Play Therapy in South Gate, CA
I also love to engage in any art or sand or play therapy to support the client in working on their goals.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has a passion for working with individuals who experience stressors and challenges to work collaboratively toward growth and change in their lives. I am based in Santa Maria, California. My approach is cognitive behavior therapy, DBT, and solution-focused. My experience is working with both teens and adults with severe mental illness, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, etc. I have worked in residential youth facilities, mental health agencies, and schools. I have supported clients with life transitions, developing coping skills to access everyday life activities and academics.
I also love to engage in any art or sand or play therapy to support the client in working on their goals.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has a passion for working with individuals who experience stressors and challenges to work collaboratively toward growth and change in their lives. I am based in Santa Maria, California. My approach is cognitive behavior therapy, DBT, and solution-focused. My experience is working with both teens and adults with severe mental illness, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, etc. I have worked in residential youth facilities, mental health agencies, and schools. I have supported clients with life transitions, developing coping skills to access everyday life activities and academics.
To help my clients get the best of therapy, I utilize DBT, TFCBT, Gestalt therapy, emotion focused, solution focused, art, and play therapy.
Whether it's your first time seeking therapy or a returning client seeking support, I am glad to provide you with the support you are looking for. Is it depression, anxiety, grief, adjustment, trauma, anger, panic, substance abuse? Whatever it is, we can work together to process your thoughts and feelings. I have experience working with both adults and children who are struggling with their emotions. I am committed to support my clients with overcoming these intense emotions.
To help my clients get the best of therapy, I utilize DBT, TFCBT, Gestalt therapy, emotion focused, solution focused, art, and play therapy.
Whether it's your first time seeking therapy or a returning client seeking support, I am glad to provide you with the support you are looking for. Is it depression, anxiety, grief, adjustment, trauma, anger, panic, substance abuse? Whatever it is, we can work together to process your thoughts and feelings. I have experience working with both adults and children who are struggling with their emotions. I am committed to support my clients with overcoming these intense emotions.
Hello, my name is Doris Anne Muchirahondo and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am passionate about supporting all my clients through various challenging times and walking with them through the healing process. I work with various populations including children/elderly, adolescents, and abuse related issued. Working with adolescents/college students has been part of my practice. Helping people in distress to reconnect with those feelings that they once experienced is my goal.
Hello, my name is Doris Anne Muchirahondo and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am passionate about supporting all my clients through various challenging times and walking with them through the healing process. I work with various populations including children/elderly, adolescents, and abuse related issued. Working with adolescents/college students has been part of my practice. Helping people in distress to reconnect with those feelings that they once experienced is my goal.
Gabriela Aguayo
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LMFT
Verified Verified
South Gate, CA 90280 (Online Only)
Hi there. I’m Gabriela Aguayo, Licensed Marital Family Therapist, Bilingual. Do you feel like life is difficult and hard to navigate? I am someone who believes that we all have the strength and resilience to grow and change, and live a more fulfilling life. Whether you want to alleviate symptoms, work on improving relationships, dealing with overwhelm or embark on the journey of self-discovery you have come to the right place. Therapy is a challenging, yet warm process that that entails self-reflect. The process can allow you to grow more quickly than you ever have before. I provide a safe space to help you heal and grow.
Hi there. I’m Gabriela Aguayo, Licensed Marital Family Therapist, Bilingual. Do you feel like life is difficult and hard to navigate? I am someone who believes that we all have the strength and resilience to grow and change, and live a more fulfilling life. Whether you want to alleviate symptoms, work on improving relationships, dealing with overwhelm or embark on the journey of self-discovery you have come to the right place. Therapy is a challenging, yet warm process that that entails self-reflect. The process can allow you to grow more quickly than you ever have before. I provide a safe space to help you heal and grow.
