Parent & Child Treatment Specialties
Every child experiences challenges as they grow. Some struggle with anxiety, attention, emotional regulation, friendships, learning differences, family transitions, or other life changes that can feel overwhelming. When a child is struggling, the entire family is affected.
Children don't always have the words to express what they're feeling. Often, their emotions are communicated through their behavior. Together, we'll work to understand what those behaviors may be telling us, identify the underlying needs they reflect, and help your child develop healthier ways of coping and communicating.
I provide therapy for children and adolescents in a warm, supportive, and creative environment where young people can feel safe, understood, and accepted. My approach is individualized, recognizing that every child has unique strengths, challenges, and ways of experiencing the world.
Parents are an essential part of the therapeutic process. I work closely with parents to better understand their child's needs, strengthen communication, and develop practical strategies that support growth both at home and at school. My goal is not only to help children navigate today's challenges, but also to strengthen the parent-child relationship and foster resilience that lasts well beyond therapy.
Parent Support
Parenting is one of life's greatest joys—and one of its greatest challenges. When your child is struggling emotionally, socially, or behaviorally, it can be difficult to know what they need or how best to help. Children often don't have the words to explain what they're feeling. Instead, they communicate through their behavior.
As a parent, you may feel worried, frustrated, overwhelmed, or uncertain about how to respond. You may have tried different approaches without seeing lasting change. You don't have to navigate those challenges alone.
I view parents as essential partners in the therapeutic process. Together, we'll work to better understand your child's unique strengths and needs, strengthen communication, establish realistic expectations and healthy boundaries, and develop practical strategies that support lasting change at home.
Signs Your Child May Benefit from Therapy
Your child may benefit from therapy if they are experiencing:
• Anxiety or excessive worrying
• Emotional outbursts or frequent irritability
• Difficulty sleeping or persistent nightmares
• Problems at school or declining grades
• Attention, impulsivity, or organization challenges
• Social anxiety or difficulty making and keeping friends
• Persistent sadness or loss of interest in favorite activities
• Family conflict or difficulty coping with everyday challenges
My passion for working with children and families is informed by both my professional training and my personal experience as the parent of children with learning differences. Throughout my career, I have worked with children, adolescents, and families in schools, clinics, and private practice, collaborating with psychiatrists, pediatricians, educators, behavior specialists, and other professionals to provide comprehensive care.
My experience working with public school districts in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Cupertino, and Menlo Park, as well as many local private schools, combined with years of advocating for my own children, has given me a deep appreciation for the unique strengths and challenges every family brings to therapy.
ADHD
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a child's ability to regulate attention, impulses, activity level, and, often, emotions. Symptoms may become noticeable in the preschool years or emerge later as academic and social demands increase.
Children with ADHD may struggle with attention, organization, impulsivity, emotional regulation, or hyperactivity. At home, this can look like difficulty following directions, frequent frustration, or emotional outbursts. At school, children may have trouble staying focused, completing assignments, managing transitions, or building and maintaining friendships.
With early identification, appropriate support, and effective treatment, children with ADHD can develop the skills they need to thrive. Therapy focuses on strengthening emotional regulation, improving executive functioning skills, building confidence, and helping parents develop practical strategies that support success at home, at school, and in relationships.
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common emotional challenges children experience. While occasional worries are a normal part of growing up, persistent anxiety can interfere with a child's ability to enjoy school, friendships, family life, and everyday activities.
Children express anxiety in many different ways. They may worry excessively, avoid school or social situations, have difficulty sleeping, complain of frequent stomachaches or headaches, or become irritable and withdrawn.
Through therapy, children learn to recognize what triggers their anxiety, develop healthy coping skills, and build confidence in their ability to manage overwhelming thoughts and emotions. As parents gain a better understanding of anxiety, they are better able to support their child's continued growth and resilience.
Depression
Depression can affect children and adolescents, even though it often looks different than it does in adults. Persistent sadness, irritability, withdrawal from friends and activities, changes in sleep or appetite, or a loss of interest in things that once brought joy may all be signs that a child is struggling.
Depression can have many contributing factors, including biology, stressful life experiences, and family history. Whatever the cause, watching your child suffer is heartbreaking.
Therapy provides a safe and supportive place for children to express difficult feelings, develop healthy coping skills, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with hope and joy. I also work closely with parents to help them understand their child's needs and support healing at home.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Every autistic child experiences the world in their own unique way. Social interactions may feel confusing or exhausting. Sensory experiences such as loud noises, bright lights, certain textures, or crowded environments can be overwhelming. Understanding social cues, interpreting language, or managing change may require additional support.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in communication, social interaction, and sensory processing. Every child has unique strengths, interests, and challenges.
Therapy focuses on understanding and honoring your child's individual needs while building practical social, emotional, and communication skills. Together, we'll develop strategies that reduce stress, increase confidence, strengthen relationships, and help your child thrive while remaining true to who they are.
Adoption Therapy
Welcoming a child through adoption is the realization of a long-held dream for many families. Along with the joy of becoming a family, there can also be challenges as everyone adjusts to new relationships, routines, and experiences. Some children show signs of emotional or behavioral struggles early on, while others may not encounter difficulties until years later as they face new developmental, educational, or social demands.
Children who have experienced early loss, uncertainty, or trauma may express their feelings in ways that are difficult to understand. Together, we'll look beneath the behaviors to better understand what your child is communicating, strengthen your connection, and develop strategies that support your child's emotional growth and well-being.
I have many years of experience working with adoptive children and supporting their parents through the unique joys and challenges that adoption can bring. My goal is to provide a compassionate, supportive environment where your child feels understood and accepted, while helping you build the understanding, confidence, and tools to support your child's continued growth.