Children do not always have the words for what is hard. They have behavior instead.
When a child is struggling, it rarely arrives as a clear sentence. It shows up as big feelings, clinginess, meltdowns, trouble at school, worries that will not settle, or a change in a kid who used to seem carefree. As a parent, you feel it before you can name it, and you want to help before it grows.
Therapy for children meets a young person where they actually are, developmentally and emotionally, rather than expecting them to sit and explain themselves like a small adult. At these ages, so much of what a child needs to express comes through play, imagination, drawing, and story, the natural language of childhood. The work is warm, patient, and paced to the child.
Just as important, this is never only about the child. Children live inside families, and the most lasting change happens when parents are partners in the process. You know your child better than anyone. My job is to understand what their behavior is trying to say, and to work alongside you so home becomes part of the healing.
Who this is for
- ✓Young children whose worries, fears, or sadness seem bigger than they can manage on their own
- ✓Kids showing it through behavior, meltdowns, defiance, clinginess, or trouble at school or with friends
- ✓Children adjusting to a hard change at home, a move, a loss, a new sibling, or family stress
- ✓Kids who need help naming and handling big feelings before those feelings run the show
- ✓Parents who want guidance and a partner, not just a report card on how their child is doing
How I work with children and families
I start from a simple belief, that behavior is communication. A child who is acting out, shutting down, or falling apart is telling us something they cannot yet put into words. Instead of trying to correct the behavior first, we get curious about what it means, and the child feels understood rather than fixed.
The work is developmentally attuned and age-appropriate, using play, creativity, and conversation pitched to where your child is, so it feels natural rather than clinical to them. I stay away from a one-size-fits-all method and instead follow your particular child.
Parents are central to all of it. We meet, I share what I am seeing, and we build approaches you can carry into daily life at home. For families who want a deeper family-systems focus, my colleague Emma Crissman, LMFT, brings real depth in that work, and our practice can bring the right fit to your family.
How we work together
We start with the parents
Before I meet your child, I want to hear from you, the history, the worries, and what a good outcome would look like for your family.
I meet your child where they are
Through play and age-appropriate connection, I get to know your child and let them get comfortable, at their pace, not mine.
We read the behavior together
We make sense of what your child's behavior is communicating, so responses at home can shift from managing symptoms to meeting needs.
Home becomes part of the work
You leave our parent sessions with concrete, doable approaches, so the progress made in our time together takes root in daily life.
Good things to know
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
A good time to reach out is when a struggle is lasting longer than it should, getting in the way of school, friendships, or home life, or when your gut simply tells you your child is carrying more than they can manage alone. You do not need to wait for a crisis, and an early conversation costs nothing to have.
How are parents involved?
Closely. Children do best when parents are partners, so we meet regularly, I share what I am noticing, and we build approaches you can use at home. You are never on the outside of your child's care.
Does therapy for children work over telehealth?
Yes, with the right setup. I tailor sessions to be engaging for a young child on screen, and I guide you on the simple things at home that help it go well. All sessions are held on a secure, confidential platform, anywhere in California.
What does it cost, and do you take insurance?
Sessions with me begin at $285, and our colleague Emma Crissman sees families beginning at $185. We accept some insurance plans, offer a limited sliding scale, and provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. See our Fees page for details.
Related services
Areas we work with here
You’ve read this far for a reason.
When you’re ready, a brief consultation is a gentle first step, no pressure, no obligation.
or call (626) 539-7290