For a young person, friendship isn't a side story. For a while, it's the whole world.
If you're a parent, you've probably watched it from the outside: the door that closes a little more firmly, the mood that swings on a single text, the friend group that was everything last month and is a source of tears this one. You want to help, and you're not always sure you're allowed in.
And if you're the young person reading this, you already know how much it can weigh. The group chat you're not sure you're really part of. The lunch table math. The friend who suddenly went cold, and the hours you've spent replaying what you might have done. The exhausting work of trying to be liked while also trying to figure out who you even are.
Peer relationships are where we first practice belonging. They're how we learn to trust, to set limits, to be ourselves in front of people who might not approve. When they go well, they build us up. When they wound us, the ache is real, and it deserves to be taken seriously, not waved away as just a phase.
What this actually looks like
It can look like social anxiety, the stomachache before school, the rehearsing of what to say, the certainty that everyone is watching and judging. It can look like shrinking to fit in, agreeing with things you don't believe, laughing at things that aren't funny, becoming whoever the group needs so you won't be left out.
It can look like a friendship rupture that feels like a small grief, because it is one. It can look like being the target of exclusion or cruelty, or like watching it happen and not knowing what to do. For many young people, it also looks like the quiet, constant question of who am I, worked out in real time against the mirror of their peers.
For parents, it can look like a child who used to tell you everything and now tells you nothing. Your worry is not overblown. Peer struggles shape self-esteem, mood, and identity in lasting ways, and getting the right support early makes a genuine difference.
How I work with young people and their peers
I work with adolescents and children, and my first job is to earn their trust, not to lecture them. Young people can tell instantly when an adult is really listening. I meet them as whole people with real inner lives, take their worlds seriously, and never treat their pain as something they'll simply grow out of.
Drawing on attachment and client-centered work, we look at what's happening beneath the social struggle: the fear of not being enough, the pattern of losing yourself to belong, the tender project of figuring out who you are. We build practical, usable skills too, ways to handle a rupture, to set a boundary, to sit with the discomfort of not being liked by everyone and survive it just fine.
For families, I hold a careful balance. I protect the young person's trust and privacy while giving parents the guidance they need to help at home. You don't have to choose between supporting your child and respecting them. Good work does both.
What the work looks like together
We build trust first
Nothing real happens until a young person feels genuinely met. Early sessions are about connection and safety, on their terms, at their pace.
We look underneath the social struggle
Together we explore what the friendship pain is really about, belonging, self-worth, identity, so it becomes something we can work with rather than just endure.
You build real skills
We practice handling ruptures, setting boundaries, and tolerating disapproval, so social situations feel less like a threat and more like something you can navigate.
Family finds its footing
With care for the young person's trust, I give parents guidance to support at home, so everyone is pulling in the same direction.
This may be for you if…
- ✓Your child is struggling with friendships, exclusion, or fitting in
- ✓You're a young person who feels anxious, left out, or unsure who you are around others
- ✓A friendship rupture has hit harder than people seem to understand
- ✓You want support that respects the young person and includes the parent
A different kind of support may fit better if…
- ·A young person is in immediate crisis or danger, please see our crisis resources for right-now support
- ·You're looking strictly for medication management (a psychiatrist prescribes; as a psychologist I don't, though I'm glad to coordinate care)
Good things to know
Do you work with teenagers and children directly?
Yes. I see adolescents and children, and I tailor the work to their age and personality. My first priority is building a relationship where they feel safe enough to be honest.
How are parents involved in the work?
Thoughtfully, and with care for your child's trust. I keep parents informed and offer real guidance for home, while protecting the privacy that lets a young person open up. We'll agree on how that looks at the start.
Is telehealth effective for teens and kids?
For many young people, yes, and it often feels natural to them. Meeting from their own space can lower the pressure and help them speak freely. All sessions are held over a secure, confidential platform, and I'll help you decide if it's the right fit for your child.
Can we work together if we're not in Los Angeles?
Yes. I work via secure telehealth with families anywhere in California, not only in LA. You just need to be located in the state.
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