WELCOME
Welcome to The Brave Space!
Providing outpatient mental health counseling services to children and teens located in downtown Janesville, WI.
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-OPENING FALL 2026-
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(608) 974-6017
Our mission is to provide a safe, compassionate space where children, adolescents, and families feel seen, supported, and empowered. Through evidence-based, trauma-informed care, we help young people build resilience, develop healthy coping skills, strengthen relationships, and discover the courage to thrive through life's challenges.
Our Services
1
Pediatric Psychotherapy
Think of a therapist as a feelings coach. Just like a sports coach helps athletes build skills and get stronger, a therapist helps kids understand their emotions, work through hard experiences, and find tools that make life feel a little easier. Every child is different, so sessions might look different too — sometimes we talk, sometimes we play, sometimes we draw or use games. It all depends on what works best for your child.
2
Trauma-Based Therapy
Trauma-informed counseling is an approach to therapy that recognizes how deeply difficult experiences can shape a child's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and sense of safety in the world. Trauma doesn't always look like what we expect — it can come from a single overwhelming event, or from ongoing stress like family changes, loss, neglect, witnessing conflict, or feeling chronically unseen or unsafe.
When a child has experienced trauma, their nervous system learns to stay on high alert — always watching for danger, even when there isn't any. This can show up as anxiety, big emotional outbursts, withdrawal, difficulty trusting others, or struggles in school. It doesn't mean something is wrong with your child. It means their brain and body did exactly what they were designed to do — protect them.
Trauma-informed counseling meets children where they are, at their own pace, without pressure or judgment. The goal is to help your child feel safe first, then gently begin to process and heal. Every step of the way, your child remains in control of their own story.
3
Caregiver Support
Parenting is one of the hardest, most important jobs in the world — and you don't have to figure it all out alone. When a child is struggling, it's natural for caregivers to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or even question whether they're doing enough. The truth is, the fact that you're here, seeking support, says everything about the kind of parent or caregiver you are.
How to Get Started
If you are interested in starting services or would like more information, please call the office (608) 974-6017. Please note that I might be with a client or out of the office, but will call you back as soon as I can.
You are also welcome to email: thebravespacewi@gmail.com.
Insurances Accepted
The Brave Space LLC accepts:
-The Alliance of WI
-Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
-Medicaid
-MercyCare
-Quartz
We also accept:
-FSA/HSA debit/credit options
-Self-Pay
Meet Mary Kate
Hi, I'm Mary Kate!
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and am the owner and therapist at The Brave Space LLC. I have a deep passion for supporting children through some of life's most challenging moments. My work is built on one simple belief: every child deserves a brave, safe space where they feel truly heard. I have a genuine commitment to helping kids find their footing and to live their childhood to the fullest. Over the course of my career, I've had the privilege of working across a wide range of settings — including in-home therapy, school-based counseling, group work, social welfare, and case management. That breadth of experience has given me a well-rounded understanding of the many different challenges children and families face, and it shapes how I approach every child I work with — meeting them exactly where they are.
Education & Licenses
-State of Wisconsin-Department of Safety and Professional Services, Licensed Professional Counselor, 2019
-Eye Movement Desensitization Re-processing (EMDR) Certification, 2022
-University of Wisconsin, Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2017
-University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Bachelor of Science in Human Services Leadership, 2011
Address
101 E. Milwaukee Street
Suite 600 (Inside Marigold Speech & Co)
Janesville, WI 53545
Phone
(608) 974-6017
