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Best Child And Teen Therapists in Wake Forest, NC (2026)

73 child and teen therapists ranked by RP ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall in Wake Forest: Oak City Counseling, RP Score 67/100; 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews; open Saturdays until 5 PM.

  2. 7

    Most-reviewed: Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Raleigh, 431 Google reviews at 4.5★, the most of 73 ranked; ranked #7.

Rankings can't be bought. Psychologists can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

73 Wake Forest child and teen therapists are ranked here by RP Score, from eight published factors. 23 open Saturdays and 12 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.5★ across 73 rated practices.

Most of this list also appears on the Child and teen therapists in Raleigh ranking. See Child and teen therapists in Raleigh

Top 10 child and teen therapists in Wake Forest at a glance

Ranked by the RP Score from public listing data, not by treatment outcomes; Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank.

Top 10 child and teen therapists in Wake Forest at a glance
RankBusinessRP ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursBest for
1Oak City Counseling675.0★ (10)Raleigh, 10 mi awaySat · EveningsOverall
2The Dawson Center, PLLC635.0★ (3)Raleigh, 19 mi awaySat · Sun · Evenings—
3Thriveworks Counseling & Child Therapy Northeast Raleigh634.7★ (119)Raleigh, 12 mi awaySat · Sun · Evenings—
4Wynns Family Psychology—Cary NC624.3★ (43)Cary, 22 mi awaySat · Sun · Evenings—
5Silber Psychological Services614.0★ (4)Raleigh, 12 mi away——
6Emily W. King, PhD, PLLC615.0★ (3)Raleigh, 11 mi away——
7Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Raleigh604.5★ (431)Raleigh, 10 mi awaySat · Sun · EveningsMost reviews
8Dr. Meredith Hickory593.8★ (9)Raleigh, 15 mi away——
9Triangle Psychiatry and Mental Health594.8★ (8)Raleigh, 10 mi awaySat · Sun · Evenings—
10Charis Foundation, Inc.593.9★ (7)Wake ForestSat · Evenings—

The 73 best child and teen therapists in Wake Forest, ranked

Ordered by RP Score, a 0–100 score from eight published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.

Ranked by the RP Score from public listing data, not by treatment outcomes; Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank.

Scores below: based on 7 of 8 factors; recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.

  1. Ranked #1 in Wake Forest

    #1 Oak City Counseling

    Based in Raleigh, 10 mi away

    67/100RP Score

    Ranked #1 because of specialty focus and its Google rating: listed on Google as “Child psychologist”, 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews.

    • 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–7 PM · Sat 9 AM–5 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    120 Wind Chime Ct, Raleigh, NC 27615
    View profile for Oak City Counseling(919) 424-7975

  2. #2 The Dawson Center, PLLC

    Based in Raleigh, 19 mi away

    63/100RP Score

    Ranked #2 because of specialty focus and its Google rating: listed on Google as “Child psychologist”, 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews.

    • 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–6:30 PM · Sat 9 AM–5 PM · Sun 9 AM–6:30 PM
    Address
    4904 Waters Edge Dr #154, Raleigh, NC 27606
    View profile for The Dawson Center, PLLC(919) 533-8726

  6. #6 Emily W. King, PhD, PLLC

    Based in Raleigh, 11 mi away

    61/100RP Score

    Ranked #6 because of specialty focus and its Google rating: listed on Google as “Child psychologist”, 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews.

    • 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 10 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu 10 AM–5 PM · Fri–Sun closed
    Address
    278 W Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
    View profile for Emily W. King, PhD, PLLC(919) 521-4535

  8. #8 Dr. Meredith Hickory

    Based in Raleigh, 15 mi away

    59/100RP Score

    Ranked #8 because of specialty focus and its Google rating: listed on Google as “Child psychologist”, 3.8★ from 9 Google reviews.

