Therapy and Support for Children and Teens Impacted by Illness, Grief, or Loss
When a diagnosis, hospitalization, or loss touches your family, kids and teens often carry more than they can put into words. With compassionate support, we help them process their experiences, feel understood, and find hope in hard seasons— serving families in Southlake, Texas and surrounding communities.
Compassion. Expertise. Collaboration.
Hope.
Who we serve
Medical & Family Health Challenges
Kids living with their own diagnosis or hospitalizations
Siblings of children with complex medical needs
Children adjusting after treatments, procedures, or medical events
Families carrying the weight of serious illness at home
We specialize in supporting children and teens impacted by illness, grief, and loss, while also welcoming kids who are navigating anxiety, stress, and life transitions.
Grief & Loss Support
Children grieving the death of a parent, sibling, caregiver, or loved one
Kids experiencing anticipatory grief before a loss
Children coping with changes in connection, routines, or roles
Grief that appears as sadness, anger, confusion, or withdrawal
Emotional & Coping Support
Kids and teens managing anxiety, depression, or overwhelm
Struggles with confidence or low self-esteem
Adjusting to big life transitions or stressful changes
Building healthy ways to cope
How we help
Every child heals differently. That’s why we offer counseling, music therapy, and child life support, and when it’s helpful, we work together as a team. Collaborative care means your child has more than one way to be understood and supported.
Counseling
Kids and teens need a safe place to share what’s on their hearts. Our counselors walk alongside them through grief, medical stress, or tough life changes, helping them feel understood, supported, and more in control.
Music Therapy
Sometimes kids and teens can’t find the words for what they’re going through. Music therapy gives them another way to express themselves, process their experiences, and build healthy coping tools, all through music.
Child Life
Medical stress and grief can feel overwhelming for kids. Our child life specialists use play, preparation, and coping strategies to help children feel more confident and supported.
What makes us different?
A lot of families tell us they’ve struggled to find support that truly understands both kids and the realities of medical and grief journeys. That’s what makes The Cultivate Community different. We bring compassion, expertise, and creativity together so your child feels supported and your family doesn’t feel alone.
Medical & Healthcare Expertise: We’ve spent years in pediatric hospitals and medical settings. We truly understand how a diagnosis, treatment, or hospitalization can impact kids and ripple through the whole family.
Specialized in Grief & Loss: Whether it’s anticipatory grief, the death of a loved one, or the ongoing stress of illness, we offer compassionate, developmentally appropriate support so kids don’t feel alone in their pain.
Child-Centered Approach: Kids aren’t just “little adults”. We see the world through the child’s eyes, offering empathy, creativity, and age-appropriate strategies that truly connect.
Family Partnership: We believe healing happens best when families feel supported. We walk alongside parents and caregivers, offering tools, guidance, and support so everyone feels equipped to navigate hard seasons together.
Meet our team
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Candace Szymanski, MA, MT-BC
Music Therapist
Candace uses music to help kids and teens express what’s hard to put into words. Whether they’re coping with grief, anxiety, or medical stress, she walks alongside them with creativity, warmth, and compassion. -
Savannah Rose, LCSW
Therapist (Ages 8+)
Savannah works with preteens and teens (ages 8+) facing anxiety, grief, trauma, or medical stress. She creates a safe, supportive space and uses trauma-sensitive approaches to help them heal, grow, and build resilience. -
Linsey Hammon, MS, CCLS, GCCA-C, RWWP
Child Life Specialist
Linsey supports kids and teens facing a parent’s serious illness or the loss of someone they love. She blends child life expertise with grief counseling to walk with families through tough seasons with compassion and care. -
Lizzy Peterson, MA, CCLS
Child Life Specialist
Lizzy helps kids and siblings make sense of medical stress, grief, and big life changes through play, education, and coping tools. She creates safe, age-appropriate spaces where children can ask questions, express themselves, and feel more confident.
Our Space
When you step into The Cultivate Community, you’ll feel the difference right away. Our space is cozy, welcoming, and designed with families in mind. It’s a place where kids can relax, be themselves, and find comfort and where parents can breathe a little easier knowing their child is safe and supported.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
We know how heavy it can feel to watch your child struggle with illness, grief, or loss. You don’t have to figure it out on your own and neither do they.
At The Cultivate Community, we walk alongside kids and teens through counseling, music therapy, and child life services, helping them feel supported, understood, and equipped to heal and grow.
You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s begin this journey together.
