Play Therapy in Moraga, CA
With children, I enjoy using play therapy, art, and other techniques that allow my young clients to express themselves beyond words.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in child and adolescent therapy and comprehensive psychological assessment services for all ages. I also specialize in the evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly for girls and women. I am trained in Therapeutic Assessments and consider my evaluations to be brief therapeutic interventions that may allow healing and change to occur through the process of self-discovery and reworking of narratives. I work collaboratively with my clients, their caregivers, and other important people and systems in their lives to gain a comprehensive understanding of their needs.
With children, I enjoy using play therapy, art, and other techniques that allow my young clients to express themselves beyond words.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in child and adolescent therapy and comprehensive psychological assessment services for all ages. I also specialize in the evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly for girls and women. I am trained in Therapeutic Assessments and consider my evaluations to be brief therapeutic interventions that may allow healing and change to occur through the process of self-discovery and reworking of narratives. I work collaboratively with my clients, their caregivers, and other important people and systems in their lives to gain a comprehensive understanding of their needs.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who currently works with women over 18. I enjoy spending quality time with friends and family, comedy, theatre, film making, creative writing, improvisation, nature, traveling, film and television, documentaries, dancing and making art of all kinds.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who currently works with women over 18. I enjoy spending quality time with friends and family, comedy, theatre, film making, creative writing, improvisation, nature, traveling, film and television, documentaries, dancing and making art of all kinds.
Katie Malone, TheraThrive Therapy
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, LPCC
Verified Verified
6 Endorsed
Moraga, CA 94556
Do you, or your child, struggle with intense emotions? Do either of you spend time feeling alone and searching for meaning? Maybe you find it difficult to increase your sense of self-worth, and wonder what to do? If any of these questions resonate with you, then you have come to the right place. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (99859) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (4606), and I genuinely enjoy and feel honored to work with each of my clients, and provide them with the support they need to meet their goals.
Do you, or your child, struggle with intense emotions? Do either of you spend time feeling alone and searching for meaning? Maybe you find it difficult to increase your sense of self-worth, and wonder what to do? If any of these questions resonate with you, then you have come to the right place. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (99859) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (4606), and I genuinely enjoy and feel honored to work with each of my clients, and provide them with the support they need to meet their goals.
When your child, teenager, or family is struggling or even suffering, finding a therapist who is authentic, engaged, and a direct communicator is vital. As a clinician who is experienced addressing mood, anxiety, and behavioral disorders in both individual and group therapy settings, I strive to offer deep listening and effective strategies that lead to significant changes and greater well-being.
When your child, teenager, or family is struggling or even suffering, finding a therapist who is authentic, engaged, and a direct communicator is vital. As a clinician who is experienced addressing mood, anxiety, and behavioral disorders in both individual and group therapy settings, I strive to offer deep listening and effective strategies that lead to significant changes and greater well-being.
If your child is experiencing tantrums or aggression, feels anxious, angry, or sad, has a low tolerance for frustration, or has poor relationships with other children or adults, I can help. I am a therapist specialized in working with young children and their families. I work with parents to help them understand their child's behavior and know how to respond during difficult parenting moments. I work with children to help them build social skills, understand and regulate their emotions, and overcome traumatic experiences (ex.death, illness) or difficult life transitions (ex. birth of a new sibling, divorce, school expulsion).
If your child is experiencing tantrums or aggression, feels anxious, angry, or sad, has a low tolerance for frustration, or has poor relationships with other children or adults, I can help. I am a therapist specialized in working with young children and their families. I work with parents to help them understand their child's behavior and know how to respond during difficult parenting moments. I work with children to help them build social skills, understand and regulate their emotions, and overcome traumatic experiences (ex.death, illness) or difficult life transitions (ex. birth of a new sibling, divorce, school expulsion).
More Therapists Nearby
I am also trained in Motivational Interviewing, Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy and Mindfulness.
Is your child struggling with behavior problems, ADHD, depression or anxiety? Are you looking for a therapist with experience working with Autism (and Aspergers) Spectrum Disorders? I specialize in working with children and teens and have over 17 years of experience working with these populations. I have worked as a Behavior Therapist for children on the Autistic spectrum, have taught my own Day Treatment Intensive classroom (for children with extreme behavior challenges) and have worked for Contra Costa County Child and Adolescent Services. I have also worked in the Juvenile Justice department of Los Angeles County with Juvenile offenders.