Hi, my name is Nadia Ghafoor LMFT. Therapy is about getting in touch within yourself. I have spent the last 10 years working as a Social Worker in foster care. Past 5 years working with Kaiser Permanente as a Case Manager and Therapist. I have found that my style and approach is a good fit for teens, kids and adults who maybe dealing with the challenges of life transitions and social pressures. This often takes the form of anxiety,
Hi, my name is Nadia Ghafoor LMFT. Therapy is about getting in touch within yourself. I have spent the last 10 years working as a Social Worker in foster care. Past 5 years working with Kaiser Permanente as a Case Manager and Therapist. I have found that my style and approach is a good fit for teens, kids and adults who maybe dealing with the challenges of life transitions and social pressures. This often takes the form of anxiety,
I focus on healing the wounds that have created internal negative "stories" about ourselves and the world to help people reconnect with their original creative, powerful, loving selves. Clients learn stress reduction and self-nurturing techniques to support themselves on the journey through processing trauma and throughout their lives. As clients heal from the past, they then learn new ways to communicate and interact effectively with others and to create the lives they wish to live.
I focus on healing the wounds that have created internal negative "stories" about ourselves and the world to help people reconnect with their original creative, powerful, loving selves. Clients learn stress reduction and self-nurturing techniques to support themselves on the journey through processing trauma and throughout their lives. As clients heal from the past, they then learn new ways to communicate and interact effectively with others and to create the lives they wish to live.
New Hope Family Counseling Center
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
5 Endorsed
South Gate, CA 90280
Se Habla Español. Llame para una consulta gratis. Are you finding yourself questioning what is your life's purpose? Wondering if this is where you need to be in life. Asking if you are making the right decision/choice? Are you experiencing periods of sadness, worry, frustration or sleepless nights? Are recent changes in life difficult to manage? Are you a new parent, a newlywed, are you going through a separation/Divorce? Have you been married for a while but have been struggling in communicating with your spouse? Do everyday life tasks seem difficult to complete and manage? Is your concern your child?
Se Habla Español. Llame para una consulta gratis. Are you finding yourself questioning what is your life's purpose? Wondering if this is where you need to be in life. Asking if you are making the right decision/choice? Are you experiencing periods of sadness, worry, frustration or sleepless nights? Are recent changes in life difficult to manage? Are you a new parent, a newlywed, are you going through a separation/Divorce? Have you been married for a while but have been struggling in communicating with your spouse? Do everyday life tasks seem difficult to complete and manage? Is your concern your child?
More Therapists Nearby
Naomi Buckley
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFA, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Los Angeles, CA 90002
Clients who work with me appreciate my creative background and use of art and sandtray therapy to develop intuition, work through trauma and reengage with play.
You had imagined your life unfolding in this uniquely wonderful way; having a career that fulfilled you and you were excited about, a strong and committed relationship and a great group of friends who supported you and you share exciting experiences with. Now it feels like some areas are just ok and other seem to not be working at all. It also seems like others lives are going great when you look at social media. You feel stuck. Uncertain of the next move or even how to get back to a place of feeling confident and empowered.
Clients who work with me appreciate my creative background and use of art and sandtray therapy to develop intuition, work through trauma and reengage with play.
You had imagined your life unfolding in this uniquely wonderful way; having a career that fulfilled you and you were excited about, a strong and committed relationship and a great group of friends who supported you and you share exciting experiences with. Now it feels like some areas are just ok and other seem to not be working at all. It also seems like others lives are going great when you look at social media. You feel stuck. Uncertain of the next move or even how to get back to a place of feeling confident and empowered.
Hello, my name is Dia Williams. I am a Bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working with diverse populations. I very much like a positive and holistic approach to therapy. I believe in a person-centered approach as you are the expert of your life and your life experiences, so collaborative we will write your new narrative. I commonly use principles and techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Play therapy and Trauma resiliency model, somatic work for nervous system regulation and Mindfulness techniques.
Hello, my name is Dia Williams. I am a Bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working with diverse populations. I very much like a positive and holistic approach to therapy. I believe in a person-centered approach as you are the expert of your life and your life experiences, so collaborative we will write your new narrative. I commonly use principles and techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Play therapy and Trauma resiliency model, somatic work for nervous system regulation and Mindfulness techniques.
Hello! I am grateful you are spending time to find support and move towards change/ in what you want in life. I believe people have the ability to be attuned with themselves emotionally. It is when we are able to connect with ourselves deeply that we can lean in and pay attention to our body’s signals. Learning to be attuned with our body is not a natural process and in doing so we can learn to live a more attuned life. I am extremely passionate about helping individuals with finding ways to grow and coming alongside them to get there.
