West Los Angeles
It's only 8am and you are already exhausted
Mornings are hard. Small frustrations erupt into explosive outbursts. Little worries dissolve into tears.
Evenings are battles. Homework assignments lead to meltdowns. Screentime negotiations never end.
Your sleep is interrupted by a scared child or your own worries about your child’s future.
Therapy gives you the possibility of calmer mornings, softer evenings and more relaxing weekends.
Hi, I'm Frances, a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). I help kids whose intense feelings of worry, anger, and grief are overwhelming their lives – and yours.
I’ve been working with elementary and middle school children for over ten years. I work exclusively with children and the parents who love them.
I start with the WHY
Three children can walk into my office with the same behavior, refusing to go to school, for example - but for very different reasons.
One child believes no one likes them and is dreading recess convinced they'll have no one to play with.
Another thinks they are bad at math, terrified an upcoming test will expose them.
A third is afraid something terrible will happen, because a loved one died while they were at school.
Same behavior on the outside. Three completely different inner worlds.
When should I consider therapy for my child?
There's a reason you are researching child therapists. You're worried. That instinct matters. Reach out even if you're not sure therapy is the right step yet.
What will my child think of therapy?
My office is designed for a child to feel at home - there is a couch and lots of toys. It's not a doctor's office and there is no pressure to talk about feelings on day one.
During the first few sessions, your child and I simply get to know each other, at their pace. That might be a puppet show with a baby dragon angry at the mommy dragon for leaving them alone.
Therapy gives a child the freedom to express themselves in whatever way feels natural to them. Often, it's exactly that freedom that allows children to open up.
Parents are often surprised by how eager their child is to come back to therapy.
What does child therapy look like?
Weekly
Your child and I will have a weekly session at my office.
Monthly
We connect once a month, in-person or virtually.
As Needed
I'll coordinate with other professionals supporting your child.
Insurance
I am out-of-network. I can provide a superbill for potential reimbursement.
My office is located at 12304 Santa Monica Blvd., one block west of Bundy, convenient for families in Santa Monica, Brentwood, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista and Venice.
Starting therapy is a commitment, but you already know that.
The fact that you're here means your instincts are telling you your family could use some additional support right now. That's enough to take the next step.