Child Therapists in San Diego, CA
See all therapists in San DiegoWaitlist for new clients

Willa Marquis
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
“What happened to my happy
child
?” Parents often come to me feeling overwhelmed and confused by their
child
’s obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or anxiety. Often it starts with a small fear – about something bad happening to Mom or Dad, about getting sick, about failing a quiz – but the anxiety grows over time and keeps your
child
from the calm and joy you wish for them. Your
child
may retreat and avoid people and situations that used to bring them happiness. Many parents do their best to help them regain control of their thoughts and emotions, but they become disheartened when their efforts seem to make no difference.

Anna Jean Berman
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, PsyD, RPT
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
Is your
child
struggling through a tough situation like divorce or school stress? Covid has impacted everyone so much and many times kids/teens get overlooked. You are doing your best to support them and find balance in this chaotic time, yet sometimes you find yourself stuck: your
child
is behaving in uncharacteristic ways, and you're at a loss. I help by providing a unique space with creative tools for your
child
or teen to express themselves without worrying about being a burden. With my support,
children
, adolescents and teens learn how to regulate themselves, feel empowered, and discover their place in their world.

Katrice Maliszewski
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at Foresight. I received my Master's Degree in Social Work with the focus on Families and
Children
from University of Southern California. I have experience working in Community Based settings with families and Foster youth ages 0-21. My passion is working with youth and supporting parents to help support their youth. I enjoy helping young adults find their way through life changes and transitions into adulthood.

Charlene Black
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I specialize in working with
children
, adolescents, families, and couples in addressing problematic issues while exploring and learning new ways to increase self awareness, in order to connect with the world around them.
Looking forward to a better tomorrow? Looking forward to understanding today? Each new phase in life may bring challenges that can cause you to question who you are or what you're doing? Utilizing a collaborative approach in understanding your heart and mind may help ease problem areas you are struggling with. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in
children
, adolescents, and families. I use a variety of therapeutic techniques unique to each individual.

Julio Vieyramazon
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I am a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. I have experienced working with
children
, adults, couples, and families. I welcome clients with a warm, client-centered therapy session, focused on bringing clarity to life's struggles. My education and professional training has led me to gain a variety of experience working with different populations. I enjoy helping my clients embark on a journey called therapy, where clients find wonders they did not know existed.

Analia Chapero
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I love working with young
children
(now offering in person sessions for this age group), as well as helping older
children
and teens with emotional and behavioral difficulties, self-esteem issues, and school problems. I also work with adults with anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD, and grief, and families with relational issues. I was licensed as a psychologist in Argentina in 1993, moving to the US in 1998. I have more than 19 years of experience in mental health services. I am bilingual (English/Spanish) and bicultural, and am sensitive to cultural factors in my work.
Waitlist for new clients

Michelle May
Licensed Educational Psychologist, LEP, MS, MA, PPS
Verified
Verified
California Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) with 20+ years experience working with families to advocate for the best interests of school-age
children
& youth. Extensive experience determining whether
children
/youth meet special education eligibility criteria for specific learning disability (SLD), other health impairment (OHI), Autism, emotional disturbance (ED), intellectual disability (ID) &/or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Skilled in crafting legally defensible psychoeducational evaluations, functional behavioral assessments (FBAs), individualized education plans (IEPs), IEP goals, testing accommodations, etc.

Pete Mcclintock
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Experience matters! I have been practicing for over 25 years. Finding the right therapist is not always an easy task. I possess a wealth of knowledge, and provide the comfort and confidence that can only come from a seasoned professional.. I specialize in treating
children
and adolescents but also work with adults, both individually and in couples therapy.

Preventative Health for Happy Families!
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I've had the joy of working with
children
and families for nearly 20 years. I also am the founder/owner of "Preventative Health for Happy Families!" a boutique group practice specializing in Military Families. We embrace the philosophy of resiliency and take a strength based approach to motivate change. In session, we help with the development of basic life skills: management of difficult feelings, stress reduction, effective communication, parenting techniques, practical goal-setting, or improved problem solving. The end result? Thriving individuals, satisfied couples, cohesive families and happy
children
!

Candice April Ruttner-Duryea
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LMFT, EMDR
Verified
Verified
"I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it."- Maya Angelou. Often when being faced with the choice to seek help, sometimes there is embarrassment of needing that help. I offer therapy that is open, honest and no matter what has happened, the choice to change is your greatest accomplishment. The past can strengthen us with its lessons, but it's a crime when it destroys our beautiful souls under its shame. I specialize in Eating Disorders, PTSD, Trauma and
Children
. Please visit My website, or call me for more informaiton

Eunice Lee
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
“Enter into
children
’s play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet” -Virginia Axline.
Is your
child
struggling with regulating emotions, communicating their needs, or need support processing experiences? I am a registered Marriage and Family Therapy Associate with a passion for nurturing a safe, nonjudgmental space for
children
, teens, and families. My goal is to help my clients discover their inner voice, self-compassion, strength and empower them.

