Child Psychotherapy
“It is in playing and only in playing that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self.”
How Child Therapy Works: The Approach
Children do not always have the language to talk about what they are experiencing — and they should not have to. Dr. Benjamin uses play-based and expressive therapeutic approaches that meet children where they are, using play, art, and structured activities as vehicles for emotional exploration and growth.
For children presenting with attention deficits or impulsivity, therapeutic play can be purposefully structured to build impulse control and self-regulation in an engaging, non-pressured environment. For children who benefit from creative expression, art-making can serve as a bridge between inner experience and outer communication — helping young clients connect thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in ways that words alone may not capture.
Where appropriate, Dr. Benjamin also draws on Emotion Focused Therapy adapted for family work, helping children and their caregivers develop a shared emotional language and stronger relational bonds.
For children seen via telehealth, sessions are adapted to be interactive and engaging in the online environment, and parents may be invited to sit nearby or participate as needed depending on the child's age and comfort level.
In-Person & Online Child Therapy
Dr. Benjamin offers child therapy both in-person at his Pasadena office and via telehealth for families across California. Online therapy can be a practical and effective option for busy families, children who are resistant to in-person settings, or those navigating school schedules and commute constraints.
Telehealth sessions for children are structured to be developmentally appropriate and engaging, and Dr. Benjamin works flexibly with families to find an approach that fits their child's needs and temperament.
Child Psychotherapy in Pasadena & The Greater LA Area
Childhood is a time of rapid growth — emotionally, socially, and developmentally. But for some children, this growth comes with real struggles: anxiety that gets in the way of school or friendships, behavioral challenges that strain family relationships, or a quiet difficulty with self-esteem that parents sense but can't quite name. Child psychotherapy offers a dedicated, supportive space where young clients can begin to understand themselves and develop the tools they need to thrive.
Dr. Brian Benjamin provides individual psychotherapy for children in Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area, both in-person and via telehealth. His approach is warm, developmentally informed, and tailored to each child's age, interests, and presenting challenges.
Common Reasons Families Seek Child Therapy
There is no single profile of a child who benefits from therapy. Families come to Dr. Benjamin for a wide range of concerns, including:
Anxiety and worry — excessive fears, separation anxiety, social anxiety, or generalized worry that affects daily functioning
Neurodiversity — support for children with ADHD, learning differences, or autism spectrum profiles navigating emotional and social challenges
Behavioral difficulties — impulsivity, emotional outbursts, defiance, or difficulty with transitions
Life transitions — adjusting to parental separation or divorce, a new school, a new sibling, relocation, or family change
Self-esteem and identity — low confidence, negative self-talk, social difficulties, or early struggles with identity formation
Emotional regulation — children who have difficulty identifying, expressing, or managing their emotions
If you are unsure whether your child's challenges warrant professional support, reaching out for an initial consultation is always a reasonable first step.
The Role of Parents & Caregivers
Parents are not bystanders in their child's therapy — they are essential partners. Primary caregivers are typically included in the first session to provide a developmental and clinical history, and to share their observations of the challenges their child is facing.
From that point, Dr. Benjamin, the child, and the caregivers collaboratively establish therapeutic goals and an agreed-upon session plan. For younger children, greater parental involvement in sessions is often clinically indicated and genuinely beneficial. As children demonstrate the readiness and willingness to engage independently, the structure can shift accordingly.
Intermittent parent sessions are a routine part of Dr. Benjamin's work with child clients. These check-ins allow caregivers to share observations, receive guidance on supporting their child at home, and stay meaningfully connected to the therapeutic process — without compromising the child's sense of a private, safe therapeutic space.
Why Families Choose Dr. Benjamin
Dr. Benjamin brings a breadth of clinical experience across hospital, community mental health, and private practice settings to his work with young clients. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in California (PSY 30900) and a credentialed Health Service Psychologist with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (#77524).
His work with children is grounded in the understanding that each child is embedded in a family system — and that lasting therapeutic change is most likely when both the child and the people who love them feel heard, supported, and involved.