emotional wounds
power struggles
separation anxiety
trouble focusing
sibling rivalry
disruptive behavior
defiance & disrespect

It’s not always easy to know a child’s feelings, especially when they may not have the words to explain themselves. From learning how to express anger in healthier ways to working through sadness or fears, therapy helps children the be more empowered and in control of their emotions.
What sets us apart is our family systems approach to involving parents in the therapeutic process while still keeping confidentiality and trust intact, essential to the therapeutic process. Parents gain insight into their child’s social and emotional world along with practical behavioral tools. This balance of support and privacy creates a space where your child feels safe to open up, while also strengthening family bonds in a meaningful way.

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Explore Our Specializations

Child
Therapy
in Pleasant Hill and Alamo, CA
emotional wounds
power struggles
separation anxiety
trouble focusing
sibling rivalry
disruptive behavior
defiance & disrespect

It’s not always easy to know a child’s feelings, especially when they may not have the words to explain themselves. From learning how to express anger in healthier ways to working through sadness or fears, therapy helps children the be more empowered and in control of their emotions.
What sets us apart is our family systems approach to involving parents in the therapeutic process while still keeping confidentiality and trust intact, essential to the therapeutic process. Parents gain insight into their child’s social and emotional world along with practical behavioral tools. This balance of support and privacy creates a space where your child feels safe to open up, while also strengthening family bonds in a meaningful way.
Childhood can be a challenging time, full of emotional ups and downs. When kids struggle to express themselves, parents can be left feeling unsure of how to help. Therapy offers a safe space for your child to work through emotions, build coping skills, and find confidence. Sessions are designed to be engaging and child-focused, using play therapy and other creative techniques to help your child feel heard and understood.
It’s not always easy to know a child’s feelings, especially when they may not have the words to explain themselves. Whether for struggles at school, bullying, separation anxiety, or just trying to navigate big emotions, therapy can provide guidance for the entire family. From learning how to express anger in healthier ways to managing feelings of sadness or fear, therapy gives children the tools to feel more empowered and in control of their emotions.
What sets us apart is our approach to involving parents in the therapeutic process while maintaining the confidentiality and trust of the child. Parents are encouraged to be a part of the journey, gaining insight into their child’s social and emotional world while learning practical behavioral tools.
This balance of support and privacy creates a space where your child feels safe to open up, while also strengthening family bonds in a meaningful way. As children work through issues, parents are empowered to set the stage for positive change at home.

Providing tools to manage school-related anxiety
Guiding how to express big emotions safely
Giving kids a safe, open space to share their worries
Offering parents ways to support kids when they shut down
Navigating peer pressure, bullying, and social conflicts at school
Helping stay focused and motivated in school
Effective strategies to reduce school-related overwhelm
Guiding through processing trauma and emotional recovery
Teaching strategies to manage rebellion and encourage cooperation
Transforming conflict into opportunity for connection and growth
What We Work On:

Peggy O'Mara
the way we talk to our children
becomes their inner voice



In-Network With:
Our Preferred Evidence-Based Treatments
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported treatment that helps change distressing thought patterns that contribute to anxiety and depression. Through CBT, you'll learn to identify and challenge negative thoughts, reframe irrational beliefs, and replace them with healthier, more realistic perspectives. CBT also focuses on breaking patterns of self-doubt and worry by learning how to re-evaluate situations and adopt more constructive thinking. These tools empower you to make lasting changes in how you think and respond.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness principles to help individuals manage emotions, navigate challenges, and improve relationships. It focuses on four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. By building these skills, DBT empowers individuals to replace destructive patterns with practical, lasting strategies that promote resilience, balance, and a greater sense of control in daily life.
TF-CBT helps by combining practical coping skills with gradual exposure to difficult memories. It starts by teaching relaxation techniques, emotional regulation, and ways to challenge unhelpful thoughts. Once a strong foundation is built, individuals slowly and safely process their trauma with the support of a therapist. This approach reduces fear and distress, strengthens personal resilience, and fosters healthier ways of thinking and relating to others.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a short-term, goal-oriented approach that emphasizes finding practical solutions. It focuses on what you want to achieve, guiding you to take clear steps toward your goals. By building on your strengths, SFBT encourages you to do more of what works and change what doesn't. This effective, time-efficient approach ensures rapid progress while fostering long-term results.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a proven, client-centered approach designed to help individuals overcome ambivalence and create lasting change. It focuses on exploring personal motivations and values, guiding clients to take actionable steps toward their goals. MI is highly effective in treating issues like addiction, unhealthy behaviors, and low motivation by strengthening confidence and commitment, empowering clients to drive their own positive transformations.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a proven approach that that helps couples break negative cycles and strengthen emotional bonds. In therapy, partners identify patterns of conflict and learn techniques like emotional validation and replacing reactive behaviors with empathetic responses. EFT targets underlying emotional triggers, promoting healthier attachment while deepening intimacy. It’s particularly effective for couples facing disconnection, insecurity, and trust issues, leading to genuine understanding and lasting change. This therapy is effective for emotional withdrawal, fear of abandonment, and attachment wounds, creating stronger, more secure relationships.
Let's Connect
3189 Danville Blvd, Ste 250
Alamo, CA 94507
395 Taylor Blvd
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
925-830-7900
© 2025 Shalini Mongia, MFT