by the court to receive an evaluation, you can likely get this completed at one of the community based mental health agencies in our area.

  • Inform us as soon as possible about any insurance changes. Please bring your new insurance card to your next appointment and any related documents.

  • We offer individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, group therapy, and specialized counseling for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

  • Each counseling session typically lasts 50 minutes. We also offer extended sessions upon request.

  • Yes, we provide online counseling through a secure telehealth platform. You can book these sessions just like in-person appointments.

  • Confidentiality is paramount in our sessions. Information is only shared with your consent, except in cases of harm to self or others, as required by law.

  • In emergencies, call 911 or your local emergency number. You can also contact crisis hotlines for immediate assistance.

  • Bring any relevant documents, a list of questions or concerns, and be ready to discuss your goals for therapy. Think about what you want to achieve through counseling.

  • Yes, you can choose your therapist based on their specialties and your preferences. We can also help match you with a therapist who fits your needs.