I am also trained in Motivational Interviewing, Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy and Mindfulness.
Is your child struggling with behavior problems, ADHD, depression or anxiety? Are you looking for a therapist with experience working with Autism (and Aspergers) Spectrum Disorders? I specialize in working with children and teens and have over 17 years of experience working with these populations. I have worked as a Behavior Therapist for children on the Autistic spectrum, have taught my own Day Treatment Intensive classroom (for children with extreme behavior challenges) and have worked for Contra Costa County Child and Adolescent Services. I have also worked in the Juvenile Justice department of Los Angeles County with Juvenile offenders.
I have extensive experience with play therapy techniques and parenting skills coaching, in addition to working with child behavioral disorders.
Are you ready to begin your journey of healing? When we keep doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result it can be frustrating. It's one thing to see a cycle, but how to break it isn't easy and harder to do alone. Everyone deserves a chance to find peace in their lives and relationships. It can happen! I've worked for many years with parents, children, couples and individuals to change what isn't working and create a life that does work and is free of anxiety, stress, and anger.
I have extensive experience with play therapy techniques and parenting skills coaching, in addition to working with child behavioral disorders.
Are you ready to begin your journey of healing? When we keep doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result it can be frustrating. It's one thing to see a cycle, but how to break it isn't easy and harder to do alone. Everyone deserves a chance to find peace in their lives and relationships. It can happen! I've worked for many years with parents, children, couples and individuals to change what isn't working and create a life that does work and is free of anxiety, stress, and anger.
With play therapy techniques I create an engaging environment for children to safely explore their full range of feelings.
Your child is struggling with anxious or sad feelings. Irritability, defiance and outsized anger are prevalent in many of your interactions. Children often "hold it together," at school and then fall apart at home. As a parent, you feel triggered and at the same time hopeless when your attempts to understand or comfort fail. Feeling seen, understood and validated are imperatives for healthy development and self esteem. Parents struggling with patience and reactivity to challenging behaviors will find difficulty providing consistent communication and empathy. You seek for your child positive coping skills so that they flourish.
With play therapy techniques I create an engaging environment for children to safely explore their full range of feelings.
Your child is struggling with anxious or sad feelings. Irritability, defiance and outsized anger are prevalent in many of your interactions. Children often "hold it together," at school and then fall apart at home. As a parent, you feel triggered and at the same time hopeless when your attempts to understand or comfort fail. Feeling seen, understood and validated are imperatives for healthy development and self esteem. Parents struggling with patience and reactivity to challenging behaviors will find difficulty providing consistent communication and empathy. You seek for your child positive coping skills so that they flourish.
Utilizing play and talk therapy, I assist patients in understanding and expressing their feelings, fostering effective communication.
Greetings! I am a bicultural, bilingual psychologist with 14 years of clinical expertise, specializing in working with children 0-18, adults, and parents from diverse backgrounds. My extensive clinical background encompasses trauma, attachment, adoption, foster care, parent/child dyad therapy, postpartum depression, anxiety and mood diagnosis, as well as addressing school or social difficulties. My professional journey has spanned community, home, school, and clinical settings. In my practice, I collaborate with co-parents and children, guiding them through the intricacies of new experiences and emotions following a separation.
Utilizing play and talk therapy, I assist patients in understanding and expressing their feelings, fostering effective communication.
Greetings! I am a bicultural, bilingual psychologist with 14 years of clinical expertise, specializing in working with children 0-18, adults, and parents from diverse backgrounds. My extensive clinical background encompasses trauma, attachment, adoption, foster care, parent/child dyad therapy, postpartum depression, anxiety and mood diagnosis, as well as addressing school or social difficulties. My professional journey has spanned community, home, school, and clinical settings. In my practice, I collaborate with co-parents and children, guiding them through the intricacies of new experiences and emotions following a separation.
Carlynne Cuyson
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
With guided support in a therapeutic setting (primarily utilizing play therapy), your child can navigate life experiences with more confidence.
Are you noticing behavioral/emotional changes with your child? Is your child having difficulty regulating their emotions? Does your child need support with navigating life transitions (e.g. new addition to the family, loss, move to a new area)? Are you concerned about your child's coping skills? Do you feel that your child needs support with building/improving existing coping tools?
With guided support in a therapeutic setting (primarily utilizing play therapy), your child can navigate life experiences with more confidence.
