Child Therapy in Woodland Hills
Something feels different with your child lately. Maybe it is the meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere, a worry that will not let go, or a sadness that sits behind their eyes even when they tell you they are fine. You have probably already tried everything you know how to try. That is usually when parents find us.
At Child & Teen Counseling, we work with kids and families throughout Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, West Hills, Reseda, Van Nuys, and the rest of the West San Fernando Valley. We help children understand what they are feeling and give them real tools to handle it, in a space that is built just for them, not a smaller version of adult therapy.
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You might know if your kid needs therapy if you’re hearing from teachers or other support staff at school that there are some behaviors they’re concerned about. But you also might feel like your kid needs therapy if you’re observing them not having as much enjoyment out of the things they generally like to be doing.
If your kid needs some additional help, they may not tell you directly, but they may be showing you in ways that look like acting out of normal behavior, acting out in class, acting out at home, maybe withdrawing.
If there are parts of their life they’re not getting the same kind of fulfillment out of, that might be an indication that there’s something going on with their mental health that a therapist might be able to support.
It makes total sense to be a little reluctant to bring a kid into therapy. It can feel scary and intimidating. But it’s our job to make the process as comfortable for you as possible, so your kid can get the support they need.
I would say if any parent feels guilty or unsure about bringing their child into therapy, it’s totally normal to feel that way. There are a lot of feelings, and a lot of cultural norms, around bringing your kid into therapy, and that’s a very normal reaction. But ultimately, we’re here to help your kid, and we’re here to help you be able to help your kid. We want to provide you with tools and a space where your kid can feel free to express themselves. If you want to get in touch with us, you can visit us on this page, send us an email, or call the number listed here. Someone will get back to you, and we’ll find a time to hear about what’s going on with your kid and set up a time to meet.
What We Help Kids Work Through
Every child who walks through our door is different, and so is what brings them here. These are some of the most common reasons families reach out to us:
Anxiety and Stress
Worry that shows up as stomachaches before school, trouble sleeping, or a child who needs constant reassurance. We help kids name what they are feeling and build real coping tools, so anxiety stops running the show.
Depression
A child who has pulled away from friends, lost interest in things they used to love, or seems flat and low more days than not. We meet them gently, at their pace, and help them find their way back to themselves.
Family Conflict
When home feels tense more often than it feels calm. We help kids process what is happening in the family and give parents tools to reduce conflict and rebuild connection.
Anger and Emotional Dysregulation
Big reactions, meltdowns, or a child who seems to go from zero to sixty with no warning. We help kids build the emotional regulation skills that make those moments less frequent and less intense.
Self-Esteem and Identity
Kids who are hard on themselves, unsure of who they are, or struggling to feel good in their own skin. We help them build a steadier, kinder sense of self.
Not Sure If Your Child Needs Therapy?
Most parents who reach out to us are not entirely sure yet, and that is okay. You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis to start a conversation. Sometimes it is a teacher or a coach who mentions a behavior they are noticing. Sometimes it is your child losing interest in things they used to love, acting out more than usual, or pulling away and going quiet. None of that has to add up to a clear answer before it is worth exploring.
If you are feeling a little guilty or unsure about even considering therapy for your child, that is completely normal. Most parents feel that way. There is a lot of pressure and a lot of messaging around what it means to bring your child in, and none of it should stop you from getting them support. Our job is to make this process as comfortable as possible, for both of you.
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What to Expect in Your Child's First Session
Reaching Out
Reaching out is often the hardest part, so here is what happens next. We start with a free phone consultation to hear what is going on and answer any questions you have, no commitment required. We hope that by the end of this conversation you'll feel like we "get you."
First Session
Your child's first session usually runs about 50 minutes. The first 10 to 15 minutes include the whole family. We will walk through how sessions work, including confidentiality, and hear directly from you about what you have been noticing at home. From there, we typically ask parents to step out for the rest of the session so your child's therapist can spend one on one time getting to know your child, usually through play.
We're a team!
