Therapy for kids & teens in Temecula
Kids and teens love our office! Caring, hands-on therapy for children from age 3 through the teen years, in person in Old Town Temecula.
CHILDREN & TEENS, AGES 3 AND UP
Kids and teens love our office!
For teens: a safe place to talk about what matters to them, and real tools to handle stress, academics and athletics, and to find balance in life.
For kids as young as 3: children often show us what hurts before they can say it. Our office is set up for hands-on, experiential therapy, with directive and child-centered play therapy, sand tray therapy, art, painting, clay and other creative activities that help kids express big feelings and learn new ways to cope.
HOW IT WORKS
Play is how children talk
Young children rarely have the words for what they feel. In play therapy, toys, sand, paint and clay become their language, and a trained therapist helps them work through worries, changes and hard experiences at their own pace.
Play therapy
We offer both directive and child-centered play therapy. In child-centered play therapy, your child leads and the therapist follows; in directive play therapy, the therapist guides activities toward specific goals. Toys, games and stories give kids a safe way to show what is happening inside and practice new ways to handle it.
Sand tray therapy
Children build scenes with miniature figures in a tray of sand, which often reveals feelings they can’t yet put into words.
Art, painting and clay
We use art in therapy, along with hands-on, creative activities that help kids calm down, express big feelings and build confidence.
Talk therapy for older kids and teens
As children grow, we add conversation and practical skills for anxiety, stress, friendships and self-esteem.
A playroom kids look forward to
Elaine’s office is full of toys, books, sand tray materials and art supplies. And two little mice live there too! They hide in new places every day. Can you help Ms. Elaine find these rascals on your visit?
PLAY THERAPY EXPERIENCE
Led by a play therapy specialist
Elaine M. Romero, LMFT, has helped children and families for more than 30 years. In the 1990s she was the founding president of the San Diego chapter of the California Association for Play Therapy. Earlier in her career she also earned a PPS credential in school counseling and worked in school settings.
Paola Cortes, LMFT & LPCC, and Jessica Byrnes, ASW, also work with children and teens navigating anxiety, life transitions, stress and self-esteem. Paola sees clients online in English and Spanish, and Jessica works under Elaine’s supervision.
Elaine M. Romero, LMFT
Paola Cortes, LMFT & LPCC
Jessica Byrnes, ASW
FOR TEENS
A place to be heard
The teen years bring real pressure. We give teens a private, judgment-free place to talk, and practical tools they can use at school, at home and on the field.
Stress and anxiety
Skills to calm worry, manage pressure and sleep better.
School and athletics
Support for academic stress, performance pressure and finding balance.
Self-esteem and relationships
Building confidence and navigating friendships and family.
Life transitions
Help through moves, divorce, blended families and other big changes.
Questions parents ask
What ages do you see?
Children from about age 3 through the teen years.
How do we get started?
Call or send an appointment request. We connect by phone or email to learn about your child, answer your questions and match you with the right therapist.
Is faith part of therapy?
Only if your family wants it. We are a Christian staff, and families of every faith and background are welcome.
What does it cost?
We offer a sliding scale based on the therapist’s licensure and experience. Call 951-252-8411 to ask about current rates.
GETTING STARTED
Three simple steps
In person in Old Town Temecula or online anywhere in California.
1. Reach out
By phone, email or our online appointment request. Share a little about what’s going on.
2. Get to know us
We connect by phone or email to learn about your situation, answer questions, and match you with the right therapist.
3. Begin counseling
In person in Old Town Temecula or online anywhere in California.