Are you noticing behavioral/emotional changes with your child? Is your child having difficulty regulating their emotions? Does your child need support with navigating life transitions (e.g. new addition to the family, loss, move to a new area)? Are you concerned about your child's coping skills? Do you feel that your child needs support with building/improving existing coping tools?
I use traditional talk therapy based in current research, art, sand tray and play therapy.
It's important to me that you feel better as soon as possible. I work with a range of clients from children to elders. I've worked extensively with children and teens who are challenged with depression or anxiety due to school pressures, ADHD, peer problems, divorce, abuse or trauma, as well as loss and grief. I understand that events from the past can negatively impact how you are living today. I've worked a lot with adults abused as children, adult children of alcoholics or drug addicts, and individuals with mentally ill family members.
I use traditional talk therapy based in current research, art, sand tray and play therapy.
It's important to me that you feel better as soon as possible. I work with a range of clients from children to elders. I've worked extensively with children and teens who are challenged with depression or anxiety due to school pressures, ADHD, peer problems, divorce, abuse or trauma, as well as loss and grief. I understand that events from the past can negatively impact how you are living today. I've worked a lot with adults abused as children, adult children of alcoholics or drug addicts, and individuals with mentally ill family members.
Dora Ritzer
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Kensington, CA 94707 (Online Only)
Waitlist for new clients
My practice focuses on play therapy, sandtray, and the arts to help children navigate complex situations in their lives.
Play is the language of childhood and I speak it fluently. Whatever situation your child is going through, we will face it together. We might be adventurers, exploring the rocky seas of emotion regulation. Perhaps we are princes and princesses trapped in a castle of loneliness, race car drivers going around on the track of ADHD, or warriors battling monsters in the dark. We might even teach a bear to use the potty.
My practice focuses on play therapy, sandtray, and the arts to help children navigate complex situations in their lives.
Play is the language of childhood and I speak it fluently. Whatever situation your child is going through, we will face it together. We might be adventurers, exploring the rocky seas of emotion regulation. Perhaps we are princes and princesses trapped in a castle of loneliness, race car drivers going around on the track of ADHD, or warriors battling monsters in the dark. We might even teach a bear to use the potty.
I have training and experience in a variety of therapeutic approaches--play therapy, Filial Therapy, expressive arts, sand tray, EMDR, and mindfulness, as well as "talk" therapy.
Sometimes, the stress of daily life can exhaust our ability to cope. A child struggling in school, family conflicts, traumatic events, major life transitions, the loss of a loved one, friend, or pet, financial and/or medical issues, pregnancy and the birth of a child—all of these experiences can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and defeated. From experience and research, we know that stressful experiences--sudden or chronic--can lead to feelings of disconnection, sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, and conflict within ourselves and with our friends and loved ones.
I have training and experience in a variety of therapeutic approaches--play therapy, Filial Therapy, expressive arts, sand tray, EMDR, and mindfulness, as well as "talk" therapy.
Sometimes, the stress of daily life can exhaust our ability to cope. A child struggling in school, family conflicts, traumatic events, major life transitions, the loss of a loved one, friend, or pet, financial and/or medical issues, pregnancy and the birth of a child—all of these experiences can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and defeated. From experience and research, we know that stressful experiences--sudden or chronic--can lead to feelings of disconnection, sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, and conflict within ourselves and with our friends and loved ones.
Angela Hernandez LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
A child’s language is through play and it is for this reason that I utilize play and art therapy to access the child’s internal world.
I specialize in children, adolescents, and young adults, using evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness, as well as other treatment modalities to address needs and facilitate growth. Setting goals and planning treatment is a collaborative process with the client (and parents) and I aim to cultivate an open and non-judgmental relationship during the therapy process. My years of experience include supporting clients through a myriad of concerns, including trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and/or loss, relational issues, self-esteem and adjustments to changes.
A child’s language is through play and it is for this reason that I utilize play and art therapy to access the child’s internal world.
I specialize in children, adolescents, and young adults, using evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness, as well as other treatment modalities to address needs and facilitate growth. Setting goals and planning treatment is a collaborative process with the client (and parents) and I aim to cultivate an open and non-judgmental relationship during the therapy process. My years of experience include supporting clients through a myriad of concerns, including trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and/or loss, relational issues, self-esteem and adjustments to changes.
