Finally feel safe and understood
Telehealth Trauma Therapy in Aliso Viejo, CA & across California
Ages 6-9
tRAUMA sIGNS:
A “not caring” attitude
Impulsive behavior
Racing or overwhelming thoughts
Wanting to be alone or withdrawing
Trouble sleeping or insomnia
Mood swings
Nightmares
Sudden changes in school performance
Flashbacks or repeatedly talking about the event
Replaying or acting out experiences in play
Feeling stuck in the past
Being on high alert or easily startled
Hyperactivity or difficulty sitting still
Anger or big emotional reactions
How does therapy help my child?
*
How does therapy help my child? *
Client-centered play therapy is a gentle, research-supported way of helping children work through big feelings, worries, and behavior struggles through play instead of just talking.
Because most young children don’t yet have the words to fully explain what they feel inside, play becomes their natural language. In play therapy, toys are the child’s words and play is their way of telling their story.
Instead of directing the child or telling them what to do, the therapist creates a safe, supportive space where the child leads the play. This helps children feel understood, build confidence, and work through emotions at their own pace.
Client-Centered play
Sandplay therapy is a gentle, research-supported way of helping children work through big feelings, worries, and behavior struggles using a tray of sand and carefully chosen miniatures.
Because many young children do not yet have the words to fully explain what they feel inside, sandplay gives them a safe, natural way to express their inner world. Instead of only talking, children create scenes in the sand that reflect what they are experiencing emotionally.
In this approach, the therapist does not direct the child’s play. The child leads the process while the therapist provides a calm, supportive, and accepting presence.
Sand tRAY
EMDR therapy is a gentle, research supported way to help children process overwhelming experiences, worries, and big emotions so their nervous system can finally settle.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. While the name sounds clinical, the child experience is very kid friendly and often playful. Instead of requiring children to talk in detail about hard experiences, EMDR helps the brain naturally digest and heal from what has been stuck.
In EMDR with children, we move at the child’s pace and use developmentally appropriate tools like storytelling, drawing, play, and simple back and forth movements to help the brain process safely.
EMDR for kids
EMDR SESSION EXPLAINED
*
EMDR SESSION EXPLAINED *
To an outside observer, EMDR with kids often looks very different from adult EMDR. Sessions are paced gently and woven into activities that feel comfortable and engaging for children.
During sessions, I help the child build strong coping skills first, identifies the memories or experiences that may be causing distress, and uses gentle bilateral stimulation such as tapping, visual tracking, or playful movements to support the brain’s natural healing process.
Through this process, children often begin to feel less stuck in fear or overwhelm, show fewer big emotional reactions, sleep more peacefully, and respond to stress with more flexibility.
Why not just talk?
*
Why not just talk? *
Many children cannot fully talk their way out of distress because the body and nervous system are still holding onto the original stress response.
EMDR helps the brain and body work together to release what has been stored. Rather than only teaching coping skills on the surface, EMDR supports deeper nervous system healing in a way that is carefully paced and child appropriate.
Over time parents notice
*
Over time parents notice *
With consistency, caregivers often report that their child has fewer meltdowns, shows reduced anxiety or fears, recovers more quickly when upset, and appears more confident and emotionally regulated.
Progress is individualized, but many families notice meaningful shifts as the child’s nervous system begins to feel safer.
The goals
*
The goals *
The goal is not to push children to relive difficult experiences or to force them to talk about things before they are ready.
The goal is to help your child’s brain and body process stuck stress safely so they can feel calmer, more confident, and more emotionally balanced in their everyday life.
sandplay EXPLAINED
*
sandplay EXPLAINED *
Many children don’t yet have the words to fully describe complex emotions like anxiety, grief, jealousy, or fear.
Sandplay allows children to:
Express feelings symbolically
Process experiences at their own pace
Feel a sense of control and mastery
Work through worries without pressure to talk
Because the process is child-led and nonverbal, it often reaches deeper emotional material in a way that feels safe and natural.
why not just talk?
*
why not just talk? *
Many children, especially younger ones, do not yet have the developmental ability to sit and talk through complex feelings the way adults do.
When children are overwhelmed, their bodies often hold the stress even when they cannot explain it. Sandplay meets children where they are developmentally by allowing expression through symbols and sensory play rather than requiring advanced verbal skills.
Instead of forcing words too soon, sandplay gives children a safe and natural way to work through what feels big inside.
Over time parents notice
*
Over time parents notice *
With consistency, caregivers often report that their child has fewer meltdowns, seems calmer and less overwhelmed, expresses feelings more clearly, and shows increased confidence at home or school.
Some parents notice smoother transitions, improved flexibility, and fewer big emotional reactions.
Progress can be gradual, but the changes tend to be meaningful and lasting because the child is processing emotions at a deeper level.
the goal
*
the goal *
The goal is not to analyze every sand scene or direct the child’s play.
The goal is to create a safe, supportive space where your child can naturally work through feelings, build resilience, and develop healthier emotional regulation from the inside out.
Over time, as children feel more understood and internally settled, more regulated behavior often follows.
play therapy looks like
*
play therapy looks like *
To an outside observer, it may look like the child is “just playing.” But there is a lot happening beneath the surface.
During sessions, the therapist:
Follows the child’s lead
Reflects the child’s feelings and experiences
Sets gentle, consistent limits when needed
Creates a warm, accepting environment
Through this process, children often:
Learn to regulate big emotions
Build self-confidence
Reduce anxiety and behavioral outbursts
Improve their ability to express needs in healthy ways
possible changes over time
*
possible changes over time *
With consistency, caregivers often report that their child:
Has fewer meltdowns
Shows improved emotional expression
Demonstrates more confidence
Has smoother transitions at home or school
Progress can be gradual, but the changes tend to be deep and lasting because the child is doing the emotional work internally, not just being told how to behave.
possible changes over time
*
possible changes over time *
The goal is not to “fix” the child or control behavior.
The goal is to help your child feel safe enough, understood enough, and confident enough that healthier behaviors and emotional regulation naturally grow from within.
Your Questions, Answered
-
Yes. I provide trauma-informed therapy for children and adolescents using developmentally appropriate approaches such as play therapy and creative expression. Therapy supports emotional regulation, confidence, and healthy coping skills in a safe and supportive environment.
-
I offer two flexible options depending on what works best for your child and your family.