I work with neurodivergent children and teens in a way that is active, practical, and developmentally appropriate. For most kids, I prefer in-person work in Newport Beach because it gives us more room for play, movement, regulation, and connection. Telehealth is also available when it is a better fit for the child, family, age, or logistics.
I work with children and young people who are neurodivergent — diagnosed or in the process of being evaluated — including kids with ADHD, autism, AuDHD, giftedness, and twice-exceptional profiles. I also see kids whose parents suspect a neurodevelopmental difference but don't have a formal diagnosis yet. A diagnosis is not required to start.
Most of the children I see are struggling in one or more of these areas:
Children communicate and process differently than adults — they often can't access or articulate their internal experience through conversation alone. My work with kids is play-based and experiential, which means we use the child's natural language — play, creativity, movement, and expression — to do meaningful therapeutic work without requiring them to sit still and talk about their feelings for 50 minutes.
In the play therapy room, kids are allowed to lead. The therapeutic relationship and the process of play itself create the conditions for emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and the development of coping skills. This isn't unstructured free time — it is a clinically grounded approach with clear goals and a clear framework, adapted to each child's individual profile and needs.
For neurodivergent kids specifically, I work from an affirming framework. The goal is never compliance or masking — it is helping each child understand their own brain, build skills that actually fit how they're wired, and develop a sense of self that isn't built on shame about how they're different.
Sessions take place in a dedicated play therapy room at my Newport Beach office, with space for sand tray, art-based, expressive, and movement-oriented work. In-person is my primary recommendation for most child clients, especially younger children and kids who benefit from hands-on or sensory-based regulation.
Telehealth is also available for children and teens when remote care is a good clinical and practical fit. Sessions are structured around age, attention span, interests, and the child’s needs, with parent involvement adjusted as appropriate.
Parents are essential partners in child therapy — not observers. I include a parent check-in at the beginning or end of sessions as appropriate, and I schedule regular parent consultation appointments (separate from the child's sessions) to review progress, discuss what's happening at home and school, and align on strategies.
For many families, the most significant shifts happen not just in the child's sessions, but in how parents understand their child's neurological profile and adapt their approach accordingly. I work with parents on this directly — not to tell you what you're doing wrong, but to give you a clearer map of what's happening inside your kid.
Ages: I work with children from approximately age 5 through teens and young adults. For children under 5, I can provide consultation and referrals. For teens and young adults, see my individual therapy page.
Session fee: $200 per 50-minute session. Superbills available for out-of-network insurance reimbursement. I am private pay only.
Primarily in-person in Newport Beach · Telehealth available throughout California
$200 / 50-minute session · Superbills available · Private pay