I use techniques such as play therapy, expressive arts, and cbt to find new ways to understand issues and solve problems.
I am Dr. Noah Asch Psy.D., and I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist serving the communities located in Contra Costa County. My passion is helping children and teens build self-confidence, conquer their worries, feel better about themselves, and feel more connected to their friends and family.
I use techniques such as play therapy, expressive arts, and cbt to find new ways to understand issues and solve problems.
I am Dr. Noah Asch Psy.D., and I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist serving the communities located in Contra Costa County. My passion is helping children and teens build self-confidence, conquer their worries, feel better about themselves, and feel more connected to their friends and family.
Judy Brennan
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT, MA, MBA
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
San Ramon, CA 94583
I specialize in working with children, families, adults, and couples, through a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, OCD, relationship problems, transitions, trauma, ADHD, PTSD, childhood, and other life challenges. I have found that people benefit from different therapeutic modalities and methods to achieve their goals. Some of the modalities I find helpful in addition to Somatic Psychotherapy include EMDR, IFS, Mindfulness, Play, and Art Therapy.
I specialize in working with children, families, adults, and couples, through a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, OCD, relationship problems, transitions, trauma, ADHD, PTSD, childhood, and other life challenges. I have found that people benefit from different therapeutic modalities and methods to achieve their goals. Some of the modalities I find helpful in addition to Somatic Psychotherapy include EMDR, IFS, Mindfulness, Play, and Art Therapy.
I provide a safe, compassionate and collaborative healing space combining different styles of psychotherapy such as somatic (body-based), mindfulness, experiential, play therapy, and solution-oriented approaches.
Are you feeling distracted or overwhelmed? Perhaps you are lacking motivation and seeking clarity to connect with your passions and purpose in life, or desire more fulfilling, harmonious relationships. Maybe you’re tired of people saying you’re “too much” or “not enough” leaving you feeling not good enough or unworthy. You are not alone. Releasing old fears, anxiety, shame, guilt, and negative thoughts doesn’t have to be a painful, difficult process (deep breath!). It can be incredibly freeing, creating space and connection to a part of yourself you never knew was there.
I provide a safe, compassionate and collaborative healing space combining different styles of psychotherapy such as somatic (body-based), mindfulness, experiential, play therapy, and solution-oriented approaches.
Are you feeling distracted or overwhelmed? Perhaps you are lacking motivation and seeking clarity to connect with your passions and purpose in life, or desire more fulfilling, harmonious relationships. Maybe you’re tired of people saying you’re “too much” or “not enough” leaving you feeling not good enough or unworthy. You are not alone. Releasing old fears, anxiety, shame, guilt, and negative thoughts doesn’t have to be a painful, difficult process (deep breath!). It can be incredibly freeing, creating space and connection to a part of yourself you never knew was there.
Phyllis Rothblatt
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Berkeley, CA 94709 (Online Only)
I integrate EMDR, mindfulness meditation, play & expressive arts, somatic awareness, and humor into my work.
As a therapist for over thirty years, the focus of my work is helping people to create and sustain healthy relationships, and to learn how to thrive in their lives. I listen carefully to the nuances of what you say and don't say, and help you to become more aware of your unconscious beliefs and the energy that you hold in your body that may be an obstacle to your creating the life and relationships that you yearn for. Together, we take the journey of understanding and resolving what is in your way, so that you can discover new pathways to live your life with more joy, ease and connection.
I integrate EMDR, mindfulness meditation, play & expressive arts, somatic awareness, and humor into my work.
As a therapist for over thirty years, the focus of my work is helping people to create and sustain healthy relationships, and to learn how to thrive in their lives. I listen carefully to the nuances of what you say and don't say, and help you to become more aware of your unconscious beliefs and the energy that you hold in your body that may be an obstacle to your creating the life and relationships that you yearn for. Together, we take the journey of understanding and resolving what is in your way, so that you can discover new pathways to live your life with more joy, ease and connection.
I offer psychotherapy for adults and couples, infant/child-parent psychotherapy, play therapy, and parent guidance.
I approach therapy by building a relationship where you feel able to explore all aspects of yourself, and your concerns, through experiencing me as warm, curious, empathic and authentic. Our life experiences, together with our neurobiology, cultural background, identities and life stage, all lead us to become who we are, but may not lead us to become who we wish to be. We may be in pain, experiencing anxiety; life may feel unsatisfying or stuck, and more. Psychotherapy offers an opportunity to make changes in our lives and relationships, so we can feel relief from pain, and so we feel more alive.
