Child and teen therapy in Beverly Hills
When your child is struggling, everything else moves to the background. Our therapists work with children, teens, and the parents raising them, whether the hard thing is grief, a family illness, anxiety, a recent diagnosis, or a change nobody chose.
You are part of this work. We meet with parents alongside your child’s sessions, so you know what is happening and what helps at home.
In person in Beverly Hills or online across California · In-network with Cigna and UnitedHealthcare
Children and teens come to therapy when
Children rarely say “I am struggling.” It comes out sideways, in behavior, sleep, stomachaches, or a door that stays closed.
- A meltdown or anger that seems bigger than the moment
- Worry about school, friends, or something happening at home
- Stomachaches and headaches with no medical cause
- A teen who used to talk and now says almost nothing
- Pulling away from friends and things they used to love
- Acting much younger than their age after a loss or big change
How we can help
Grief and loss
Children grieve in bursts: sobbing one hour, playing the next. That is normal, and it can be confusing to watch. We give kids a place to put the parts they cannot say at home, and help you find words for a death in the family.
Illness in the family
When a parent or sibling is seriously ill, children notice far more than adults expect, and often try to protect everyone by staying quiet. We work with kids through diagnosis, treatment, and after, and coach parents on what to say and when.
ADHD, autism, and neurodivergence
A new diagnosis raises as many questions as it answers. We help children understand how their own minds work without shame, support them with school demands and friendships, and help you advocate for what they need.
Trauma and frightening experiences
An accident, a medical emergency, or a scary event can leave a child jumpy, clingy, or braced for the next bad thing. Trauma-informed therapy helps their nervous system learn that the danger has passed, at a pace they set.
Divorce and family change
Separation, a move, a new stepparent, or a house that suddenly feels different. Children often carry these changes silently, or blame themselves. Therapy gives them a neutral place to sort it out, with support for both households.
Anxiety and big feelings
School refusal, perfectionism, panic before tests, or worry that spirals at bedtime. We help children name what is happening in their bodies and build skills that work in the moment, not just in the therapy room.
How therapy helps children and teens
Children do not process things the way adults do. Younger kids often work through play, drawing, and stories rather than conversation, and teenagers usually need a space that is genuinely their own before they will say anything real. We follow the child rather than a script.
Our clinicians draw on child and family psychoanalytic psychotherapy, attachment-based work, trauma-informed care, and play-based approaches, with training from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, NYU, Cancer Support Community Los Angeles, and school-based adolescent programs.
Parents are part of the work throughout. We meet with you regularly about what we are seeing and what helps at home, because what changes between sessions matters as much as what happens in them.
Clinicians who focus on this
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Dr. Gozde Gokozan, PsyD, LMFT, LPCC
ADHD, autism, anxiety, and OCD in children and teens, with parents involved throughout.
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Mo Mokgobu, MA, APCC
Parent-child connection and family dynamics, with culturally affirming, trauma-informed care.
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Maria (Mimi) Newman, AMFT
Children and teens facing a parent’s or sibling’s illness, grief, or medical trauma.
Common questions from parents
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
If something has changed and stayed changed for a few weeks, therapy is worth considering. Sleep, appetite, school, friendships, and mood are the usual places it shows up. You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis to reach out, and a consultation costs nothing.
What ages do you work with?
We see young children, school-age kids, and teenagers, and we adapt the work to the age. Younger children often use play and drawing rather than conversation. Teens usually want a space that is genuinely their own.
Will I know what my child talks about?
Children need some privacy for therapy to work, and parents need enough information to help. We set those expectations with you and your child at the start, then meet with you regularly about themes and strategies rather than reporting session by session. Anything involving safety is always shared with you.
Do parents come to sessions?
Yes, in a way that fits your child’s age and what is going on. That can mean parent guidance sessions alongside your child’s therapy, family sessions together, or sometimes working with you alone while your child is not in therapy at all.
What if my teen refuses to come?
That is common, and it is not a reason to give up. We often start with one low-pressure session with no agenda, or begin with you while your teen decides. Being allowed to have a say usually matters more to a teenager than the therapy itself.
Do you take insurance for child therapy?
We are in-network with Cigna and UnitedHealthcare, and your cost is the same with every clinician in our practice. For other plans, we provide superbills you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement.
A free 15-minute call.
You tell us what's going on in your own words. We answer questions about how we work, insurance, and scheduling, and suggest the clinician who fits best.
What to expect
Your first session.
During the intake, get the fuller picture: what brought you here, what you've already tried, and what you want to be different.
Ongoing therapy.
Most clients meet weekly at first. We check in regularly on what's helping and adjust together.
You don’t have to figure out what your child needs on your own
Start with a free 15-minute call. We will listen, answer your questions, and suggest a next step, whether or not that step is therapy with us.
9615 Brighton Way, Suite 219, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · Online across California