Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Hollywood, CA.

Very few therapists specialize in therapy with young children. Fortunately, we have several on staff at the La Vie Center. Because we have over 25 therapists on staff, we have counselors that specialize in many different areas and working with young children is a particular area of expertise for us. Give us a call and we will find just the right child therapist for you.

The inner world of a child is rich with emotion and depth. It can be difficult to watch your child struggle, whether it is socially, academically, or in the home. Child therapy can be beneficial in not only providing current support and problem-solving, but can also serve to be preventative for potential longer-term issues. Young children in particular have a language of their own -- play! I will work with your child using play and art therapy techniques to communicate and develop more effective coping tools to thrive in his or her environment and family.

Young children respond well to play, art and music, and these activities can help them in expressing their strong feelings, while also developing new, healthier ways of coping with their experience. Children and their parents often enjoy the benefits of therapy in addressing behavioral issues, life transition, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, Sexual abuse, aggressive or defiant behavior, difficulty with peer relationships and learning issues, like ADHD. The focus of my work with young children is to help them thrive again. If you’re wondering whether your young child may benefit from therapy, I invite you to contact me, as I would be more than happy to speak with you about your concerns and how we might best address them in support your child.

The developmental stage of parenting a young child is unpredictable and at times chaotic although simultaneously it is the greatest blessing. Parents go thru an adjustment period while learning how to be parents and provide that child with all their needs. Childrearing has its numerous challenges and yet it is the most important role and individual can commit to when becoming parents.

I utilize developmentally appropriate, play therapy to gain knowledge and understanding of how young children perceive themselves and their world. Older children, tweens and adolescents benefit from therapeutic activities and talk therapy, as vehicles for gaining insight and self-understanding. I have provided therapy, on campus at a K-8th grade school and previously worked as a Certified Child Life (Development) Specialist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. As a mother, I deeply empathize with parents whose children are experiencing difficulties and welcome your questions and concerns regarding the therapeutic process for your child.

One of the ways children improve behavior & make positive change is through play. Some of the ways I help kids make change is through: games, storytelling & artwork. I set clear expectations, & create a supportive, fun-loving atmosphere. I focus on strengths: I identify & address problems and then focus on what’s right & how to do more of it. I work with your family, teachers & others to make sure the improvements made are reinforced in all areas of life. Family members are taught tools to ensure your child continues using new, positive behaviors. I help with: Managing upsetting feelings & tantrums; using effective discipline; managing opposition & aggression; school challenges & more.

Kids Emotional IQ Groups provide the tools for kids to maintain a balanced social-emotional wellness during a very unbalanced time. Kids connect and talk about a range of question prompts to help them connect their brains to their bodies. These facilitated questions and lessons help manage behaviors and emotions. Talking with peers in a group setting help them express and label emotions and recognize others' emotions. It creates a space for empathy and understanding of themselves and their peers.

Stress for young children can often be challenging to discern. Parents may notice that their child begins to experience a greater incidence of tantrums and/or angry outbursts, but often attribute such changes to growing up. Children may also demonstrate strict rules for their play and become upset when their schedule is changed without warning. Sometimes parents may not be able to identify obvious signs of stress in their children, but recognize that their child has encountered a number of stressors. In any of these cases, children can benefit from therapy wherein they can explore how to express their feelings and learn to process their emotions in a safe non-judgmental environment.

Studies show that our most important years of development are between the ages of 1 and 5 years old. Often what is learned here shapes us the rest of our lives. As any parent knows, a lot can happen in one year with a child, much less five. Fear, trauma, abuse and bullying can have a lasting effect on a child if it goes unaddressed. In my work with your child I will not only help them overcome tough moments but also build resilience for future challenges. If your child is suffering from in emotional or behavioral problems, I'd love to help. You don't have to go it alone.

We offer a range of services for young children including those who are going through their parents divorce to being at risk for developmental delays, children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and individuals with adaptive functioning needs and behavioral challenges. Our approach integrates meeting the child where they are at with a mixture of play therapy and evidence-based practices from the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) depeing on the needs of each client and family.

Is your child going through a difficult time or life transition? They may be stuck in a cycle of mood swings or behavioral reactions. It sounds like your child or adolescent would benefit from counseling, and you have the heart and motivation to get them the help they need. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and offer professional counseling for children, teens, and families. I'm also a certified Family Wellness Instructor. Additionally, I have experience as a student director and teacher and enjoy working with children, adolescents, and young adults in issues relating to identity and development. If you are ready for your child to begin the healing journey, I am here to help.

For about 7 years I only worked with children in my practice. The rest of my practice has been split working with adults and with kids. With kids, its all about their instinct and comfort. If they sense that the therapist isn't comfortable or experienced with kids, they won't engage in the therapy process. I use a variety of techniques working with children, depending on their age. For smaller children, art therapy and play therapy can be very successful for a variety of reasons. The main reason is that it takes the focus off of them and they feel more at ease to talk and be open. For older children who can handle "talk therapy", using simpler language can be effective.