I offer psychotherapy for adults and couples, infant/child-parent psychotherapy, play therapy, and parent guidance.
I approach therapy by building a relationship where you feel able to explore all aspects of yourself, and your concerns, through experiencing me as warm, curious, empathic and authentic. Our life experiences, together with our neurobiology, cultural background, identities and life stage, all lead us to become who we are, but may not lead us to become who we wish to be. We may be in pain, experiencing anxiety; life may feel unsatisfying or stuck, and more. Psychotherapy offers an opportunity to make changes in our lives and relationships, so we can feel relief from pain, and so we feel more alive.
When counseling children, I use play therapy, sand tray & art therapy.
I work with children, teens and adults. In addition to my private practice, I also work as a Crisis Counselor at a high school in Lafayette. I work individually to find better ways to cope with the presenting problem at hand. Perhaps your child or teen is having difficulties in school, making friends and/or struggling to get along with family members or peers. I can help with these issues. I help my clients explore ways to make healthier life choices. I collaborate with parents and teachers to help them set up a more successful experience for the child or teen.
When counseling children, I use play therapy, sand tray & art therapy.
I work with children, teens and adults. In addition to my private practice, I also work as a Crisis Counselor at a high school in Lafayette. I work individually to find better ways to cope with the presenting problem at hand. Perhaps your child or teen is having difficulties in school, making friends and/or struggling to get along with family members or peers. I can help with these issues. I help my clients explore ways to make healthier life choices. I collaborate with parents and teachers to help them set up a more successful experience for the child or teen.
See more therapy options for Moraga
Nearby Play Therapy Searches for Moraga
- Alameda
- Alamo
- Berkeley
- Castro Valley
- Emeryville
- Lafayette
- Oakland
- Orinda
- Piedmont
- Pleasant Hill
- San Leandro
- Walnut Creek
Play Therapy
Who is play therapy for?
Play therapy is generally targeted to children between the ages of 3 and 11 who have social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties. Play therapy has also been found helpful for children who have experienced physical or emotional abuse or witnessed atrocities. Play therapy is also often recommended for children who are undergoing major medical procedures or who are suffering from chronic illness; many children’s hospitals are equipped to offer play therapy on-site. Play therapy is also sometimes used for adults; creative writing, music, and art are expressive forms that can all be adapted for therapeutic purposes.
Why do people need play therapy?
Children often do not have the language skills or words to know or to express what is troubling them. Yet they often spontaneously draw or use playthings to depict scenarios that reflect problems in their everyday life. Play therapy provides children with an array of objects and play situations to act out their feelings or experiences so that therapists can get a clear picture of what children might be struggling with and help them find solutions. In addition, play therapists are skilled at helping children understand their inner experience and find words for them, necessary steps toward helping children learn to control their own behavior and come up with solutions to problems they encounter.
What happens in play therapy?
A child enters a comfortable playroom where they are free to choose the objects they want to play with. The play therapist will typically observe how they play with the toys—whether a sandbox, puppets, dolls and action figures, trucks, costumes, drawing and painting materials, or more—because such play provides clues to a child’s family and social relationships, difficulties they are encountering in the world, and what going on inside themselves. Sometimes the therapist may ask the child to use the play objects to tell a story about their family. Using the same instruments of play, therapists can help children discover more advantageous ways of thinking and behaving.
What kinds of problems do play therapists treat?
Play therapy can help children who display destructive or self-destructive impulses; children who seem angry, sad, or fearful; children who experience frequent social, emotional, family, or school difficulty. Play therapy is often of value to children who have experienced a loss or distressing family experience, who are regularly exposed to family conflict, or who have been physically or emotionally abused. Play therapy can help children who are perpetrators of bullying as well as those who are targets of bullying. It helps children learn to identify their feelings, to express them in constructive ways, and to regulate them so they can get on with the business of development.
How long does play therapy last?
Play therapy sessions may last for 30 to 45 minutes, and they usually occur weekly for about 20 sessions. Each session is tailored to the individual child and the kinds of problems they are struggling with. Play that is highly repetitive often indicates a problem requiring further exploration. Therapists typically measure progress through session-to-session changes in play behavior.