Child Therapy in Arcadia, CA

Children may come to therapy for many different reasons.

Some children experience obvious distress, while others seem to be functioning well but are struggling internally.

Therapy may help children:

• understand and express emotions
• manage anxiety and worry
• cope with frustration
• strengthen emotional regulation
• build confidence
• improve communication
• develop problem-solving skills
• navigate friendships and social challenges
• adjust to family changes
• cope with school stress
• manage attention and executive functioning challenges
• respond differently to anger or emotional overwhelm

Parents may also gain a clearer understanding of their child’s emotional needs and learn strategies for responding more effectively at home.

Anxiety and Worry

Children can experience anxiety in many ways.

Your child may worry about school, friendships, separation, making mistakes, family members, unfamiliar situations, or things that seem unlikely to happen.

Anxiety may also show up through stomachaches, headaches, sleep difficulties, irritability, avoidance, reassurance-seeking, or emotional outbursts.

Therapy can help children understand anxiety, recognize triggers, and practice age-appropriate coping strategies.

Learn more about our Anxiety Therapy services.

Big Emotions and Emotional Regulation

Some children experience emotions very intensely and have difficulty calming once they become overwhelmed.

They may yell, cry, shut down, become physically restless, or have reactions that seem much bigger than the situation.

Therapy can help children identify feelings earlier, recognize emotional and physical cues, and develop healthier ways of responding.

ADHD and Attention Difficulties

Children with ADHD may struggle with focus, impulsivity, organization, frustration tolerance, emotional regulation, task completion, or feeling constantly corrected.

Therapy can help children develop practical strategies while also addressing the frustration or self-criticism that may develop when everyday expectations feel difficult.

Learn more about our ADHD Therapy services.

School Stress

Academic expectations, friendships, transitions, learning challenges, bullying, and social pressures can all affect a child’s emotional well-being.

Therapy can help children develop coping skills, communicate concerns, manage stress, and build confidence.

Anger and Behavioral Challenges

Anger is often a signal that something underneath feels difficult.

Children may become angry when they feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, worried, disappointed, embarrassed, frustrated, or unable to communicate what they need.

Therapy can help children understand what is happening before an outburst and develop other ways to express emotions and solve problems.

Family Changes

Divorce, separation, remarriage, blended families, relocation, illness, grief, a new sibling, changing routines, or conflict at home can be difficult for children to understand and process.

Therapy can provide a space for children to express feelings while helping parents support them through change.

When family relationships are part of the concern, we may also recommend Family Therapy or Family Systems Therapy.

Trauma and Difficult Experiences

Children may need additional support after frightening, painful, confusing, or stressful experiences.

Therapy can help children process experiences at a developmentally appropriate pace while strengthening emotional regulation, safety, and coping skills.

Learn more about our Trauma and PTSD Therapy services.

Our team includes therapists with different specialties, personalities, approaches, and languages, making it easier to find someone who feels like the right fit for your child.

Our care coordinator and clinical director can help match your child based on their needs, personality, the kind of support your family prefers, language, schedule, and insurance or payment needs.

Stephen Valenciano, LMFT

Stephen works with children, teens, and adults navigating ADHD, autism, anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation. His style is easygoing, practical, and supportive.

Amanda Weissmann, ACSW

Amanda works with children, teens, adults, and families navigating anxiety, stress, communication, and life transitions. Her style is patient, encouraging, collaborative, and playful.

Jennifer Melyan, AMFT, APCC

Jennifer provides therapy in English and Mandarin Chinese for children, teens, adults, and families. Her style is thoughtful, direct, and collaborative.

Child therapy often looks different from adult therapy.

A child may not sit and talk for an entire session about feelings, relationships, and past experiences.

Depending on the child’s age, personality, and needs, a therapist may use conversation, play, drawing, games, stories, activities, role-play, coping exercises, or other developmentally appropriate techniques.

These activities are not simply entertainment.

They can help children communicate, practice new skills, understand emotions, develop problem-solving strategies, and feel more comfortable talking about difficult experiences.

As children grow and become more verbally and emotionally developed, therapy may gradually include more direct conversation, reflection, and skill-building.

How Are Parents Involved in Child Therapy?

Parents and caregivers are an important part of helping children make meaningful changes.

Your child’s therapist may involve you in different ways depending on your child’s age, concerns, treatment goals, and individual needs.

Parent involvement may include:

• discussing concerns and goals
• learning strategies to support your child at home
• understanding emotional or behavioral patterns
• strengthening communication
• helping create consistent expectations and boundaries
• supporting coping skills outside of therapy
• participating in family or parent-child sessions when helpful

At the same time, children also benefit from having an appropriate level of privacy within therapy.

Your therapist can explain how parent involvement, confidentiality, and communication will work based on your child’s age and treatment needs.

At Aspire Counseling Group, child therapy is individualized, developmentally appropriate, and collaborative.

