Child, Adolescent, and Teen Therapy in San Francisco and Online in California.
At The Marina Counseling Center, we provide a supportive and inclusive environment where your child can find healing, growth, and connection.
Child and Adolescent Therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy designed to help young people navigate the emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges that arise during the journey from childhood through the teen years. Unlike adult counseling, sessions are tailored to the client's age, utilizing age-appropriate methods like Play Therapy, Art Therapy, and structured Talk Therapy. This provides a safe, confidential space for your child to explore common stressors like academic pressure, family dynamics, and peer conflicts. Sessions focus on building essential life skills such as naming feelings, developing emotional resilience, strengthening coping mechanisms, and setting clear boundaries. Parents may receive specific tips for listening without judgment and for reinforcing progress at home. Ultimately, therapy helps young people gain greater self-esteem, improve emotional control, and foster stronger, more connected relationships both at home and with friends.
Child and adolescent therapy can help with:
Behavioral Issues
Therapy helps children and adolescents understand the function of their challenging behaviors and learn constructive ways to communicate needs, manage frustration, and follow rules.
Anxiety &
Excessive Worry
Counseling equips young people with age-appropriate coping mechanisms, relaxation techniques, and tools like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reduce fear and avoidance.
Depression & Persistent Sadness
Therapy provides a supportive space to explore the source of low mood, challenge negative thoughts, improve sleep and appetite, and re-engage in enjoyable activities.
Processing Trauma
Therapists use specialized methods to help children and teens safely process traumatic events and reduce symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, and hyper-vigilance.
Social & Peer Relationship Issues
Therapy teaches essential social skills, boundary setting, and effective conflict resolution to help navigate friendships, peer pressure, and experiences of bullying.
Academic Stress & Motivation
Counselors work with children to develop executive function skills, such as organization and time management, and address the underlying emotional factors contributing to school avoidance, anxiety, or performance decline.
Self Harm &
Suicidal Ideation
Therapy includes creating a safety plan, identifying emotional triggers, and teaching Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to manage intense emotions and find alternative coping outlets.
ADHD
Symptom Management
Therapy focuses on teaching the child practical strategies for improving focus, reducing impulsivity, strengthening executive functioning, and building self-esteem related to their neurotype.
Navigating Divorce & Blended Families
Therapy provides a neutral space for the child to express feelings about family changes and gives them a voice and the tools to thrive in blended family dynamics.
Self-Esteem &
Identity Development
Therapy assists children & teens in exploring their core values, navigating questions of identity (including gender or sexuality), and fostering a resilient sense of self-worth that is independent of external validation.
Why Choose The Marina Counseling Center?
Affordable
Sliding scale fees to fit
your budget.
Culturally Sensitive Care
Our diverse team provides therapy that honors your values and experience.
Personalized Matching
You will be matched with a therapist who is able to respond to your goals for therapy.
Diversity of Support
We work with families, children, couples, and individuals.
Start Quickly
We aim to match you
within a week.
Flexible Meeting Options
Meet with your therapist in person in San Francisco or virtually throughout California.
1 / Phone Consult
Prospective clients can schedule a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation. Clients should plan to be in a quiet, private space. We can speak directly to the parents, however when possible/appropriate, we encourage the child to join the call as well. Fees and scheduling are also discussed in this call.
2 / Therapist Matching
Our intake manager then reviews multiple factors to find a therapist who will best match the client's needs.
3 / Setting Up The First Appointment
The assigned therapist will reach out to the client to introduce themselves and set up the first appointment within approximately one week.
4 / Begin Sessions
The child will meet with their therapist in person or virtually (depending on their preference) and will begin their work together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is individual therapy right for my child?
Therapy is a great choice if you notice persistent changes in your child’s mood, social life, or school performance. It provides professional support to help them express their feelings and thrive in their environment.
How do I choose a therapist?
The process of choosing a therapist is deeply personal, and the most important factor is finding a professional you and your child feel safe and comfortable with. At the Marina Counseling Center, we match your child with a therapist whose specialty and approach align with his or her needs. However, it's normal and encouraged to explore your options. You should feel empowered to have initial calls, not just with our team, but with other therapists or centers as well.
I’ve tried therapy in the past and it didn’t work for my child / wasn’t a good experience. How will this be different?Often This happens because it wasn’t the right time, therapist, or modality. We recognize it’s difficult to take the step to be vulnerable and seek help through therapy and to not find the support you’re looking for. We are committed to helping you find what you’re seeking. At the MCC, we have a range of therapists specializing in a variety of orientations and modalities and would be honored to work with you to explore if we can find the right fit for you here. Please let your therapist know what didn’t work well for you when you tried therapy previously.
How long does therapy take?
Therapy at The MCC is a highly individualized process that is tailored to your child’s individual needs and concerns, and so the time it takes can vary by person. That said, we believe therapy should be effective and helpful, and so if you have concerns about progress or fit, we invite you to bring these to your work with your therapist.
What can I expect in a typical session?
Sessions are 50 minutes and happen on a weekly basis. Our therapists work from a range of orientations, modalities, and interventions, including psychodynamic, somatic, client-centered, relational, CBT, and more. A typical session will depend on your child’s individual therapist, the work your child is focusing on, and your child’s individual relationship with them.
I (or my child) am hesitant to begin therapy, is this normal?
It is completely normal to feel hesitant about starting therapy for your child or teen. Hesitation can stem from a variety of common concerns, such as worry about the stigma of mental health care, fear that the therapist will "blame" a parent, or uncertainty about what actually happens in a session. If you, your partner, or your child are hesitant, we recommend the following:
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For Parents: Schedule an initial parent-only consultation with the therapist. This allows you to discuss your concerns, review the confidential process, and understand the therapeutic goals without your child present.
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For your Child: Acknowledge their feelings and let them know that therapy is simply a safe, neutral space to talk and learn new skills, not a place to be judged or told what to do. Your assigned therapist will take the first session slowly, focusing on building rapport and trust.
How much is each session?
Fees are offered on a sliding scale based on financial need. Please see our Fee page for more information.
Some therapists on the website are listed as "trainees" or "associates," what's the difference?
Both Trainees and Associates are pre-licensed and work under the supervision of a licensed therapist. They are completing their required hours to become fully licensed. Associates have completed the education requirement while Trainees are in the final year of graduate school.