CHILD & FAMILY THERAPY IN PASADENA, CA

Young girl looking down, concentrating. If your child is dealing with the impact of childhood trauma, therapy for children in Los Angeles can help work through those feelings.

We live in a time that challenges the idea of the traditional family.

Bren M. Chasse, LMFT of Anchor Psychotherapy is a Therapist in Pasadena working with expertise in child & family therapy. Today, family structures are both dynamic and complex. Unfortunately, with a complex design, often come complex challenges.

I believe good mental health is essential to the success of any family composition. In effect, mental wellness begins with our ability to weave a thread through the defining moments we experience in our lives. We do this to create a coherent narrative.

Working With the Family Unit

Effectively working with families requires an appreciation and understanding of the fact that each of us brings with us to every interaction all our past experiences. We need to understand the fundamental belief system that is born from those experiences.

In other words, the family unit is both a functioning system and an assembly of individuals that have unique needs. There are goals, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and pasts. All of these play a role in how we communicate, interact, and connect with each other.

The Impact of Trauma on Children & Families

When an individual experiences a traumatic event, the impact of that trauma is experienced not only by the primary victim, but by the entire family.  The experience of trauma can be additionally complicated if the primary victim is a child.

Expert in Therapy for Childhood Trauma

I am an expert in the treatment of psychological trauma. I work not only with minor children that have experienced tragedy, but also work with their families. I work to help everyone process their feelings, make meaning of their experience, bear witness for the primary victim. We strive to develop the ability to move forward as a stronger family unit.

Chasse, B. M. (2021, March 1).  The art of effective co-parenting.  GoodTherapyhttps://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/Art-of-Effective-Coparenting

Chasse, B. M. (2020, April 13).  School-Based Violence: A call to action for trauma-informed care.  GoodTherapyhttps://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-based-violence-a-call-to-action-for-trauma-informed-care-0414204

Chasse, B. M. (2020, April 10).  Breastfeeding vs. Formula: Learning what works for you and your baby.  GoodTherapy. https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/breastfeeding-vs-formula-learning-what-works-for-you-and-your-baby-0410204

 

Therapist supervisinng visitation with a mother and her child. If you are in need of support and education during your supervised visits, our supervision services in Los Angeles, CA are here to provide what you need to be successful.

Family Reunification Services

The effects of extended parental absence can negatively impact a child’s development, capacity for healthy attachment, and overall family dynamics. Unfortunately, the younger the child is at the time of separation, often the more devastating the consequences. Family reunification services work with children and their parents in an effort to process feelings and issues stemming from a separation. Through these services, we focus on re-establishing the bond between parent and child.

The Therapist’s Role in Reunification

As the therapist, my primary goal is to re-introduce a parent back into a child’s life in a safe, supportive, and clinically appropriate manner.  The process of family reunification can be stressful for all parties involved. Yet, it can only be effective if all parties are fully committed to the process.  My goal is to provide adequate support for all family members so as to allow for each family member to engage fully in the services.

Therapist working with a child to ensure educational success. Children are resillient, but that does not mean they do not need help. Our child advocacy services in Los Angeles ensure that your child gets the best possible outcomes when dealing with childhood trauma, both in coutroom settings and educational.

Child Advocacy

One important role of any effective child and family therapist is the ability to advocate for children. I am passionate about this role.  Child advocacy typically occurs in either a legal or educational setting. I have extensive experience working in both.

Working Within the Court System

I have more than a decade of experience working with court-involved families and working collaboratively with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). This is in an effort to ensure that the interests of children affected by divorce, conflict, violence, abuse and neglect, and trauma, are not lost in the legal shuffle.  I have a comprehensive understanding of the family court system. As well as being consistently successful in supporting children and families through difficult cases and family reunification efforts.  I have experience testifying in high-profile cases. I am also sensitive to the unique challenges inherent in such cases.

Academic and School Support

The impact of mental health challenges on the academic world of a child can be significant. If mishandled, it can have devastating consequences on a child’s academic trajectory.  Additionally, it’s not uncommon for a child’s behavior in the classroom to be misinterpreted by well-meaning educators or school staff.

For this reason, it is important that child and family therapists work collaboratively with a child’s school to determine how to best meet the needs of each individual student.  Including a psychotherapist in Student Success Team (SST) meetings, Individualized Education Plans (IEP), and 504 Plan development, ensures the goals set for your child are appropriate, achievable, and sensitive to the individual needs of that child.  I routinely collaborate with local schools to provide support to children and their parents when a child requires additional support in order to be successful in their academic setting.

Young child covering their eyes after having been exposed to abuse. Violence has a profound impact on the development of children. If your child has been exposed to violence and abuse in any form, therapy for childhood trauma in Los Angeles is here to help them process those emotions.

Intimate Partner Violence

High-conflict families are at high risk for intimate partner violence, child abuse, and child neglect.  I have more than 15 years of experience working with both survivors and aggressors.  I have a comprehensive understanding of the cycle of violence.  As well as an understanding ot the way in which power and control are established. This has a profound impact violence has on a developing child.

Empowering Clients

In addition to the importance of providing psychoeducation, my clinical work is rooted in empowering my clients. I honor that my clients are the experts on their own lives. In addition, I am sensitive to the fact that breaking the cycle of violence takes time.  With my support, we are able to assess for safety together, explore relational goals, and develop a strong sense of self, which is rooted in one’s own personal power.

Therapy for Children 0-5 Years Old

Often infant or child mental health is dismissed with the assumption that young children are resilient. People mistakenly believe they will simply bounce back from any significant stressors they may encounter early in life.  While children are often incredibly resilient, they can still be deeply impacted by difficult life experiences. As a result, it’s not uncommon for children to need additional support in order to process those events.

Early Intervention is Key to Mental Health Development

The mental health of a young child helps to inform and guide their development. Because of this, early intervention is all the more critical for children of this age. The social-emotional development of your child during this critical age period will help to inform your child’s ability to engage in a secure attachment and healthy relationships across the lifespan.  So, the stakes are high for our little humans, and it’s important we meet them where they are!

Specially Trained to Provide Therapy for Children Ages 0-5

Working with the 0-5 population requires not only specialized training, but requires a fundamental understanding and appreciation for the age and stage limitations of such a young child.  Because young children often don’t have the language to explain what they are thinking or how they are feeling, they will show us their internal word through their play.  As a 0-5 clinician, it’s my responsibility to enter into that world, with invitation from the child, and support their process, increase their resilience, and facilitate healing.

Therapist working with a young child to process emotions related to trauma. Childhood experiences can leave a lasting impact on small children who are unable to effectively process these events. Therapy for children 0-5 years old in Los Angeles can provide the support needed for these children to overcome past experiences.

How to Begin Therapy for Children in Los Angeles, CA

If  your child is struggling to process the events of a childhood trauma, Anchor Psychotherapy, Inc. is here to help both children and families. We offer a wide variety of services related to therapy for children and family support including Therapy for Children, Child Advcacy Services, and Family Reunification Services. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

  1. Get to know more about me and my therapy practice here.
  2. Fill out our easy and convenient online contact form.
  3. Begin your journey toward healing.

Other Mental Health Services Offered at Anchor Psychotherapy, Inc. in Los Angeles

In addition to child, family, and court services we offer a wide variety of mental health services to help you at any stage of your mental health journey. This includes trauma and EMDR, child and family services including high conflict divorce and court-involved families, counseling for couples and polycules, LGBTQ+ services, and group therapy.