Therapists in California

My passion is helping people achieve a better quality life. If you experience anxiety, depression, or pain from past traumas, I can guide you toward inner healing through deep self-exploration and provide you methods for daily coping. If your child or teen is withdrawn, struggles with self esteem, or displays behavioral concerns, I can work with them to navigate their inner world and coach you with ways to support them. Together we will work toward letting go of unhealthy patterns and habits to meet your individual goals. In the process, you will build a positive relationship with yourself and your loved ones.

*Virtual Sessions Available* Does your kid or teenager often say NO, I DON’T CARE, or YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. You see them struggling with anxiety and depression, or risky behaviors such as using drugs, and don’t know what to do. You might also have gifted children or teenagers who are struggling with perfectionism-obsession-procrastination (POP). Are you high functioning and having a stable job but yet have symptoms, feelings, and behaviors that are difficult to explain in the context of your life experiences? Are you often in a relational pattern where you do things out of fear, obligation, and guilt (FOG)?

Feeling weighed down by anxiety, depression, or life's twists and turns? Navigating life with a chronic illness or other layers of complexity? You don't have to do it alone! Let's work together to find ways to cope, thrive, and live fully despite these challenges. Whether you're a parent of a child struggling and trying to make sense of it all, or a teen or adult feeling overwhelmed, I'm here for you. Together, we'll untangle those knots, finding new ways to manage emotions, gain focus and control, boost self-esteem, and build healthier relationships.

Through establishing a genuine therapeutic connection in a compassionate environment we can collaboratively unpack difficulties and challenges you may be experiencing and look at possibilities towards overcoming these towards living a more manageable and satisfying life. I utilize various methods and approaches towards this end and work with a diverse population of children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, elders, couples, families and groups. I treat a wide variety of issues with ease in a present and nonjudgmental manner.

Most days, you pretend that everything's ok: you stay busy & put a smile on to get through it. On other days, it’s harder to get through the overwhelming emotions. There are even moments of panic where all your emotions hit you and you can’t escape them. Maybe you stay in bed all day. Or, maybe you go to work or school, but can’t focus & find yourself crying. You can’t figure out why. Support Can Make a Difference. Life can be challenging, especially for kids/teens these days. And transitions can be scary or overwhelming. Sometimes you need someone who has the tools for building healthy coping skills to support you through them.

As the owner of Napa and Folsom Child Wellness, and host of the Wide Awake Parenting Podcast (www.wideawakeparenting.com), my focus is providing exceptional services for families. I have over 15 years of experience working with children and have trained clinicians for the past 5 years. I use child focused tools, like play therapy, to learn about your child and help them identify new skills to manage behavioral, emotional and school-based issues. My favorite part of this work is getting to know your family. We will use your family's strengths and value system to create comfortable solutions for you and your child.

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with a BA in Social Work from CSU, Chico and MA in Counseling Psychology from National University. I worked as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor at the Tehama County Health Agency in the Juvenile division and as a MFT Trainee at Manzanita Elementary School, with a caseload of children ages 5-10. Additionally, I interned at a local non-profit, primarily seeing children and teens. I have been in private practice since 2015 with a focus on serving children and adolescents.

Change comes from within, my role as a therapist is to join with clients on their journey to discovering and utilizing their own resources of strength to achieve overall emotional well-being. Serving as a compassionate other, I apply myself from a mindful, strengths-based and trauma-informed lens to work with clients on developing a meaningful process of being and healing. With a passion for and dedication to fostering authentic relationships with clients and a strong belief in the powers of human resiliency, I provide a safe, open, non-judgmental space of healing.

For over 20 years, I have worked in urban and suburban schools before transitioning to private practice in 2020. K-5 has been my most recent focus, and have worked with middle and high school students in previous years. I have supported students with anxiety, social and behavioral challenges, mood, grief, and attention difficulties. Working collaboratively with parents we can help your child feel a sense of belonging, uncover the frustrations and worry, relieve symptoms of anxiety, and reduce the anger and behavioral challenges using a strength-based approach. I'm here to help!

