In-Person Therapy in Simi Valley · Telehealth Throughout California
Helping Children, Teens, and Families Find Hope Through Life's Hardest Seasons
When a child or teen is struggling, it can affect the entire family. Whether you're navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, overwhelming emotions, or ongoing conflict at home, therapy can provide a safe place to understand what's happening, strengthen relationships, and help your family move forward with confidence and hope.
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Does any of this sound familiar?
Parenting isn't supposed to feel like you're constantly guessing what your child needs. If you've been feeling worried, exhausted, or unsure how to help, you're not alone. Many families reach out when they've tried everything they know—and are ready for support that helps them understand what's really going on beneath the surface.
Your Child Seems Different
Maybe your once-outgoing child has become withdrawn. Maybe they're anxious, overwhelmed, or no longer enjoying the things they used to love. When something feels "off," it's okay to trust your instincts.
Big Emotions Have Taken Over
Emotional outbursts, shutting down, constant worry, anger, or tears can all be signs that a child is struggling. Together, we'll help make sense of those emotions and build healthier ways to cope.
Home Doesn't Feel Like Home Anymore
When every conversation turns into an argument, everyone is walking on eggshells, or your family feels disconnected, it can be hard to know where to start. Therapy can help restore understanding, strengthen relationships, and bring more peace back into everyday life.
Hi, I'm Amanda
Amanda Phillips · Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, APCC #14941
Practicing under the supervision of Debbie Ciulla, LMFT #98887
I know how it feels to watch your child struggle and not be sure how to reach them — and how exhausting it is when the same hard moments keep repeating at home. My approach is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed, grounded in attachment, humanistic, and family systems work. I love partnering with kids and teens navigating big emotions, anxiety, depression, or behavior that feels confusing even to them — and with parents who are doing their best and just need a little more support.
"Every behavior tells a story."
Whether your child is melting down, withdrawing, or struggling to cope, my goal isn't just to make the hard behavior stop. It's to understand what's underneath it — the emotion, the fear, the unmet need — so the change we build together actually lasts.
Christian counseling is available for clients who would like it.
How I Can Help
Children
A safe, playful space to work through anxiety, trauma, and big feelings — and build the coping skills and confidence to carry forward.
Teens
A space that's actually theirs, to talk through depression, identity, friendships, school pressure, and everything that comes with growing up.
Families
Support for rebuilding communication and connection, so home starts to feel less like a battleground and more like a team.
My Approach
I draw from evidence-based, trauma-informed methods and tailor them to each family — because your child isn't a script, and neither is your story.
Trauma-Focused CBT
A structured, gentle approach that helps kids and teens process difficult experiences and build healthier ways of thinking about them.
Emotion-Focused Work
Helping your child name, understand, and ride out big feelings instead of being swept away by them.
Family Systems
Looking at behavior in the context of your family's relationships and home life, not as a problem that lives in your child alone.
Play-Based Interventions
Meeting younger clients where they are, using play as the natural language kids use to process what they can't yet put into words.
Getting Started
Reaching out is often the hardest step. Here's exactly what happens after you do.
Reach out
Send a message or give me a call and tell me a bit about what's going on for your child or family. No pressure, just a starting point.
Free phone consultation
We'll talk for about 15 minutes to see if we're a good fit and answer whatever questions are on your mind.
First session
A relaxed first meeting where we get to know each other and start shaping a plan that fits your family.
Ongoing care
Collaborative sessions, paced to what your family needs — with check-ins along the way so you always know how things are going.
Have questions about fees, insurance, or what a session looks like? Visit the FAQ page.
Let's Talk
In-Person in Simi Valley · Telehealth Throughout California
Reaching out is often the hardest part. I'm glad you're here — send a note below and I'll get back to you soon.