Therapy
Therapy for Children & Teens in Hermosa Beach
Therapy gives children and teens a steady place to understand their feelings and learn skills for anxiety, low mood, school stress and big life changes. Dr. Paul combines Internal Family Systems, attachment-based therapy and CBT, and keeps parents involved in ways that fit your child's age.
Is therapy right for your child or teen?
Most parents call when something has been off for a while and the usual fixes aren’t working. Therapy may help if you notice some of these:
- Worry, fears or stomachaches that keep your child from school, sleep or activities
- Big feelings, such as meltdowns or anger, that are hard for your child to come down from
- Stress about grades, tests or homework that seems out of proportion
- Trouble making or keeping friends, or feeling left out
- A hard life change, such as divorce, a move or the loss of someone close
- Low mood, pulling away from family or friends, or losing interest in things they used to enjoy
- Perfectionism, or being very hard on themselves
You don’t need a diagnosis to start therapy. If you’re unsure whether your child needs therapy, testing or both, a first call is a good place to sort that out. If you are ever worried about your child’s safety, call 911, or call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), right away.
How Dr. Paul works
Dr. Maddison Paul is a licensed clinical psychologist who grew up in Redondo Beach. She draws on three approaches and fits them to your child’s age and needs.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps kids notice the different “parts” of them, like the part that worries or the part that gets angry. Instead of fighting those parts, your child learns to understand them and respond with more calm. With younger children this often happens through drawing, play or stories.
Attachment-based therapy focuses on the relationships that help kids feel secure, especially with parents. Feeling understood at home makes it easier to handle stress everywhere else.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills: noticing unhelpful thoughts, calming the body and facing fears in small steps. CBT has strong research support for anxiety and depression in children and teens.
How parents are involved
You know your child best, so you are part of the work. With younger children, parents are usually more involved, sometimes joining sessions or learning skills to use at home. With teens, sessions are usually one-on-one, with check-ins with you along the way.
Privacy for teens
Teens open up more when they know their conversations are private. In California, minors 12 and older can consent to some outpatient mental health care on their own in certain situations. Whatever the arrangement, at the start Dr. Paul talks with you and your teen about privacy: what stays between her and your teen, what is shared with you, and the limits, such as safety concerns.
What sessions are like
| Step | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Consultation | Free, about 30 minutes, by phone | We talk about what you're seeing and whether therapy with Dr. Paul is a good fit. |
| 2. First sessions | At the start | Dr. Paul gets to know your child and meets with you for background. Together you set goals that matter to your family. |
| 3. Ongoing sessions | Once goals are set | Your child works on the goals, using the approaches that fit them best. |
| 4. Check-ins with parents | Along the way | Dr. Paul updates you, shares ideas for home and reviews progress toward the goals. |
Sessions last 45 minutes. You and Dr. Paul decide together how often to meet. Sessions are in our Hermosa Beach office, close to Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance and Palos Verdes, or by telehealth when that suits your child and you are in California. Therapy is available with Dr. Paul or with one of our psychological associates, who work under Dr. Paul’s supervision.
What you can expect
Therapy takes time, and progress is rarely a straight line. Some weeks feel like a step back. Many kids start to feel some relief once they have words for what’s going on and a few skills to try, but every child is different, and we can’t promise a set result or timeline.
What you can expect is a clinician who listens carefully to you and your child, explains her thinking in plain words, and checks in about whether therapy is helping. If something isn’t working, we’ll talk about it and adjust. If another type of care would serve your child better, Dr. Paul will tell you.
Fees and insurance
Sessions are 45 minutes, and each session is $250.
We're an out-of-network provider, so payment is due at the time of service. We bill your insurance on your behalf and provide the documentation needed to support reimbursement. We can't guarantee coverage, but many families receive partial reimbursement, depending on their plan.
Who you'll see
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- California license PSY 36605 · Verify with the state (opens the California DCA license search)
- Doctoral training in clinical psychology
- About about eight years of psychological and neuropsychological assessment experience
- Born and raised in Redondo Beach
Common questions
Will you tell me what my teen says in therapy?
How do I tell my child they are starting therapy?
What if my teen doesn't want to go?
How long will my child be in therapy?
Will you talk with my child's teacher or doctor?
What if my child's other parent and I see things differently?
Serving families in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes and the South Bay.
Wondering if therapy would help?
A free consultation with Dr. Paul is the easiest way to find out. No commitment.