Straight Up Treatment
Therapy For Children
Help your child tap into their strengths and still be the kid that enjoys life. Online and in-person child therapy, serving Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Therapy can help your child:
Boost Their Confidence
Tackle Anxiety & Stress
Cope With Difficult Situations
We see you, parent
Watching your child struggle, face obstacles, or wrestle with difficult emotions can feel overwhelming. The weight of wanting to provide comfort, while not always knowing the best path forward, can be both challenging and isolating.
Whether they’re battling challenges like anxiety or trying to find their place in life, they deserve the support and care that will help them on their journey.
Our team specializes in supporting children, helping them unearth their potential and guiding them toward a brighter, more resilient future.
You're not alone, and neither is your child.
STRAIGHT UP TREATMENT
Child Therapy - A Closer Look
We create a safe space where children can express their feelings, worries, and thoughts, all with the guidance of our friendly therapists who understand the unique way kids see the world.
Whether it’s adjusting to changes, making friends, or dealing with big feelings, therapy offers kids the tools they need to understand and manage their emotions.
For parents, it’s like offering your child a guiding star: a beacon to help them find their way through the maze of growing up. Embracing child therapy doesn’t mean there’s something wrong, and doesn’t need to be reserved for times of crisis; it’s a proactive step towards ensuring your child feels heard, understood, and empowered.
Parenthood is a journey, and with our support through child therapy, our aim is that you are able to navigate its ups and downs with confidence.
Areas Child Therapy Can Help
Anxiety & Stress
Behavioral Challenges
Social Challenges
Self-esteem & Confidence
Coping With Changes
The approach we use can vary based on your child’s personality and needs, and may include modalities such as:
- COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT)
- PARENT SUPPORT
Involving parents and skill building to ensure you can support your child best.
- EXPOSURE THERAPY
Who We Are
Why Work With Straight Up Treatment?
Dr. Christine Izquierdo
Owner & Lead Therapist
Licensed Psychologist
We do things differently.
Blending cutting-edge treatments with time-honored methods, we create an integrative approach that is personally tailored to your needs.
We believe that therapy isn’t just about treating the symptoms—it’s about mastering how you handle them. It’s about leaning into the scary parts and facing them in a way that allows you to emerge stronger on the other side.
Our team boosts your courage when working with difficult emotions to create the level of self-awareness and confidence you need to live your potential.
At Straight Up Treatment, we offer therapy that is:
- Tailored to you
- Results-focused
- Integrative
- Values-driven
Find the right therapist for you
Our Approach
How Child Therapy Works
At Straight Up Treatment, we meet your child where they are at.
Here, both you and your child will find a warm and confidential space to explore emotions, challenges, and aspirations without any fear of judgment.
Our approach offers a balanced blend of structure and adaptability, crafting a unique path towards your child’s emotional and mental well-being.
Our First Session
First, we learn about your child's unique world and what challenges they and you are facing.
Personalized Plan
Together, we develop a therapy plan that resonates with your child's and family’s needs and aligns with their comfort level.
Ongoing Support
Session by session, we ensure you and your child collect skills and strengths, prepping them for every adventure ahead.
Let's do this!
Straight Up Treatment
What You Can Expect From Child Therapy
- Has greater independence
- Shows more confidence and resilience
- Experiences less physical ailments and sleep problems
- Uses practical tools to manage big feelings and anxiety
- Is better able to communicate and express emotions with less acting out
- Shows more excitement and enjoyment with school and extracurricular activities
- Has less worry, stress, and anxiety
Therapy can help your child navigate the maze of emotions and challenges that come with growing up
Questions About Child Therapy
Do parents participate in therapy? To what degree and why?
Absolutely, parents often play a pivotal role in child therapy. The degree of involvement varies based on the therapeutic approach, the child’s needs, and the specific challenges being addressed.
Parent participation can range from initial assessments to gather background information, and individual or group sessions with parents to help learn tools and skills that will better support your child. The reason for this involvement is multifold. Firstly, therapy is more effective when the child’s primary caregivers are on board and understand the therapeutic techniques. Secondly, therapists can offer parents strategies and tools to reinforce therapeutic goals at home. Lastly, many challenges children face are interconnected with family dynamics, and addressing them together can lead to more holistic and lasting solutions.
Do parents get updates on their child’s progress?
Yes, it’s standard practice to provide parents with updates on their child’s progress in therapy, always keeping the child’s best interests in mind. While the specifics of what’s shared might be guided by confidentiality and the child’s comfort level, general progress, observed behaviors, and therapeutic milestones are often discussed. Regular check-ins or parent consultation sessions are scheduled to ensure parents are informed and feel involved in their child’s therapeutic journey.
Do younger kids benefit from therapy?
Absolutely, younger kids can benefit significantly from therapy. While their challenges might differ from older children, they too have emotions, experiences, and stressors that they might not fully understand or be able to communicate.
However, for kids under 10, we do things a bit differently. We don’t recommend younger kids participate in individual therapy because they tend to not be able to engage with more sophisticated CBT and skills focused interventions we use. Instead, we use attachment-based techniques and CBT skills to coach you as the parent on how to best help your child regulate their emotions, cope with anxiety and stress, and improve communication and family relationship dynamics. Parent sessions with the child are often part of the treatment plan as well.
Can you meet with my young child virtually?
We highly recommend that kids (and all clients!) come to see us in person at the office, as we find it to be the most impactful and effective interaction. The core pillar of what makes therapy most effective is the relationship and connection to the therapist and the process. However, when regular in-person meetings are challenging due to distance, health concerns, or other logistical issues, virtual sessions can still be an effective option.
However, virtual therapy is the most effective when it’s used in a hybrid format as a mix of in-person and virtual sessions. The key is to ensure that the virtual environment is conducive to therapy, with minimal distractions and a comfortable space for the child.
What type of therapy approach works for children?
Children respond differently to therapeutic approaches, often depending on their age, challenges, and individual personalities. We tailor our approach to each child, and their treatment may include a combination of the following:
- Individual Therapy for Kids & Parent Support Coaching: A dual approach targeting child well-being while also equipping parents with effective support strategies.
- Anxiety Management Skill Building: Tools and exercises designed to help children navigate and alleviate their anxiety.
- Social Skills Enhancement: Fostering better interpersonal interactions and social confidence.
- Exposure Therapy: A method that gradually introduces children to their fears, helping them conquer these anxieties and bolster their resilience.
- Distress Tolerance Skill Building: Techniques aimed at reducing the frequency and intensity of meltdowns by enhancing a child’s ability to handle distress.
- Effective Communication Skill Building: Empowering children with the ability to express themselves clearly and confidently, improving both their self-esteem and interpersonal relationships.
Straight Up Treatment
Ready to get started?
If you’re ready to get started, please schedule a free phone consultation with our client coordinator. We will understand your needs and ensure we are a good fit before booking your first treatment planning appointment. Use the button below to book directly online. You can also call us or submit a request via the contact form. We look forward to connecting with you!
Call Us
(424) 777-0520