Best said by Garry Landreth, a renowned child therapist, "Toys are children's words and play is their language". Play therapy is a way of working with kids using their language of play as a means to express or communicate feelings to work through childhood wounds (trauma, anxiety, depression, divorce, grief/loss, etc). Child centered play therapy believes that in a therapeutic setting, children allowed to play freely will resolve their own problems and reach their own solutions. Because this can be a long process, I practice a prescriptive approach, meaning the play is child driven with introduction of clinically appropriate interventions for the individual child and their particular issues.

Young children greatly benefit from play therapy, which is a professional form of psychotherapy. I work with children ages 3 puberty and up that will significantly restructure behaviors that will provide relief to parents and caregivers. Structure & consistency is key and disclipline needn't be cruel or overly harsh as many parents have questioned to me through the 30+ years that I have worked with their children. My techniques are based on research with what is called in psychotherapy, evidenced-based-practices; this allows relief knowing that your child will receive help from procedures & practices that have been proven to work, as long as parents or caretakers are invested towards change.

Children come to therapy for a variety of reasons. Some examples are behavioral problems, failing grades, not focusing, not staying on task, fighting with peers, poor social skills, not listening at home, and hyperactivity. Using play therapy and art therapy, I help children express themselves. Children experience counseling as fun which results in them expressing themselves honestly and resolving the issue through play. If you want to help your child be successful in school or at home, I can help you.

Adolescents age 12-18. For over 20 years, I have worked with adolescents/teens. Navigating adolescence can be extremely challenging. Some areas of treatment are ( but not limited to) exploration of developmental issues, self-esteem, managing academic stress, understanding relationships with family and friends, developing a healthy sense of self and communication skills in a social media age.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who is a passionate about children. I believe these little ones are unique beings, created by God. I utilize play therapy and help parents gain the insights they may need to help navigate their way with their young children. I help children through play therapy. Also, I have been trained to do EMDR with children.

Many times, child stherapists overdo the family system in their quest to seek effective solutions for emotional, learning or behavioral concerns with young children. And many times doctors overpathologize issues that shouldnt be medicated necessarily. This leaves parents wondering what is the best route for their child? Introducting brainwave optimization technology. A fast, effective, natural, and less expensive way to allow your child's brain to make the optimizing changes it desires to make---on its own! Without any external force, opinion, medication, diagnostic, etc. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161

Today it is more complicated than ever to be a teen. With so much going on, it’s common for teens and children feel anxiety, irritability, isolation, low self esteem, and sadness. Teens just need someone to talk to, that isn’t a family member about difficult topics they are experiencing. It’s not that they don’t trust their family, but many times teens need a private, non-judge mental space of their own to gain insight. I have extensive experience working with teens and children, even those resistant to therapy. I specialize with teens managing high academic & athletic achievement. Through therapy teens will learn to manage their emotions, reach goals, and grow into healthy young adults.

My practice is specifically focused on children, adolescents, and young adults. Working with younger children requires a playful insight and I frequently employ play therapy and games to challenge anger, anxiety, and frustrations. Further, through play I am able to work with children on managing social situations, dissapointments, and develop problem solving techniques. Following these sessions I work closely with parents to train on these behavioral interventions in order to further reinforce in the home environment. This consistency and collaboration allows us to more effectively shape behaviors and booste self esteem beyond the therapy session.

Here to help young children have a voice and learn how to best express their feelings and thoughts. Using games, art, storytelling and other tools to help explore and teach your child how to understand and cope with their feelings. Parents are included in sessions, as needed, in order to help the child feel comfortable and safe in the new environment; and also to have parents help facilitate child's progress.

In working with young children I integrate the arts with evidence-based interventions to provide effective ways to deal with anger, depression, anxiety or other stressors. I help identify and build on current strengths while learning new skills. I work collaboratively with parents and other professionals to provide the highest level of care and service. I am always learning from current clinical research to improve outcomes for my clients.

Children experience life just as we adults to. Taking time to discuss emotions and feelings, the child will be able to gain tools to access feeling words and express themselves appropriately. Sometimes life becomes chaotic for children (new baby, school transitions, etc.), having a safe place to talk where someone listens will create a positive outcome on their outlook.

I have years of experience treating children in pre-school through middle school. I worked in schools and at home with oppositional children, kids with learning delays, who "act out," tantrum, do not handle transitions in activity well. I have worked with violent children, academic underachievers, children with separation anxiety, bedwetting, and children who eat non-nutritional objects. Applied Behavior Analysis is oftern used to create ground-rules that reinforce acceptable behavior and discourage negative behaviors. It's important that extended family (and teachers, and caretakers, if possible) be on the same page. A united front is essential to positively modify children's behaviors

Every behavior is a way of communication. Children communicate with their caregivers through their behaviors such as (hitting, throwing, kicking, having nightmares, screaming eating too much, not getting along with others, not doing homework, having anxiety thoughts) and so on. In therapy with children I use play and art therapy interventions in order to reduce behavior. I work closely with parents to increase communication and strength the child-parent relationship. I teach and practice reward system, time out, positive communication, boundaries with parents. I attend IEP meetings when necessary.