Hello! I am grateful you are spending time to find support and move towards change/ in what you want in life. I believe people have the ability to be attuned with themselves emotionally. It is when we are able to connect with ourselves deeply that we can lean in and pay attention to our body’s signals. Learning to be attuned with our body is not a natural process and in doing so we can learn to live a more attuned life. I am extremely passionate about helping individuals with finding ways to grow and coming alongside them to get there.
My name is Pamela Coleman, and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 24 years of experience in the mental health field. My approach to therapy is client-entered, and my focus areas are adults of all ages, adolescents, couples, and families. My overall approach is eclectic, but I hold an attachment theory-based perspective. I am trauma-informed and trauma-responsive. My focus has been on clients that have experienced differing levels of trauma and, as a result, are having difficulty functioning in some area(s) of their life. This may be demonstrated as anxiety, avoidance, depression, or many other ways.
My name is Pamela Coleman, and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 24 years of experience in the mental health field. My approach to therapy is client-entered, and my focus areas are adults of all ages, adolescents, couples, and families. My overall approach is eclectic, but I hold an attachment theory-based perspective. I am trauma-informed and trauma-responsive. My focus has been on clients that have experienced differing levels of trauma and, as a result, are having difficulty functioning in some area(s) of their life. This may be demonstrated as anxiety, avoidance, depression, or many other ways.
Here at Function First ABA, we like to provide ABA services with a trauma informed care prospective. A trauma informed perspective allows a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst to view behaviors and consider many other factors that influence a child's emotional state and their behavioral responses. It uses a variety of techniques to understand problematic behaviors and change those behaviors into positive ones. Function First ABA utilizes techniques such as: - behavior assessment & analysis - positive reinforcement - schedules of reinforcement - and more to change behaviors.
Here at Function First ABA, we like to provide ABA services with a trauma informed care prospective. A trauma informed perspective allows a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst to view behaviors and consider many other factors that influence a child's emotional state and their behavioral responses. It uses a variety of techniques to understand problematic behaviors and change those behaviors into positive ones. Function First ABA utilizes techniques such as: - behavior assessment & analysis - positive reinforcement - schedules of reinforcement - and more to change behaviors.
Megan Shewmaker (Wurtz)
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Hello, my name is Megan Wurtz. I have been a licensed clinical social worker since 2018. I believe that we are all own our guide in our healing journey. I am here to provide support as you discover a deeper sense of self. I am trained in EMDR, CBT, DBT, comprehensive resource model, and parts work. I work with clients of all ages, genders, sexual orientation, and race. I am well trained in treating anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma (PTSD), peer relationships, codependency, family conflict, and life transitions.
Hello, my name is Megan Wurtz. I have been a licensed clinical social worker since 2018. I believe that we are all own our guide in our healing journey. I am here to provide support as you discover a deeper sense of self. I am trained in EMDR, CBT, DBT, comprehensive resource model, and parts work. I work with clients of all ages, genders, sexual orientation, and race. I am well trained in treating anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma (PTSD), peer relationships, codependency, family conflict, and life transitions.
I typically work for clients with anxiety and depression, body image issues and OCD, and thought disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, delusional disorder). My approach is drawn from Client-centered theory, multicultural counseling theory, psychodynamic theory, music therapy theory (not a board-certified music therapist yet, currently working on it)
I typically work for clients with anxiety and depression, body image issues and OCD, and thought disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, delusional disorder). My approach is drawn from Client-centered theory, multicultural counseling theory, psychodynamic theory, music therapy theory (not a board-certified music therapist yet, currently working on it)
Elizabeth Fernandez
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Downey, CA 90241 (Online Only)
You don’t have to experience the challenges of life alone. Together we can make space for concerns related to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and anger, understanding upsetting or recurring thoughts, relationship challenges, social supports, feeling connected and attached to your baby, and/or addressing past traumas.
