Children and teens
Elementary through high school. Rebecca works directly with the child or teen and keeps parents involved so new skills carry over at home and at school.
Counseling for children and teensHome / Therapy & Counseling
Therapy & CounselingTherapy and counseling in Cary, NC
Steady, practical support for anxiety, school stress, self-confidence, and the big transitions of growing up, from a clinician who already understands how learning and attention shape everyday life.
Who is therapy at Anchor EEC for?
At Anchor EEC in Cary, NC, Rebecca Rose Helms, MA, CAS, HSP-PA, LPA, a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) and Health Services Provider-PA (HSP-PA), NC License #5339, provides private-pay therapy for children, teens, and young adults through age 22 dealing with anxiety, school stress, low self-confidence, attention-related frustration, starting college, and adjusting to a new diagnosis. Sessions are 50 minutes, in person in Cary, with secure video available in North Carolina. No insurance, referral, or prior evaluation is needed to start.
Who Rebecca works with
Sessions are shaped around the person's age and what they want to change.
Young adults
College students and young adults through age 22 working through anxiety, the move to college, or a recent ADHD or learning disorder diagnosis.
Parents
Parent consultation sessions for families who want a plan for a child's anxiety, behavior, or school struggles, with or without the child attending.
What can therapy help with?
These are the concerns Rebecca sees most often. Many people arrive with more than one.
Anxiety and worry
Test anxiety, school refusal, persistent worry, and the stomachaches or sleepless nights that come with it.
School and academic stress
Pressure about grades, falling behind, homework battles, and adjusting to a new school or grade.
Self-confidence
Negative self-talk, fear of failure, and rebuilding a sense of capability after years of struggling.
Attention and organization
The frustration and overwhelm that often come with ADHD, plus practical tools for getting through the day.
Friendships and social stress
Peer conflict, feeling left out, social anxiety, and building the skills to connect.
Starting college and new diagnoses
For young adults: the move to college, and adjusting to a new diagnosis such as ADHD or a learning disorder.
How do I get started?
Here is what happens after you reach out.
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Call or send a message
Reach out by phone or the contact form. A free 15-minute phone consultation helps confirm Anchor EEC is the right fit.
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Intake session
A longer first visit to talk through background and what you want to change. For children, this starts with parents.
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Regular sessions
50-minute sessions, usually weekly at first. Each one ends with something concrete to practice.
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Check-ins and next steps
Progress is reviewed together. As goals are met, sessions taper off and wrap up with a plan for what comes next.
- Session length
- 50 minutes (intake 60 minutes)
- Format
- In person in Cary, telehealth across NC
- Payment
- Due at each session; ClassWallet (ESA+) accepted; HSA by reimbursement; superbills on request
- First step
- Free 15-minute phone consultation
Why see a therapist who also does evaluations?
Rebecca has spent more than 20 years testing how people learn and pay attention. That changes how therapy works. When a child's anxiety is really about reading that never clicked, or a college student's overwhelm traces back to undiagnosed ADHD, she knows to look for it.
If you have already completed an evaluation with Anchor EEC, therapy can start from your results instead of starting over. If you have not, Rebecca can tell you whether testing would add anything, and never insists on it.
Rebecca's approach: structured and skills-based, drawing on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solution-focused techniques.
Ask about therapy openings
Therapy questions, answered
Do you accept insurance for therapy?
No. Anchor EEC is private pay and does not bill insurance, which keeps fees lower than most practices and means no insurance authorization or diagnosis is required to start. Payment is due at the time of each session. HSA funds usually work as reimbursement: you pay at your visit, then submit your receipt to be paid back (eligibility depends on your plan). Anchor EEC is on the official NCSEAA provider list, so ESA+ families can pay through ClassWallet or pay at the visit and request reimbursement (ESA+ covers therapy related to a student's academic progress). If you have out-of-network benefits, we can also provide a superbill to submit to your insurer; reimbursement is not guaranteed.
Do I need an evaluation before starting therapy?
No. Many therapy clients have never had an evaluation. If testing would add clarity, Rebecca will talk with you about it, but it is never required to begin.
How long are sessions, and how often do we meet?
Sessions are 50 minutes. Most clients meet weekly at first, then every other week as goals are met. Rebecca will suggest a rhythm that is realistic for your schedule, because consistency matters more than frequency.
Do you offer telehealth sessions?
Sessions are held in person at our Cary office, with secure video sessions available for clients located in North Carolina.
What do parents hear about a teen's therapy sessions?
Rebecca agrees on this with each family at the start. Teens need a private space to speak freely, and parents need to know whether things are improving. Parents get regular updates on progress and goals, and Rebecca will always share anything that affects a child's safety.
Is therapy at Anchor EEC right for a crisis?
No. Anchor EEC provides scheduled outpatient therapy and is not a crisis service or a fit for severe psychiatric conditions that need a higher level of care. If your needs fall outside that scope, Rebecca will help point you to the right support. If you or your child are in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
In crisis right now? Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. Anchor EEC is a scheduled outpatient practice and cannot respond to emergencies.
Ready to talk with someone?
Therapy openings depend on Rebecca's schedule. Call to ask about current availability, or send a message and she will get back to you.