Child therapists in Bakersfield, California CA
Child or Adolescent Issues
Jonathan Kruger Therapy
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Your child is the most precious vessel in your life, and finding a trusted therapist to address your child’s emotional challenges is one of the toughest decisions a parent can face. Engaging with children in a safe, supportive way has been a lifelong passion of mine. I was blessed to be raised in a household that was joyous, accepting, filled with music, and also filled with children. My mother was a music therapist for children with special needs and disabilities, and observing her connect through music to deeply impaired youth had a profound impact on my life. Her example taught me to understand and engage children at their level, and I have taken those lessons into my therapeutic process, whether it be working closely with troubled children and teens throughout the Los Angeles County Unified Schools district, or engaging with children in my private practice.
My approach to child therapy is two-pronged. First, I seek to engage the child as an active participant in the therapeutic process. Deploying imagination, play, art, music, breathing, dancing, and energy work, the purpose is to build deep trust and communication at a level the child can embrace and that feels authentic to the child’s experience. Since children clearly do not have the communication skills of adults, building this connectivity, sense of safety, and environment of trust is vital. This is often accomplished through transitional objects, such as toys, dolls, and musical instruments. This signals to the child that our communication will take place at a level which is understandable to them, as well as comfortable and trusting. Once this attachment has taken place, it then becomes possible to infuse and suggest different thought and behavior patterns that address the child’s underlying issues.
Building this foundation of trust with the child is vital, but it is often just the first step. The second element of my child therapy practice is to fully enlist the family in understanding, supporting, and resolving the child’s emotional challenges. Clearly, the family and parenting dynamic is critical to the child’s behavior. Yet truly understanding that family dynamic is a sensitive process, especially given the enormous pressure parents are under in today’s world to be, simply put, perfect. My approach with parents is to, first, actively defuse this “perfection pressure.” No parent is perfect, and a key step is to uncover and explore the internal parenting dynamic absent the external pressures parents face today. Another key step is active “re-parenting” where I work closely with parents to identify different parenting techniques that will help support the child’s therapeutic process.
A holistic approach to child and family therapy is critical to long term healing and opening new, positive behaviors. Crafting a trusting, safe, and child-centric environment is a lifelong passion and a key part of my overall practice.
11 Years Experience
Child or Adolescent Issues
Tandra Froehlich Childress
Marriage and Family Therapist, ATR, LMFT
I have worked with children and teens in multiple settings (mother, mentor, therapist). I am in awe of what strong young adults our youth are developing into. In these positions, I have noticed the many challenges they face. The teen and preteen years are confusing. Youth must figure out who they are, where they belong, and what they want to be. In addition to this feat, youth are challenged with a competitive academic environment and the constant watchful eye of social media. This can create intense stress and feelings that nobody is real. It is no wonder then, that anxiety and depression are increasing. As a therapist, I aide youth in discovering their passions, increasing self-esteem, calming anxieties, and finding their unique voice. Modern day society weighs heavy on our youth. With an understanding heart and open mind it is my passion to help carry that weight.
8 Years Experience
Child or Adolescent Issues
Sam Naimi
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, Psychoanalyst
Creating a safe and engaging space for children is my passion! I specialize in working with kids of all ages, using a combination of play therapy and psychoanalytic techniques tailored to their unique needs.
Play therapy allows children to express themselves freely through toys, games, and creative activities. This playful approach helps us uncover and address underlying emotional concerns in a way that feels comfortable and natural for them.
My training in psychoanalytic work with children allows me to gently explore the unconscious world that shapes their behaviors and emotions. Together, we can create a space where they feel heard and understood, fostering healthy development and emotional well-being.
6 Years Experience
Child or Adolescent Issues
ARC Counseling and Wellness
Psychologist, Psy.D.
Therapy with children and adolescents cannot be approached in the same way as it is with adults. We have several providers who are skilled at working with this population both online and in person.
17 Years Experience
Child or Adolescent Issues
Kim Gengler
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Whether you're a parent or an adolescent, I am here to help by taking a development approach to becoming a whole person. I love supporting adolescents as they move towards greater embodiment of their identities. While this can be a struggle for both teens and parents, I provide a supportive space for teens to learn who they are and live their satisfaction.
5 Years Experience