Abby works with girls with ADHD and/or Anxiety. Often they go hand-in-hand but not always. She works as a team with a psychiatric provider and an executive functioning coach. The team works together to create a comprehensive tailored program for each child and family. With ADHD there may be challenges with motivation with academics. Abby works with Hannah our executive functioning educational coach to take the power struggle away from parents and their teens fighting over homework and assignments each night. Hannah will work closely with hour child to set a calendar for the week that both Abby and Hannah follow.

Looking for support for your child or adolescent? Teenagers and adults struggling with various life or mental health issues? I believe in creating a safe and non-judgmental space that allows my clients to comfortably explore issues impacting them. I take a client centered approach to therapy, utilizing various modalities to support each client’s individual needs and, aid them in achieving their goals.

Reaching out for support for yourself, your child/adolescent or your family is the first step towards feeling more grounded, empowered and happy in this world we live in. I am here to help you and your family find balance in your life, even through the chaos that we all can find around us at times. I am here to actively listen, support, collaborate, and help you and your loved ones discover the strengths you hold from within. I am ready to sit with you, your child/teen and your family to hold space for whatever feelings come up and help you find the answers that I know are already within you.

I'm so glad you have found your way to my therapy practice Creative Wisdom Therapy! My intention is to support you, your teen, or your child use the power of creativity to make the changes you seek. Are you an adult or teen who would like to use your creative expression to learn about yourself, heal old or recurring wounds, and build healthy coping skills? Do you have a child who has lots of worries or big emotions? Is your child struggling with a difficult life event or transition? Are you a parent feeling stressed in your parenting role or experiencing a shift in your family dynamics?

I am a Marriage and Family Therapist at Orange County Health Psychologists with over 8 years of clinical experience working in a variety of settings, including community services, non-profit organizations, and private schools. I am committed to creating an empathetic and warm rapport with my clients to empower them to achieve their holistic well-being. I believe in discovering clients’ strengths and insights collaboratively to overcome and manage life’s challenges.

Using customized eclectic approaches; mindfulness, music, solution focused, neuroscience, trauma-informed care, EMDR and group therapy, I help clients discover their innate, creative potential resulting in a more satisfied, productive and meaningful life. I encourage self-expression, communication, and problem solving. With young children, I utilize play and art therapy to help them express and understand their feelings thus reducing their internal/external conflicts. With teenagers I often teach mindfulness and coping skills. I'm dedicated to helping each client fulfill their potential and achieve peace, well being and happiness.

Are you worried about your child, teen or young adult but unsure how to help them? You can see something has changed in them: perhaps they seem depressed, anxious, or isolated in ways they didn’t used to be. You want them to learn skills to deal with life's challenges and resolve the issues that are holding them back. Because more than anything, you want to see your child thrive. My practice focuses on the unique needs of children 4+ through young adulthood and their families. I create developmentally appropriate, customized treatment plans using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) strategies, art and play therapy interventions.

Valerie Barrows has had the pleasure to gain 25 years of experience working in the field of psychology. She opened her private practice in 2012 and has built a team of therapists whose mission is to provide comfort & hope in a nurturing environment and dedicated to provide mental health services to individuals, couples, and families to enhance their quality of life. To create a safe and supportive environment that strives to meet the unique needs of each individual. The staff has experience working with but not limited to depression, grief, divorce issues, anxiety, relationships.

Are you or your child struggling with anxiety, stress, or family changes that are making every day life feel difficult or hard to manage? Do you notice your child struggling and you are unsure how to emotionally support them? Have you tried to solve the problems on your own and nothing seems to be working? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I'm glad you're here. Seeking help for your child, family struggles, or parenting issues can be difficult. I'm here to help.

Parenting is HARD! My mission is to help you and your child live happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives. I specialize in adoption and foster placements where attachments were not formed in an organic manner as they are with birth children. Whether it is an infant or teenager, the need for secure attachments is key. I offer services that help foster these attachments.