Child Therapy in Studio City
Child Therapy in Studio City with Julie Klamon, LMFT
When something is wrong with your child, you usually feel it before you can name it. The stomachaches before school. The meltdowns over things that never used to be a big deal. The kid who used to talk your ear off and now answers in one word. You ask what is wrong and you get an "I don't know," and you are left guessing. Child therapy gives your son or daughter a place to work through what they cannot put into words yet, with someone trained to help them do it.
I have worked with children for more than 20 years as a licensed marriage and family therapist. Kids do not process things the way adults do. They show what they are feeling through play, drawing, and behavior long before they can explain it in a sentence. I meet children where they are developmentally and use those natural channels to help them understand and manage what is going on inside.
My office is in Agoura Hills, about 35 minutes from Studio City on the 101 West. I also offer virtual sessions across California for families whose schedules do not leave much room for a drive.
Signs Your Child May Need Support
Children do not announce that they are struggling. They show it. You might notice new anxiety or clinginess, trouble sleeping, a drop in grades, frequent stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause, withdrawal from friends, or anger that seems out of proportion. Big changes at home, a divorce, a move, a death in the family, or a frightening event, often show up in a child weeks or months later in ways that are easy to miss. If your gut tells you something is off, that is worth paying attention to. You do not need a diagnosis to reach out.
Child Therapy for the Studio City Community
Studio City is a place where a lot of parents work in entertainment, and that has a real effect on kids. A parent may be on set for long hours, away on location for weeks, or home but glued to a phone during a tense production. Schedules shift with little warning, and the rhythm of family life can feel unpredictable to a child who craves routine. Some kids also pick up early on the importance of image and being seen, and they can absorb a pressure to perform that is heavy for a young person to carry.
Many families here send their children to Carpenter Community Charter or to private schools like Harvard-Westlake or Campbell Hall, places with strong academics and, sometimes, a lot of pressure. I see kids who are bright and high achieving and also anxious, perfectionistic, or quietly burning out. Therapy gives them a space that is entirely theirs, where no one is grading them and they do not have to keep it together.
How I Work With Children
Children open up through play, art, and games, not through a chair and a list of questions. I use play therapy, expressive art, age appropriate mindfulness, and therapeutic games to help kids show me what is going on and to teach them coping skills they can actually use. The work looks like fun from the outside, and that is by design. It is how children do the real emotional work underneath. You can read more about my general approach on my children's therapy page.
Parents are part of this, always. I meet with you regularly to share how things are going, explain what I am seeing, and give you concrete strategies to use at home. Your child's trust matters, so I am thoughtful about what I share, but you will never be left in the dark about the direction of our work or how to support your child between sessions.
Who I Work With
Children Ages 8+
Parents
Families
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Therapy in Studio City
Therapy can help when your child is struggling and it is starting to affect daily life. That includes anxiety, low mood, low self esteem, trouble with friends, or behavior changes that worry you. It also helps children who are dealing with a big change like a divorce, a move, a frightening event, or the loss of someone they love. You do not need to be certain. If something feels off, a consultation is a good place to start.
Yes. Parents are an important part of the work. How much you are in the room depends on your child's age and what we are working on, but I meet with parents regularly to share updates, offer support, and suggest things to try at home. I balance that with protecting your child's trust so they feel safe being honest.
Yes. A number of the children I see from Studio City are bright, capable kids at demanding schools who are also anxious or perfectionistic. Therapy gives them a place where they are not being evaluated, and it helps them build a sense of worth that is not tied to grades or performance. We work on managing pressure in ways that fit a child's age.
That is exactly why child therapy looks different from adult therapy. I use play, art, and games because that is how children express and process what they are feeling. A child will show me through a story or a drawing what they could never say out loud, and from there we build understanding and coping skills together.
My office at 28310 Roadside Dr. #249 in Agoura Hills is about 35 minutes from Studio City via the 101 West. For younger children, in-person sessions usually work best, but I also offer secure virtual sessions across California when a commute is not practical, including for parent check-ins.
In-Person and Virtual Child Therapy Near Studio City
My office in Agoura Hills, CA 91301 is convenient for in-person child therapy near Studio City. I also see families from the surrounding communities, including Sherman Oaks, CA, North Hollywood, CA, Encino, CA, and Woodland Hills, CA. Virtual therapy sessions are available to families located anywhere within the state of California.
If you are worried about your child and not sure where to begin, a conversation is a good first step. Schedule a complimentary phone consultation and we can talk about what is going on and whether therapy would be a good fit.