Kristee Anne Beres
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I am a clinical psychologist who has been in practice for twenty years. I have extensive training in treating
children
, adolescents and adults. My practice focuses on helping
children
, adolescents and adults address clinical concerns such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, behavioral disorders and adjustment disorders. I also provide emotional and clinical support and guidance for parents and family members. I work with individuals of all ages specializing in working with
children
and adolescents. However, I work with individuals of all ages.

Janelle B Pineda Farias
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I commit to working with
children
, adolescents, and adults that are going up against depression and anxiety.
From time to time we may need support during a challenging time in our life. I look forward to meeting with you and working with you to reach the power of acceptance and be on your journey when reaching your goals. I hope to work with you to enhance your strengths and empower you to live a happier life and to look forward to the future.
Waitlist for new clients

Susan Bell
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, AT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am trained and educated in
child
developmental disorders.
I believe that each person is born unique and important to this earth. Behavior is adaptive and as such can be understood in the context of experience. I assist with helping others understand patterns of behavior that may contribute to one's unhappiness. I work with marital and relational difficulties to find ways of communicating and honoring differences. I teach about positive communication and assist with developing skills that lead to feeling heard and understood. I assist parents to successfully teach their
children
to accept and follow direction with the use of behavioral programs best suited to meet the individual need.
Not accepting new clients

Ruth Samad
Psychologist, RN, PhD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Is your
child
having behavioral problems which are interfering with school, family, or friendships? Are you wondering if the behavior is normal or if he/she will outgrow it? Kids today have pressures and expectations from all sides. As a
Child
Psychologist, I am concerned with helping you to be the kind of parent you would like to be while working with your
child
or adolescent to change his/her behavior.

Rafael M. Reyes
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Dr. Reyes has years of experience in the field of psychology and has had extensive training in the treatment of
child
and adolescent issues. His practice currently focuses on helping
children
and families overcome issues related to behavior problems, depression, anxiety and anger. He also sees adults for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Dr. Reyes has practiced in San Diego for the past ten years and is also affiliated with Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. He speaks fluent Spanish and can provide all services in both English and Spanish.

Griselda Martinez
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
With over 10 years’ experience working with
children
and families through the use of evidence-based practices I can offer support for you and your
child
.
The idea of perfection put forth on social media has caused many people to face unique challenges daily. Masking one's flaws while forming online friendships have led to low self-esteem and in turn, isolation and withdrawal from face-to-face social interactions. The pressure of perfection often leads to increased anxiety, social anxiety, depression, and lack of motivation to attend school. Parents often report concerns with their
child
's poor academic performance and their struggle to engage in day-to-day life; clinging to video games and online interactions. These behaviors impact family and can leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Personal Evolution Psychotherapy
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, PhD, LMFT
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Personal Evolution Psychotherapy (PEP) specializes in working with
children
, teens, adults, families & couples.
Is excessive worry or sadness limiting your life? Do you want to feel better and live a life worth living? Helping our clients overcome social anxiety, depression, communication & relationship issues, panic, excessive worry & depression is our primary focus. Visit Us at www.PersonalEvolutionPsychotherapy.com. By using proven therapy methods (We are Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT specialists) we will focus on specific problems, solutions, skills & reachable goals. We provide much more than traditional talk therapy & help you get results to help control your emotions & your life. By doing this we can help more quickly. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Rachel Ann Paul
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Are you struggling with a transition or feeling stuck and not sure how to move forward? Are you a parent of a
child
/teen who needs support in navigating school and adolescence? I am here to help you process and problem solve through goal oriented therapy and practical problem solving.

Shamin Patel
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
Dr. Patel is a licensed psychologist specializing in
child
and adolescent psychological assessment. She uses gold standard measures and customizes psychological evaluations to each individual
child
. Her evaluations provide tailored and detailed recommendations to best assist
children
and their families to thrive.
See more therapy options for San Diego
Child Therapists
Do I need to attend therapy with my child?
Parents are an integral part of a child’s therapy, but the specifics of their involvement vary. If your child is young, you may attend most or all sessions; if your child is older, you may attend a few sessions or none; sometimes a therapist may ask you to have a session on your own. Whatever the arrangement, you should expect to work collaboratively with the therapist, your child, and your family members to take steps to help support your child.
How long are sessions with child therapists?
Children’s therapy sessions can last 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 60 minutes. The length of the session may depend on your child’s age and the type of therapy practiced. You can discuss this with therapists you consult and the one you ultimately move forward with.
How do I get a child to agree to seek therapy?
The best approach is to have an open-ended conversation with your child about how they’re doing and what they might be struggling with. When you raise therapy, discuss the concept in an age-appropriate way, for example explaining that a therapist’s job is to help kids handle their hard or uncomfortable feelings. Frame therapy positively, as an opportunity to explore and build emotional skills—it’s an important tool in the toolbox to help kids feel their best.
How can I tell if a therapist is a good fit for my child?
A child needs to feel comfortable opening up about their thoughts and feelings, so if your child feels a sense of comfort, ease, and trust with their therapist, that’s a great sign. In addition, a therapist is a good fit for your child if the two can communicate well together; a clinician should be able to communicate clearly, effectively, and in an age-appropriate manner.