Therapy forChildren and Teens
When the growing gets tough.
At Sawtelle Psychotherapy Group, child and teen psychotherapy is a collaborative and nurturing experience designed around your child’s unique personality, strengths, and definition of wellbeing.
We believe meaningful growth for kids and teens happens in the context of safe, trusting relationships where they feel understood without judgment.
Our therapists specialize in creating warm, secure therapeutic spaces while integrating evidence-based approaches that support emotional, social, and behavioral development.
Working alongside your child—and you—means co-creating a treatment plan that is thoughtful, flexible, and practical, so the skills learned in therapy extend into home, school, friendships, and everyday life.
You’ve already taken an important first step by seeking support for your child.
We’re here to help with the rest.
We meet young clients exactly where they are, and help them grow from there.
We help children and teens build the foundation for long-lasting emotional wellbeing.
Our goal is to help children and teens strengthen:
Emotional awareness and expression
Self-compassion and confidence
Their coping and regulation skill toolbox
Problem-solving and communication abilities
Their sense of identity
Participation in their communities
At Sawtelle Psychotherapy Group in Los Angeles, CA, we work with children and teens ages 3–18 tailoring sessions to their:
Developmental stage
Personality and temperament
Cultural and family context
Unique interests and hobbies
Definition of growth
Emotional and behavioral needs
Big emotions, family conflict, academic pressure, friendship challenges, identity exploration, or major life transitions can feel overwhelming.
Approaches We Use With Children and Teens
Our therapists draw from age-appropriate, research-backed therapies, including:
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We use CBT to build kids’ awareness of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in order to develop healthier coping patterns.
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We use play and art therapy help younger children build tools for self-regulation, communicate effectively, express themselves, and process trauma by having the freedom to express, explore, and understand their inner worlds.
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Our DBT approach offers kids tangible ways to improve mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
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We use TF-CBT to address upsetting thoughts, distorted beliefs, and painful emotional and behavioral responses and fill their toolbox full of cognitive and emotion regulation skills that will support adaptive coping and enhance a sense of safety.
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We use ACT to encourage kids to identify their values and learn how difficulty with psychological flexibility can get in the way of living in line with them.
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We use Motivational Interviewing techniques to help teens build the motivation needed to make healthy changes in their lives.
Your child’s personalized therapeutic plan will support sustainable and generalizable change so progress continues beyond the therapy room.
Parents as partners.
You are a vital part of your child’s growth. We provide parent psychoeducation and guidance to help reinforce therapeutic skills at home.
When appropriate, we may recommend that parents engage parent coaching to
Understand their child’s behaviors and the family’s relationship patterns within a developmental and emotional context
Build a toolkit of effective, age-appropriate parenting strategies
Create flexibility in their thoughts and feelings about themselves and their child
Increase confidence, consistency, and emotional balance in parenting
Strengthen connection, trust, and communication between you and your child
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Your child doesn’t have to navigate this alone—and neither do you.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about substance use therapy in Los Angeles or online in California, New York, Florida, or Vermont.
