Anxiety & worry
Racing thoughts, stomachaches before school, worry that won't switch off. We find ways to calm the body and quiet the noise.
Counseling for kids, preteens, and young teens working through anxiety, perfectionism, and big feelings through the middle school years, plus real support for the parents holding on beside them.
I work with kids ages 8 to 15, and I have a special heart for girls 10 to 14 who are buzzing with a lot: pressure to be perfect, worry that won't turn off, and big questions about who they are becoming. I also walk alongside kids through big life transitions: a divorce or family change, the jump from elementary into middle school, and the leap from middle school into high school.
Three ideas I couldn't stop thinking about, and they all describe the kids and families I love working with.
the wake, the wave, the surface
Summer is my season. Our family's favorite thing to do together is boating, the kids wake surf and I wakeboard. On the water, the current and the wake matter. You learn to read them, lean in, and ride.
because the preteen years are
Middle school is loud, fast, and tumultuous. Kids don't quite fit in their own bodies yet, and the parent and child relationship gets tossed around. Like rough seas, it does calm down, and being prepared makes all the difference.
the spark that runs through us
There's an electricity humming through kids in these years: hormones, friendships, future plans, and the possibility of who they could be. It's unpredictable, and it's also the spark that keeps all of us going for life.
Rough water calms again. You just don't have to ride it out alone.
A lot of people brace themselves around this age group. I lean in. I've spent years as a school counselor in elementary, middle, and high schools, lost and found and all, and I came away loving these kids: loud, funny, anxious, brilliant, and figuring it all out in real time.
Before opening Wild Current, I taught at the college level, worked as a Life Coach for the University of Hawaii, and volunteered countless hours in local schools and our community.
I'm also a mom of teens, a summer person to my core, and someone who still gets on a wakeboard. I bring that same energy into the room: warm, a little playful, and steady when the water gets rough.
Kriste Colley-Kummer
I believe you and your child know more about your lives and inner world than I do. My job is to create the conditions that invite me into that world, so you can teach me about your perspectives, challenges, and goals. This person-centered, child-centered, and trauma-informed approach keeps our whole team focused on what's best for your child, at a pace that feels safe. I use play therapy and art therapy techniques, alongside movement and thoughtfully chosen projects, to foster connection, confidence, and growth. I work with kids, preteens, and young teens ages 8 to 15, with a special emphasis on the middle school years.
MS, Psychology
BS, Developmental Psychology
Eastern Washington University
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), under the supervision of Heather Ramirez, LICSW, RPT-S, CMHS
School counselor (elementary, middle & high school) · College instructor · Life Coach, University of Hawaii
Kids don't arrive with a neat label. These are the things I help kids and families work through most often.
Racing thoughts, stomachaches before school, worry that won't switch off. We find ways to calm the body and quiet the noise.
For the kid who erases until the paper tears. We loosen the grip of "never good enough" and make room to try, fail, and grow.
Figuring out who they are apart from friends, parents, and screens. Building confidence that comes from the inside.
Drama, left-out moments, and emotions that feel too big. Tools for handling the social ocean of middle school.
When the spark dims: pulling away, losing interest, heavy days that stack up. We find the light again, one small step at a time.
Divorce and family changes, the jump from elementary into middle school, and the leap from middle school into high school. Steady support while everything shifts.
Grades, tests, and the feeling of always being behind. We build calmer routines and a kinder inner voice.
Changing bodies, mirrors, and comparison on every screen. We build a kinder relationship with the body they live in.
Your child gets a space that feels like their own. You stay in the loop, and you get support of your own when you need it.
One-on-one sessions for ages 8 to 15, built around play, art, movement, projects, and plain old talking.
Regular check-ins throughout the process so you know how things are going and how to help at home.
Watching your kid wrestle with stuff is hard. Book time just for you to get support, perspective, and a plan.
A relaxed call to talk through what's going on and make sure we're a good fit before anything is booked.
Counseling shouldn't feel like getting called to the principal's office. Here's how a session starts.
Kids adjust the LED lights to match their mood that day.
The mini fridge is stocked and it's always help-yourself.
Together we decide what we're doing today. They get a real say.
The relationship gets tossed around. It can come back stronger.
Parent check-ins are part of every child's care, so you're never left on the dock wondering how it's going.
I don't bill insurance, and it's a choice I made for your child's benefit. Here's what that gives you.
Insurance requires a mental health diagnosis on your child's record. Private pay means support without a label that can follow them later.
Session length, frequency, and approach are decided by us, not by what a plan will cover.
Free consultation. A superbill is available if you'd like to ask your insurance about out-of-network reimbursement.
The short answers. Ask me anything else on our free call.
Kids ages 8 to 15. I especially love working with 10 to 14 year old girls navigating anxiety, perfectionism, and identity, but every kid in that age range is welcome.
Yes. Parent check-ins happen throughout the process so you know how things are going. Your child still gets a space that feels like their own.
Absolutely. Parents can book their own sessions for support while their child is working through things. These are booked separately from your child's care.
Your child sets the lights, grabs a drink, and we decide together what to do. That might be talking, art, play, movement, or a project.
So your child doesn't need a diagnosis on record to get support, and so we can shape care around them instead of around coverage rules. I can provide a superbill if you'd like to seek out-of-network reimbursement.
Send a quick note or call. I'll get back to you within two business days.
We talk about what's going on with your child and make sure it feels like a fit.
Your kid meets me, picks the lights, and we start building trust from day one.
Tell me a little about what's going on and I'll reach out to set up your free consultation.
If your child is in crisis, call or text 988 any time, or call 911.