Individual therapy for children & teens

We offer individual therapy to children 7 years old and up, pre-adolescents, and adolescents.

Schedule an Appointment

Who we treat

Children

We provide individual therapy for children. While we do not have an exact age cut-off, we find that our approaches tend to be most useful for children aged 7 or older. Common reasons for seeking therapy in our clinic include (but are not limited to) wanting to address social differences, cognitive rigidity, anxiety and other mood symptoms that are often experienced in neurodiverse youth.

Pre-adolescents & adolescents

The years before and during puberty can be a challenging time for anyone. This time is characterized by the push and pull between dependence and independence, complex social situations and pressures, and increased self-awareness (which sometimes means awareness of differences). Neurodiverse youth are at particular risk for developing anxiety and depression around this time. These symptoms are common, especially as children get older. Some signs of depression might include irritability, increased desire to be alone, no longer enjoying things that were previously enjoyable, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, or other significant changes in behavior. Symptoms of anxiety may include increased avoidance of certain situations, inflexibility, physical signs (e.g., stomach aches, headaches), increased focus on certain topics or fears, increase in repetitive behaviors, or even emotional reactions (tantrums, aggression). Various behavioral treatments (therapy) can be very successful in improving symptoms related to anxiety and depression. Often, other symptoms related to ASD, including social interaction, also seem to improve when anxiety and depression improve.

Young adult in therapy session
Man smiling with doctor
Couple speaking with therapist

What to know about therapy at SIA

  • Depending on what fits best for you, we sometimes work with families, siblings, and partners together in couples or group therapy.
  • Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes long, once per week, unless other arrangements are made between you and your therapist.
  • We offer a mix of telehealth and in-person sessions in our Long Beach office, depending on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and the arrangements made between you and your therapist.
  • Treatment is individualized, meaning that the specific components and targets of intervention depend on the specific child, teen, adult or family.
  • Treatment is collaborative. Your treatment goals are our treatment goals and we work together to meet these goals.
  • Before beginning treatment, a thorough intake evaluation is completed to ensure that the concerns of the parents and child or teen are identified and prioritize.
  • Each of our clinicians have expertise with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and utilize a variety of additional evidence-based strategies and treatment modalities to target concerns around social skills, daily living skills, stress, anxiety, depression, career growth, life transitions and family relationships. We find that as symptoms related to stress, anxiety, and depression improve with treatment, individuals often become more confident, more open to trying and enjoying new experiences, and take on more responsibilities related to self-care; in fact, often the core symptoms related to autism improve as these other symptoms are alleviated, leading to better quality of life.
  • Individual psychotherapy is different from applied behavior analysis (ABA) or other interventions that are sometimes associated with autism. At SIA, we use current and evidence-based psychotherapies that are effective to treat psychiatric symptoms; however, the strategies and approaches are modified specifically for working with autistic individuals.
  • Some clients ask if evidence-based interventions like CBT are neurodiversity-affirming. All of our clinicians celebrate neurodiversity and provide intervention in a neurodiversity-affirming context. Evidence-based means there have been clinical trials (research) to show that using CBT decreases the number, intensity, and/or duration of symptoms (e.g., anxiety decreases.) It does not mean it changes what makes a person unique (i.e., their neurodivergence.) Instead, these approaches harness strengths, celebrate differences, and utilize a client’s interests to increase motivation. We work collaboratively to determine the client’s goals, then help them figure out which tools and strategies work best to achieve those goals. Rather than using strict protocols, we modify, or “individualize” interventions for each client. Examples of modifications include going at the client’s pace, using more concrete examples, incorporating the client’s interests, reinforcing a client’s unique strengths, role playing or practicing skills in session, and involving parents in the treatment process.
  • Therapy rates range from $225-350 per 50-minute session.