You don’t have to experience the challenges of life alone. Together we can make space for concerns related to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and anger, understanding upsetting or recurring thoughts, relationship challenges, social supports, feeling connected and attached to your baby, and/or addressing past traumas.
My therapy approach is to build a relationship with my clients. My clients can trust me to share difficult emotions, feel safe enough to talk about things they are struggling with and feel comfortable enough to know that I will not judge anything they do bring to therapy. While earning my education granted me the opportunity to become “book smart,” I have also found that my life experiences have played a significant role in why I enjoy my life and career to the extent to which I do. In addition to my current position at a local mental health facility, I have been in the social services/mental health field for quite some time.
My therapy approach is to build a relationship with my clients. My clients can trust me to share difficult emotions, feel safe enough to talk about things they are struggling with and feel comfortable enough to know that I will not judge anything they do bring to therapy. While earning my education granted me the opportunity to become “book smart,” I have also found that my life experiences have played a significant role in why I enjoy my life and career to the extent to which I do. In addition to my current position at a local mental health facility, I have been in the social services/mental health field for quite some time.
I believe life experiences sometimes put us in a place where we need help to guide us through different aspects of our lives. Pain and suffering caused by the loss of a loved one; navigating the often troublesome path of childhood and adolescence; interpersonal difficulties between couples; fears, anger management and family dynamics are areas I specialize in treating in a warm, safe and comfortable environment. Also, I feel that early issues, loses and experiences help to define how a person makes choices in their lives as they mature. As a therapist, I want to help my clients discover ways to make their life more rewarding.
I believe life experiences sometimes put us in a place where we need help to guide us through different aspects of our lives. Pain and suffering caused by the loss of a loved one; navigating the often troublesome path of childhood and adolescence; interpersonal difficulties between couples; fears, anger management and family dynamics are areas I specialize in treating in a warm, safe and comfortable environment. Also, I feel that early issues, loses and experiences help to define how a person makes choices in their lives as they mature. As a therapist, I want to help my clients discover ways to make their life more rewarding.
Hello, My name is Kayla Grigsby I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (140604) and I am very passionate about being able to walk alongside you and work through life challenges you may be experiencing. I focus on PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Mood Disorders and I am currently trained in practicing EMDR. I utilized CBT & DBT Techniques in my work. I am more Person-Centered and being able to help motivate and able to empower you to reach your potential in life.
Hello, My name is Kayla Grigsby I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (140604) and I am very passionate about being able to walk alongside you and work through life challenges you may be experiencing. I focus on PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Mood Disorders and I am currently trained in practicing EMDR. I utilized CBT & DBT Techniques in my work. I am more Person-Centered and being able to help motivate and able to empower you to reach your potential in life.
Welcome! I'm Melinna. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Los Angeles, California. I received my Master's Degree from USC and have been practicing for 10 years. I want to commend you for taking the first step towards bettering your mental health because, let's be honest - starting therapy can be empowering, confusing, or scary, all at the same time.
Welcome! I'm Melinna. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Los Angeles, California. I received my Master's Degree from USC and have been practicing for 10 years. I want to commend you for taking the first step towards bettering your mental health because, let's be honest - starting therapy can be empowering, confusing, or scary, all at the same time.
Irenda Rios Immigration Evaluation Evaluaciones Inmigracion
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90002
Mental health, addiction and traumas can be treated with the appropriate psychotherapy. With thirteen years of experience in the field, I have had the opportunity to work with clients who have different problems, needs and objectives. People of all ages, ethnicities and cultures; therefore, giving me the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding on how to detect and treat various conditions. Psychotherapy helps people to go through a recovery process without problems.
Mental health, addiction and traumas can be treated with the appropriate psychotherapy. With thirteen years of experience in the field, I have had the opportunity to work with clients who have different problems, needs and objectives. People of all ages, ethnicities and cultures; therefore, giving me the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding on how to detect and treat various conditions. Psychotherapy helps people to go through a recovery process without problems.
See more therapy options for South Gate
Nearby Play Therapy Searches for South Gate
- Bellflower
- Commerce
- Compton
- Downey
- East Los Angeles
- Gardena
- Lakewood
- Montebello
- Monterey Park
- Norwalk
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- Playa Vista
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.