Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Topanga, CA.

Why must our sweet innocent little ones find themselves facing some of life's challenges so early on? Mental health conditions in young children are prevalent and affect not only the child, but those who love and support them. Therapy is one of the most beautiful and valuable tools a parent can offer their young ones. It is a true passion of mine to help and treat children. I always feel an ease and connection with kiddos and have spent a lot of time working as a therapist to elementary school aged children inside of the LAUSD school system. I want to be any child's safe and positive place. I strive for their comfort, healing, and growth while focusing on reducing presenting issue(s).

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.

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.

GRIT Kids exists to allow parents or caregivers to aid their children in the work of self-awareness—at every developmental stage— to better understand themselves and the world around them. Simple behavioral management fails to develop the internal locus of control that is necessary for developing character and self-discipline. Forming a self-identity and learning to live with purpose is a necessary life skill for children to learn in order to live into their fullest self. GRIT Kids Coaches are trained to help you do the work of raising your child with intention so you can see that little person grow into all they are capable of.

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.

Too often therapies are not targeted at children's age levels. I specialize in play therapy with young children. Play therapy is an opportunity for children to express feelings, emotions or trauma in a safe environment. Developmentally, children are not able to adequately express their feelings or experiences in words. Through play therapy, the therapist can interact and help the child to express and heal important feelings related to their experiences. I have specialized doctoral clinical training in play therapy and child therapy. I have found play therapy, combined with family therapy, to be an effective technique to help children with anxiety, trauma, depression, and behavioral problems.

No group of people is as subject to the power of others as young children. Often acutely aware of their situation, I position myself as an ally as they decide how they want to act in the face of this power. I view childrens' voices and creativity as major assets that, if given their due, will serve them well as the move through their teen years and into young adulthood.

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.

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

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.

Does you child have uncontrollable anger? Social skills not up to par? Being bullied or the bully? Having anxiety or depression? An addiction to drugs, gambling or gaming? Often, children and adolescents find it hard to cope and deal with things without professional help. Working with children/adolescents is my specialty. I provide a safe, understanding, and fun environment for a child to disclose how they are feeling through the means of games, art, and talk therapy. Call now for help. Your child is worth it.