Children & Teens Therapy
Children may not always know how to verbalize how they are feeling. Their big emotions may show up as:
Common problems addressed in child therapy
- Tearfulness
- Low mood
- Low energy
- Poor motivation
- Anxiety
- Difficulties with friendships
- Irritability
- Family conflicts
- Low self-esteem
- Talking badly about their body
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Angry and or emotional meltdowns
Frequently Asked Questions
What age range do you work with in children's therapy?
I work with children, adolescents, and teens, using approaches tailored to each child's developmental stage and needs, including expressive arts, play, and narrative storytelling techniques.
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
Common signs include tearfulness, low mood, low energy, poor motivation, anxiety, friendship difficulties, irritability, family conflict, low self-esteem, sleep difficulties, and emotional meltdowns. If these patterns are affecting your child's daily life, therapy may help.
What does therapy look like for children and teens?
Therapy for children can look different from traditional talk therapy. I use creative and expressive interventions, including expressive arts, dance, writing, and play, along with solution-focused and narrative storytelling approaches to help children and teens process their emotions and experiences.
Will you meet with my child alone, with me, or both?
Sessions are typically individual for the child or teen, with periodic parent involvement to discuss progress and support the treatment plan at home.
Is therapy for my teen confidential?
Teens are given space to speak openly in session. General progress is shared with parents and guardians, though specific content stays confidential except where safety concerns require disclosure.
Do you offer telehealth for children and teens?
Yes, I offer both in-person sessions (San Jose and Fremont, CA) and telehealth for children and teens.
Does insurance cover children's therapy?
Yes, I am currently paneled with Lyra, Aetna, Optum, and Cigna. If you have a different insurance, I can provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Therapy for children can look different from traditional talk therapy. I understand that every child is unique. Creative and expressive therapy interventions help build therapeutic rapport in the therapy sessions. I utilize expressive arts, dance, writing, and play skills that may help children and teens open up about their experiences and process their emotions through creative outlets. Solution-focused and narrative storytelling therapy offers youth ways to process their trauma and overcome challenges.
I often work with children struggling with emotional regulation, depression, anxiety, high sensitivities, and ADHD. Through therapy support, your child can learn ways to express their emotions through healthy communication and behaviors. My interactions with your child are therapeutic and focused on helping them empower themselves and solve their problems.
Being a parent is not easy, and I understand that. Along with child therapy sessions, I provide parents with coaching, psychoeducation, and family sessions to help families solve conflicts and communicate more effectively. Family therapy sessions can build upon emotion-focused, nonviolent communication and healthier boundaries.