evidence-based therapy for children & teens in west los angeles
MEETING young people exactly where THEY ARE AND HELPING them grow from THERE.
Big emotions, family conflict, academic pressure, friendship challenges, identity exploration, or major life transitions can feel overwhelming. Our therapists specialize in creating warm, secure therapeutic spaces while integrating evidence-based approaches that support emotional, social, and behavioral development. Long-lasting emotional wellbeing happens here.
Therapy for all of childhood’s phases and changes.
Parent come to us when they notice their children
Struggling manage intense emotions
Engaging in negative self-talk
Overachieving and burning out
Relying on their phones and social media for socialization
Pushing boundaries with their parents or teachers
Lacking motivation
SOMETIMES it’s the GROWING that GETS TOUGH.
At Sawtelle Psychotherapy Group, we believe meaningful growth for kids and teens happens in the context of safe, trusting relationships where they feel understood without judgment.
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.
Understanding Therapy for Kids and Teens.
At Sawtelle Psychotherapy Group in West Los Angeles, 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
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
Parents as partners.
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 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
Your child doesn’t have to navigate this alone—and neither do you.
The ModalityEvidence-Based Therapy for Children & 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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Our DBT approach offers kids tangible ways to improve mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
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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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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 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 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.
MEET THE TEAM
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Brooke Schwartz, LCSW
Founder & Therapist
Areas of expertise: perfectionism, anxiety, depression, first time in therapy, personality disorders, relationship and interpersonal challenges, and life transitions.
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Mitchell Hale, LCSW
Staff Therapist
Areas of expertise: LGBTQIA+ issues, trauma symptoms and PTSD, OCD, body dysmorphia, anger, anxiety, career changes, critical self-talk, and depression
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Sara Arpiarian, LCSW
Staff Therapist
Areas of expertise: anxiety, depression, relationship and interpersonal challenges, trauma, grief and loss, ADHD, adoption-related issues, parenting skills, and navigating life transitions.
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Sophie Elkins, MSW, ASW
Staff Therapist
Areas of expertise: teen and young adult mental health, anxiety, perfectionism, body image, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma, couples, relationship dynamics, and effective communication strategies.
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Kaitlin Christy, AMFT, APCC
Staff Therapist
Areas of expertise: child, teen, and young adult mental health, emotion dysregulation, anxiety (OCD, panic, phobias), depression, self-esteem, family dynamics, play & art therapy, parent-child work, impulse control, ADHD, and personality disorders.
CHANGE IS ALREADY HAPPENING.
Step 01
Schedule a consultation call so we can learn more about your child, answer any questions you have about starting therapy, and get intake appointments scheduled.
Step 02
After introductions, your child’s therapist will schedule two intake appointments: one with your child and one with their caregiver(s) to gather a developmental history and understand what’s going on from everyone’s perspective.
Step 03
Get to work! Your child will meet with their therapist for individual sessions and begin to practice coping skills in between sessions. Occasional parent-only and family sessions will support your child’s work.