    • 3.8★ from 9 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 7 AM–3 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    891 Washington St, Raleigh, NC 27605
    View profile for Dr. Meredith Hickory(919) 971-1495

  20. #20 Birch Therapy

    Based in Raleigh, 15 mi away

    54/100RP Score

    Ranked #20 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 12 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Counselor”.

    • 5.0★ from 12 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Sun 8 AM–8 PM
    Address
    1042 Washington St, Raleigh, NC 27605
    View profile for Birch Therapy(919) 238-9677

  22. #22 ABS Kids ABA Therapy Center

    Based in Raleigh, 10 mi away

    53/100RP Score

    Ranked #22 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.2★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Applied behavior analysis therapist”.

    • 4.2★ from 5 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–7 PM · Sat 12 AM–7 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    2900 Spring Forest Rd Ste 101, Raleigh, NC 27616
    View profile for ABS Kids ABA Therapy Center(704) 780-4271

  24. #24 Duke ADHD Clinic

    Based in Durham, 24 mi away

    52/100RP Score

    Ranked #24 because of specialty focus and its Google rating: listed on Google as “Child psychologist”, 1.9★ from 9 Google reviews.

    • 1.9★ from 9 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    2608 Erwin Rd #300, Durham, NC 27705
    View profile for Duke ADHD Clinic(919) 681-9185

  25. #25 Your Journey Through

    Based in Raleigh, 10 mi away

    52/100RP Score

    Ranked #25 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.6★ from 22 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Psychotherapist”.

    • 4.6★ from 22 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–9 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    8305 Six Forks Rd #207, Raleigh, NC 27615
    View profile for Your Journey Through(984) 310-8738

How we ranked Wake Forest child and teen therapists

We scored 73 Wake Forest child and teen therapists on eight factors, weighted as shown. A practice is ranked when its specialty is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A practice with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Sponsored businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

RP Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Wake Forest data
Reputation25%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back itMeasured
Review volume5%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed practice on the listMeasured
Recency5%Share of Google reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Availability10%Weekly open hours, Saturday, Sunday, and round-the-clock or same-day availabilityMeasured
Specialty focus25%How clearly the practice does this specialty (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity15%Based in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The practice has claimed its Ranked Psychologists profile (free or paid earn the same)Measured
Partnered5%The practice links to Ranked Psychologists from its own website with our badge, checked periodicallyMeasured

How to choose a child and teen therapist

  1. Check the license with the state or provincial board that issued it; most boards publish a free online lookup.
  2. Make sure child and adolescent therapy is a regular part of their work, and ask what approach they use and why.
  3. Ask how much of the work is with the child alone and how much includes parents or caregivers.
  4. For ADHD, learning or autism assessments, ask who does the testing and whether a written report is included.
  5. Ask about fees, insurance and the cancellation policy before the first session. In the US, if you are uninsured or paying yourself, you can ask for a good faith estimate of expected charges.
  6. Check practical fit: in-person or online sessions, evening times, and how soon they have an opening.
  7. After a few sessions, ask yourself whether you feel heard. Changing to a different provider is common and fine.

Questions to ask a child and teen therapist

  • Are you accepting new clients, and how soon could I start?
  • Which license do you hold, and in which state or province?
  • How much of your work is child and adolescent therapy?
  • How do you involve parents, and what do you keep confidential?
  • What do you charge per session, and do you take my insurance or provide a superbill?
  • Do you offer online sessions?
  • What is your cancellation policy?
  • What do you keep confidential, and when would you have to share information?

