Catherine Spirko

LLMSW

Therapist

About Catherine Spirko

Big emotions don’t come with instruction manuals — especially when you’re 6, 10, or 14 years old.

I’m Cathi Spirko, and I specialize in helping children and families understand what behavior is really communicating. When a child is melting down, shutting down, acting out, or struggling at school, there is always a story underneath. Anxiety. Sensory overload. ADHD. Social stress. Depression. Feeling misunderstood. Kids don’t always have the words for those experiences yet — so their feelings show up in behavior.

My work is about slowing down and getting curious instead of reactive.

I approach therapy with warmth, structure, and compassion. Children need to feel safe before they can grow. Parents need to feel supported before they can stay grounded. I partner with families to move from “What’s wrong?” to “What’s happening — and how can we help?”

How I Work

My approach blends evidence-based therapy with developmentally appropriate care. Sessions are engaging, practical, and built around your child’s needs.

I use:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help children understand how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to gently support children managing anxiety or obsessive-compulsive patterns

Play Therapy techniques to help younger clients safely express big feelings

Emotion regulation and mindfulness strategies to build coping skills that actually stick

Parent coaching and collaboration so progress continues outside the therapy room

I don’t believe in labeling children as “difficult.” I believe in identifying patterns, teaching skills, and strengthening connection.

Areas of Focus

I support children and families navigating:

ADD/ADHD & Executive Functioning Challenges

Anxiety, Panic, and School Avoidance

Autism Spectrum Differences

Anger and Emotional Regulation Difficulties

Behavior Concerns at Home or School

Depression & Mood Changes

Chronic Illness & Adjustment Stress

Family Conflict and Communication Struggles

LGBTQ+ Affirming Support for Youth and Families

Whether your child is struggling with friendships, overwhelmed by school expectations, navigating identity development, or feeling stuck in cycles of dysregulation, we’ll work together to build understanding and confidence.

Supporting the Whole Family

Children don’t grow in isolation — they grow within families, schools, and communities. That’s why I take a collaborative approach. I help caregivers understand nervous system regulation, behavior patterns, and attachment needs so they can respond with confidence instead of exhaustion.

Parenting a child with ADHD, anxiety, or autism can feel lonely at times. You may second-guess yourself. You may feel judged. You may feel like you’ve “tried everything.” My goal is to replace that isolation with partnership.

We focus on:

Strengthening parent-child attachment

Creating realistic routines and boundaries

Building consistency without rigidity

Developing calm responses during emotional storms

Recognizing and celebrating growth

Progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about small, steady shifts.

What Therapy Feels Like

Sessions with me are grounded and supportive. I balance structure with flexibility, skill-building with empathy. We’ll laugh when it helps. We’ll pause when it’s needed. We’ll create space for both hard conversations and hopeful moments.

For kids, therapy might look like drawing, storytelling, structured games, or practical coping exercises. For parents, it often includes reflection, strategy, and honest conversation about what’s working — and what isn’t.

I believe children thrive when they feel:

Safe

Seen

Heard

Understood

Capable

And I believe parents thrive when they feel empowered instead of overwhelmed.

My Philosophy

Behavior is communication. Dysregulation is not defiance. Growth takes connection.

I bring mindful, grounded practices into every session because children mirror the nervous systems around them. When we help families feel calm and capable, children gain the space they need to develop resilience.

At Ellie Mental Health in West Bloomfield, we believe therapy should feel human, approachable, and supportive — not clinical or intimidating. My role is to create that experience for your family.

If your child is struggling — or if parenting feels harder than it should — you are not alone. And you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

Let’s build tools, strengthen connection, and help your child feel confident in who they are. Schedule today and let’s take the first step together.