Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Pico Rivera, CA.

Children see the world through a different lens. Adults often treat children in a delicate way, as to not overwhelm their sensitivities. As a former early childhood educator, I understand the balance between nurturing interaction, and recognizing a child's strength. Children are naturally social beings, even when they are shy. They are natural grievers, even thought they might not fully understand loss. Children want to be loved and feel acceptance, even when they exhibit behaviors that seem to indicate otherwise. I implement talk, music, and art therapy to help children express themselves in ways that feel natural to them. Let me assist your child in discovering healthy self expression.

Parents may seek therapy for their young children due to concerns about grief/loss, behavioral problems, emotional problems, trauma/abuse, and a variety of other issues. I conduct play therapy with young children to help establish a connection with the child. Utilizing the language of play helps the child feel safe to express themselves and is a great way to help the child work through the problem. I endeavor to help young children learn healthy ways of coping and work through the issue that concerns the parents. I also like to have sessions with parents and family sessions to work with the parents on the issue that brings them to therapy.

Young families today have a lot of challenges living in Southern California due to the high cost of living, pressures of family life, and the demands of working. All of these responsibilities can contribute to a high level of stress and anxiety for parents. Many parents also deal with additional issues as having a special needs child, a family member experiencing trauma, divorce and blended families, a defiant child, and possibly marital problems. These circumstances can be overwhelming and difficult to deal with. You may feel alone and hopeless regarding your situation. Isolating, avoiding the problem, and repeating old arguments will not change the circumstance.

Our practice includes a clinician with experience in language & skill-building with autistic children, behavior modification & therapy with at-risk youth & families, and work with adolescents & families in crisis. He also coordinates an evidence-based program with the County of Orange that teaches families how to modify severe behavior problems in children. He is trained in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, & EMDR.

Blending a family should be a happy event. A new marriage should be all about partnership and building life together. But all too often blended families are filled with conflict rather than harmony. Instead of compromise, it’s often about who’s right and who’s wrong. And the relationship with the step-children is always going to be strained. It’s no wonder that second marriages with blended families have a higher likelihood of divorce. But if you and your spouse are unified and take everyone’s needs into account, your family could function more smoothly. Many stepparents are defensive about “their” children. Each has a different upbringing and different parenting experiences and styles. What m....

We enjoy working with children as young as 4 years of age. We begin with a psychological assessment, history and obtain any relevant medical information. Then we meet with the primary care givers, usually both parents, or grandparents who provide us with their concerns and observations. We recommend the child be assessed by a medical doctor to rule out any medical cause for the problem behavior.Then we educate the adults with parenting skills. If the parenting tools are not enough to correct the problem behaviors then we will do play therapy with the child to better assess the child's problem.

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.

Experiencing difficulties with children can be both shameful and exhausting for parents. These issues leaves parents with a sense of powerlessness that they can't help fix the problem. By seeking therapy for your child, you are already providing a huge help for them. Difficulties can arise by known changes such as divorce, moves or deaths in the family. Other times it may be less clear why there has been a change in mood, personality, or behavior. Through age-appropriate activities I work with children to resolve conflicts, increase self-esteem and build communication skills.

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.

Many times parents are at a loss on how to help their young children. Sometimes the parents are worn out from trying to deal with a "Strong Willed Child" and so either become too strict or become too passive. Neither approach helps to raise a child to be a grown adult that you are proud to claim as you child. In our work here at Schwarz and Associates we strive to take a balanced approach to helping parents to learn skills to parent in a way that truly helps them become the adults God wants them to be and you will be proud of!

Young children are one of the most complex groups to work with as a clinician. Children have a unique way of revealing very little, yet so much at the same time. As a clinician who regularly works with children, I have come to know the art of exploring beyond what a child may say, in order to understand the deeper context of what a child means. Working with young children offers an opportunity to embark on a unique therapeutic experience, one that clinicians typically don’t experience when working with adults. I appreciate you trusting your child’s therapeutic needs with me.

At LA Therapy Network we have therapists whose specialty is helping couples and/or single parents with young children! Children often need therapists who understand their special needs, but also a therapist who can work with you, the parent to understand and help your child through whatever difficulties he or she is experiencing, or that you are dealing with as parent. Let us help you through the tough times or to learn how to be a more effective parent! We offer parenting support, family therapy, play, art and sandplay therapies! Because we are a group of private practice therapists, we can offer you services as a collaboration which can make a huge difference to your treatment! LA & LB!

I have worked in elementary schools with children between the ages of 6 and 10. My approach with children is strength based, helping them to identify what is important to them in order to help them make better choices. I find it is important to help kids to discover their unique understanding of life so that they can start building a stronger footing to stand on in order to face the demands and pressures of living.