Terms explained

PhD / PsyD
Doctoral degrees in psychology. A PhD usually has a stronger research focus, a PsyD a stronger clinical focus; both can lead to a psychologist license.
Licensed psychologist
A person licensed by a state or provincial psychology board to practice psychology. The title is protected by law.
Psychological associate
In some states and provinces, a master’s-level practitioner licensed or registered by the psychology board, often with supervision requirements.
LPC / LMHC / LCPC
US licenses for professional or mental health counselors (the name differs by state). They provide counseling and therapy.
LCSW
Licensed clinical social worker: a master’s-level social worker licensed to provide therapy.
LMFT
Licensed marriage and family therapist: licensed to treat individuals, couples and families with a focus on relationships.
RP / RCC
Registered psychotherapist (Ontario) and registered clinical counsellor (British Columbia): Canadian titles for licensed therapy providers.
PSYPACT
An interstate agreement that lets psychologists licensed in a member state provide telepsychology to clients in other member states once they hold the required authorization.
Telehealth
Sessions held by secure video or phone instead of in person. The provider generally needs to be licensed where the client is located.
CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy: a structured talk therapy that works on the links between thoughts, feelings and behavior.
DBT
Dialectical behavior therapy: a form of CBT that teaches skills for managing intense emotions and relationships.
ERP
Exposure and response prevention: a form of CBT used for OCD.

Child and teen therapists in Wake Forest: frequently asked questions

Who is the best child and teen therapist in Wake Forest?

By RP Score, the highest-ranked child and teen therapist in Wake Forest, NC is Oak City Counseling with an RP Score of 67/100. It has 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews. It is open Saturdays until 5 PM. The Dawson Center, PLLC (#2) and Thriveworks Counseling & Child Therapy Northeast Raleigh (#3) follow. We ranked 73 child and teen therapists on eight factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many child and teen therapists are there in Wake Forest?

RankedPsychologists ranks 73 child and teen therapists serving Wake Forest, NC. 4 of them are based in Wake Forest; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Counts are as of November 2026.

What should I do if I need help right now?

In crisis or thinking about suicide? Call or text 988 (US and Canada), any time. In an emergency, call 911. This site cannot help in an emergency.

Which child and teen therapists in Wake Forest work on weekends?

23 of 73 ranked child and teen therapists post Saturday hours and 12 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Oak City Counseling (#1), The Dawson Center, PLLC (#2) and Thriveworks Counseling & Child Therapy Northeast Raleigh (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many practices also offer evening or online sessions by appointment.

What Google rating do Wake Forest child and teen therapists have?

The median Google rating among 73 rated child and teen therapists in Wake Forest is 4.5★, with a median of 11 reviews. Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Raleigh has the most, 431 reviews, and ranks #7. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does RankedPsychologists rank child and teen therapists?

Each child and teen therapist gets a 0–100 RP Score from eight published factors, led by reputation (25%), specialty focus (25%), proximity (15%) and availability (10%). A practice with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only practices with a confirmed specialty and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.

Do child and teen therapists outside Wake Forest count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Wake Forest city center, our service radius for child and teen therapists. Each listing shows where the practice is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 15% of the RP Score, so a nearby practice gets a small edge.

Can child and teen therapists pay to rank higher on RankedPsychologists?

No. The RP Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured practices may appear above the list, labelled Sponsored and showing their honest rank.

How are child and teen therapists in Wake Forest ranked?

Each practice gets an RP Score from 0 to 100 from 8 published factors, including its Google rating, how clearly it focuses on child and adolescent therapy and how close it is. Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank. The score does not measure treatment outcomes.

Can a teenager start therapy without a parent?

It depends on where you live. The age at which a young person can agree to outpatient mental health care on their own differs between states and provinces. Ask the practice how it handles consent and what it shares with parents.

Can I see a child and teen therapist online?

Often, yes. Licensing generally follows where you are during the session, so the provider needs to be licensed or authorized there. In the US, psychologists in PSYPACT member states can offer telepsychology to clients in other member states; counselors and social workers have their own rules. In Canada, ask whether the provider is registered in your province.

What if I need help right now?

Do not wait for a consultation. Call or text 988 (US and Canada) if you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, at any time. In an emergency, call 911.

Update log for Wake Forest

  1. November 2026: RP Scores recalculated for 73 child and teen therapists serving Wake Forest.

More child and teen therapists and Wake Forest pages