After that first meeting, your child has their own space and time with their therapist each week. We usually find some toys, art supplies, and games that make it easier for them to open up. You are welcome to ask questions along the way. We like to check in and work as a team. There is no big moment to prepare your child for, just a steady, comfortable rhythm that builds week to week.
It Looks Like Play. It's Actually the Work.
For a child, play is not a break from therapy. It is the therapy. Play is how children process what they cannot yet put into words, and it is practice for the emotional skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Our therapists use play and art to build trust with your child and to help them work through what is going on beneath the surface, at a pace that feels safe to them.
If your child is not ready to talk about their feelings, that is okay too. Play gives them another way to communicate, through actions, through imagination, through what they choose to build or draw. Many kids open up in their own time, once they feel safe. Until then, we can just play.
Parent Involvement
You know your child better than anyone, and we treat you as a partner in this process, not a bystander. We only see your child for about an hour a week. You have them the rest of the time, so we see real involvement from parents as part of what makes therapy work, not an optional extra.
We will check in with you regularly, help you understand what is coming up in sessions where appropriate, and give you tools you can use at home. Therapy works best when it does not stay inside the therapy room.
View Video transcript
Parents should expect to be very involved in their kid’s therapeutic process. We only see them an hour a week, parents have them the rest of the time, so it’s up to all of us to work together to give them the support they need. I really don’t believe that therapy with kids works unless there’s parent involvement. They should expect to come in for sessions sometimes, and to check in with therapists to see how things are at home. We try to measure therapy in about three month increments, but it’s hard to say exactly when therapy starts working, it can be different for every kid and every family. Generally, we try to check in every three months to see how things are going.
Therapy is an ongoing process. It isn’t something that starts working overnight. It can take months, in some instances years, depending on what’s going on with the kid, so parents need to be patient. That can be difficult, because you’re not going to see results right away.
I think the way we work with kids is a little different than other child therapy, in that we’re not trying to just fix a behavior. Oftentimes when people bring their kid into therapy, they’re saying, I need this behavior to change. What we’re trying to do is understand the emotions that are going on behind a behavior. There’s always something informing what’s going on with your kid, and simply going in and trying to change the behavior is going to be putting a band-aid on an issue that might need a real set of tools and understanding to solve. If you want to get in touch with us, you can visit us on this page, send us an email, or call the number listed here. Someone will get back to you, and we’ll find a time to hear about what’s going on with your kid and set up a time to meet.
The Healing Journey
Real change takes time and consistency. We meet weekly with your child, building the kind of trust that lets them let their guard down. It is hard to say exactly when therapy starts working since every child and every family is different, but we generally check in around every three months to talk through how things are going and what progress looks like.
We are also not just trying to change a behavior. We want to understand what is driving it, because addressing the behavior alone tends to be a short term fix rather than a lasting one. Progress takes patience and will not happen overnight, but every child’s path moves toward the same goal: a child who feels more like themselves, and a family that feels a little more at ease.
We know therapy is an investment, and affordability matters to the families we serve. We work with families to find a fee that works for their budget, and you can read more about our approach on our affordable therapy page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age range do you work with in child therapy?
We work with children across a wide range of ages, from early elementary through the pre-teen years. If you are not sure whether your child fits, give us a call and we can talk it through together.
What if my child doesn't want to talk about their feelings?
That is completely normal, and it is exactly why we lean on play and art instead of asking a child to sit and talk the way an adult would. Most kids open up naturally once they feel safe, even if that takes a few sessions.
Will I know what happens in my child's sessions?
Your child’s privacy in session matters, and so does keeping you informed. We check in with you regularly and share what you need to know to support your child at home, while still giving your child their confidentiality and space to build trust with their therapist.
How much does child therapy cost?
We know cost is a real factor for families, and we work with you to find a fee that fits your budget. You can read more on our affordable therapy page.
How long does child therapy usually take?
Every child is different, so there is no fixed timeline. What we can tell you is that consistency matters, which is why we recommend weekly sessions, and most families start to notice small shifts within the first several weeks.
