Top-Rated Child Therapist Santa Monica
Takeaway: Is your little one in need of a safe, trusting space to heal? I’m here to help. I offer child therapy in Santa Monica to children experiencing mental health challenges, life transitions, and other difficulties. With over ten years of experience partnering with children, teens, and families, I’d be honored to support you, too. Connect with me today to get started.
About Light Minds Child and Family Therapy
As the owner and founder of Light Minds Child and Family Therapy, I'm dedicated to supporting children, teens, young adults, and parents. Through my own personal and professional experiences, I'm intimately familiar with the challenges that can come with family life, and I believe in the power of having a supportive space to heal.
With over a decade of experience working with families, I've come to realize that cultivating a connection is the most effective and important part of therapy. Of course, the evidence-based tools and therapy techniques I use are valuable, but they can't replace the transformative nature of a trusting, safe space.
I offer in-home therapy services for children and families located in Santa Monica, CA, as well as other locations in the greater Los Angeles area. Telehealth also allows me to work virtually with folks across the state of California.
If you think we could be a good fit for each other, I invite you to reach out.
Meet Brooke Rawls | Top-rated children’s therapist in Santa Monica
Hi, I'm Brooke, a passionate and experienced private practice child therapist in Santa Monica, CA. The personal and professional values that drive my work are curiosity, playfulness, connection, belonging, accountability, creativity, advocacy, and agency. I believe in empowering my clients to embrace their unique strengths and learn new tools to help them thrive.
Here's a bit more about my background.
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
License Number: California #124192
Education: Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Long Beach
Additional Certifications: Certificate from SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) at Yale Child Study Center, Certificate from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy at Institute for Better Health
Modalities Used: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Play Therapy, SPACE, and more
Areas of focus
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Mental health issues
Some people assume that only adults can be affected by mental health concerns, but the truth is that many children experience these issues as well. I have specialized training in working with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and I'd be honored to help you and your child overcome these challenges.
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Grief and loss
If your family recently experienced loss (whether in the form of a death in the family, loss of a job, or major life change), your little one is likely grieving. This can come with big emotions that may be difficult to navigate. Therapy can give your child a safe space to process their experiences.
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Self-esteem
It's hard to watch your little one get down on themselves when you know how special they are. Together, we can get to the root of your child's self-esteem issues and give them the support and encouragement they need to embrace their authentic self.
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Family conflict
Family conflict or changes in the family structure can deeply impact your child. Let's give them a safe space to have their emotions be heard. Please note that while I also provide parent coaching, these services are not a replacement for child custody mediation or co-parenting counseling.
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Social skills
There's nothing wrong with being shy (every child is different, after all!) but if your child struggles to connect with their peers, they may benefit from learning social skills. I'd be honored to help your little one grow their skills and navigate social situations with more ease.
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Oppositional defiant behavior
If you're struggling to manage or make sense of your child's behavior, you're not alone. Thankfully, therapy can help. We can work together to discover more effective ways to connect with your child and support their agency as much as possible.
FAQs about child therapy
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Each child is unique, so there's no singular approach that will work best for everyone. I use a combination of different therapeutic modalities, including play therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and more. Other child therapists may use different techniques, like art therapy, sand tray therapy, and more.
A therapist's methods are only one part of the process, however. While tools and techniques are important, the working relationship between client and clinician is the vehicle for true learning and growth.
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Yes! Therapy can be a vital resource for children who are struggling. Therapy can teach your child coping skills to navigate life's challenges, support their emotional development and expression, and simply help them feel heard and supported.
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A psychologist can be a therapist, but not every therapist is a psychologist.
Psychologists typically have a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. They may practice therapy, or they may take on research roles. They may also provide clinical assessments to diagnose children with learning disorders or developmental disorders.
Therapists (like myself) typically have a master's degree in a field like social work, marriage and family therapy, or related areas. We have thousands of hours of supervised practice and extensive training before becoming licensed.
Give your child the support they need to ride life's waves.
Challenges in life are inevitable—let's give your child the tools and support they need to navigate them with lightness and ease. Connect with me today to learn more about how I can help your family thrive.