We consider more than the behavior that brought your child to therapy.

We also look at emotions, relationships, family dynamics, school experiences, developmental needs, strengths, stressors, culture, and the circumstances surrounding the behavior.

Depending on your child’s needs, therapy may incorporate:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT can help children understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical reactions while building practical coping and problem-solving skills.

DBT-Informed Skills

DBT-informed therapy may help children develop emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and communication skills.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Attachment-based therapy may help children and caregivers better understand emotional needs, trust, connection, safety, and relationship patterns.

Family Systems Therapy

Family systems therapy considers how family relationships, communication patterns, roles, expectations, and stressors may affect a child and the family as a whole.

Our goal is not to fit every child into the same treatment model.

We want to understand your child as an individual and provide support that makes sense for their age, personality, family, strengths, and needs.

Child Therapy in Arcadia, CA and Online Across California

Aspire Counseling Group provides child therapy in Arcadia, CA for families throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

Our Arcadia therapy office serves families from Pasadena, San Marino, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Temple City, and nearby communities.

Online therapy is also available throughout California when clinically appropriate for the child’s age and needs.

Our therapists provide care in English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, ASL, and Armenian.

You do not need to know which therapist or treatment approach your child needs before reaching out.

Our care coordinator and clinical director can help match your child based on their concerns, personality, preferred style and approach, language, schedule, and insurance or payment needs.

Getting Started Is Simple

1. Reach Out

Call, text, or request an appointment online.

2. We Help Match Your Child With a Therapist

Our care coordinator and clinical director work together to understand what your child and family are experiencing and recommend a therapist whose experience, personality, style, language, and availability fit your needs.

3. Begin With Support for Your Child and Family

Your therapist will take time to understand your concerns, learn about your child’s strengths and needs, and develop treatment goals with your family.

As therapy progresses, your therapist can provide guidance about how you can support your child’s growth outside of sessions.

Same-week, evening, and weekend appointments are available.

Q: How do I know if my child may benefit from therapy?
A: Therapy may be helpful if your child is experiencing anxiety, frequent emotional outbursts, withdrawal, behavioral changes, attention difficulties, school stress, friendship problems, family changes, or emotions that are interfering with daily life. You do not need to wait until a problem becomes severe before asking for support.

Q: What happens during child therapy sessions?
A: Child therapy may use age-appropriate conversation, play, creative activities, games, emotional identification, problem-solving, coping strategies, and skill-building. The approach depends on your child’s age, personality, concerns, and treatment goals.

Q: Will parents be involved in child therapy?
A: Usually, yes. Parent involvement can be an important part of child therapy, but the amount and type of involvement depends on your child’s age, needs, and treatment goals. Your therapist will explain how communication and confidentiality will work.

Q: Does my child have to talk about everything?
A: No. Children should not be pressured to discuss experiences before they are ready. Therapists can use developmentally appropriate approaches to help children communicate and build trust at a manageable pace.

Q: Can child therapy help with anxiety?
A: Yes. Therapy may help children understand anxiety, recognize triggers, manage worries, develop coping strategies, and respond differently to physical and emotional signs of stress.

Q: Can therapy help with meltdowns or anger?
A: It may. Therapy can help children identify emotions and triggers, recognize signs that they are becoming overwhelmed, build emotional regulation skills, and practice healthier ways of expressing frustration or anger.

Q: Can child therapy help with ADHD?
A: Therapy may help children with ADHD develop practical strategies for emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, organization, problem-solving, communication, and coping with everyday expectations.

Q: What if the problem is affecting our whole family?
A: Your therapist may recommend involving parents or other family members when appropriate. Aspire also offers Family Therapy when communication, conflict, or family patterns would benefit from additional attention.

Q: How long does child therapy take?
A: There is no single timeline. The length of therapy depends on your child’s concerns, age, goals, family circumstances, progress, and response to treatment.

Q: Do you offer child therapy near Pasadena, San Marino, or Monrovia?
A: Yes. Aspire Counseling Group provides child therapy in Arcadia, CA, near Pasadena, San Marino, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Temple City, and other San Gabriel Valley communities.

Q: How do we get started with child therapy?
A: Call or text (626) 639-8844 or schedule an appointment online. Our care coordinator and clinical director can help match your child with a therapist based on their needs, personality, language, schedule, and insurance or payment needs.

Ready to Help Your Child Feel More Confident and Supported?

If your child is struggling with anxiety, big emotions, attention difficulties, school stress, behavioral challenges, or changes at home, therapy can help them better understand what they are experiencing and develop healthier ways of coping.

Aspire Counseling Group provides child therapy in Arcadia, CA and online therapy throughout California when appropriate.

Call or text (626) 639-8844 or view current availability and schedule an appointment online.

Our care coordinator and clinical director can help connect your child with a therapist whose experience, personality, and style fit what your family is looking for.