Child & Play Therapy in Pasadena, Studio City & Los Angeles
Helping children feel understood, supported, and more at ease in themselves and their relationships.
Children don't always have the words to tell us when something is wrong. Instead, their feelings may emerge through behavior: big emotional reactions, anxiety, withdrawal, difficulty separating, struggles with friends, or changes that seem to come out of nowhere.
As a parent, it can be painful and confusing to watch your child struggle, particularly when the things you've tried don't seem to help. You may find yourself wondering whether this is a passing developmental phase, whether something deeper is going on, or how best to support your child without making things worse.
At Rebecca Lesser Allen, PsyD & Associates, we approach children's emotional and behavioral difficulties with curiosity, compassion, and an understanding that behavior is often a form of communication.
Our goal is not simply to change a child's behavior, but to understand the feelings, experiences, and needs beneath it.
Understanding Your Child Through Play
Play is one of the primary ways children make sense of their world. Through imagination, storytelling, art, games, and relationships, children communicate feelings and experiences that they may not yet be able to express in words.
Play therapy offers children a safe, developmentally appropriate space to explore their inner worlds, work through difficult experiences, and develop greater emotional understanding and flexibility.
In the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, children can begin to express feelings that have been overwhelming or confusing, experiment with new ways of responding, and develop a stronger sense of themselves.
Rather than expecting children to communicate like adults, we meet them where they are.
When Might a Child Benefit From Therapy?
Children come to therapy for many different reasons. Some are experiencing significant emotional distress, while others are struggling with changes, relationships, or developmental challenges that have become difficult for the family to navigate.
We support children experiencing:
Anxiety, fears, excessive worry, or separation difficulties
Emotional outbursts, frustration, and difficulty regulating feelings
Sadness, withdrawal, or changes in mood
Perfectionism, self-criticism, or low self-esteem
Social difficulties, friendship challenges, or school-related stress
Family transitions, including divorce, separation, or the arrival of a sibling
Grief, loss, and difficult or overwhelming experiences
Challenges with boundaries, cooperation, or parent-child conflict
Difficulty adjusting to new environments or major life changes
Sometimes parents can identify a clear reason their child is struggling. Other times, they simply notice that their child doesn't seem quite like themselves.
You don't need to have a diagnosis or a complete understanding of what's happening to reach out.
Our Approach to Child Therapy
Our work is grounded in attachment theory, psychodynamic thinking, and an understanding of children's emotional and relational development.
We recognize that children are shaped by their relationships, their temperaments, their developmental capacities, and the environments in which they are growing up.
When a child is struggling, we are interested in understanding the meaning of their behavior rather than viewing it simply as something to correct.
A child who becomes angry may be feeling overwhelmed, ashamed, or powerless. A child who withdraws may be protecting themselves from feelings they cannot yet manage. A child who seems controlling may be trying to create a sense of predictability in a world that feels uncertain.
Understanding these experiences helps us respond to children in ways that support both emotional growth and meaningful behavioral change.
Our therapists tailor treatment to each child's age, developmental needs, personality, and circumstances, drawing on play, creative expression, conversation, and developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions.
What Happens in Play Therapy?
For younger children, therapy often looks quite different from traditional talk therapy.
Sessions may involve imaginative play, art, stories, games, or other activities that allow children to communicate and explore their experiences naturally.
The therapist pays attention not only to what a child says, but also to the themes that emerge in play, the ways the child approaches relationships, and how they manage feelings such as frustration, vulnerability, excitement, or disappointment.
Depending on the child's needs, sessions may be child-led or incorporate more structured activities.
Over time, therapy can help children develop greater emotional awareness, confidence, flexibility, and the capacity to navigate challenges in their relationships and everyday lives.
Working Together With Parents
Supporting a child also means supporting the people who care for them.
We believe that parents are essential partners in the therapeutic process. While children benefit from having their own space to explore and express themselves, meaningful and lasting change often involves helping caregivers better understand and respond to their child's emotional needs.
Parent involvement may include initial consultations, regular parent meetings, and collaborative conversations about challenges at home, school, or in relationships.
Together, we explore what your child's behavior may be communicating, identify patterns that contribute to distress, and consider ways to create greater connection, consistency, and emotional safety.
Our aim is not to tell parents what they're doing wrong. It's to help families develop a deeper understanding of one another and find approaches that feel both effective and consistent with their values.
Our Child Therapists
Tracy Bitterolf, AMFT
Tracy works with children and families navigating anxiety, emotional and behavioral challenges, parenting difficulties, and family transitions. Her approach emphasizes understanding children's emotional needs while helping parents develop thoughtful, practical ways to support them.
Sarah Wright, MA, AMFT, APCC
Sarah brings a depth-oriented, psychodynamic, and attachment-based perspective to her work with children and families. Drawing on her appreciation for imagination, creativity, and storytelling, she creates space for children to express themselves, explore difficult feelings, and develop a deeper sense of safety and understanding.
Child & Play Therapy in Pasadena and Studio City
We offer in-person child and play therapy in Pasadena and Studio City, serving families throughout Los Angeles, including Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, and surrounding communities.
We work collaboratively with parents to determine an appropriate approach based on each child's age, needs, and circumstances.
Getting Started
Deciding to seek therapy for your child can bring up many feelings and questions. You may be unsure what kind of support your child needs, whether therapy is appropriate, or where to begin.
We welcome the opportunity to hear more about your child and what your family is experiencing.
What a parent shared about working with Tracy:
“Tracy gave my husband and me practical, thoughtful guidance every step of the way. She helped us understand how to approach the situation with confidence, consistency, and compassion. More importantly, she reassured us that setting healthy boundaries was not only okay, but beneficial.
Amazingly, we saw positive changes the very first day we implemented the plan she helped us create. The progress only continued from there, and we truly credit Tracy for giving us the tools and confidence we needed to help our son overcome something that had been incredibly stressful for our family.
One thing that especially stood out was the detailed email Tracy sent after every session. It was obvious that she paid close attention to my son as an individual. She also gave us specific language and strategies to continue using at home, making us feel like we were all working together as a team.
Tracy accomplished what countless conversations with doctors had not. She gave us as parents an actionable plan, listened to and addressed our worries, and empowered us to support him in a way that truly worked.”
— Parent of a former client
