Treatment for Children and Adolescents
Helping children and parents grow together.
Rhea Wagle, Ph.D.
My Approach
Childhood and adolescence can be hard. These years are often fraught with major life changes, trauma, significant losses, or just the everyday pressures of growing up. Though children and teens are resilient, it often takes time for resilience to grow. During that time, you may notice your child experiencing complex emotions such as sadness, anxiety, or anger, which they may have difficulty understanding or accepting. Perhaps your child has been exhibiting tantrums, aggression, or other behavioral difficulties. Or maybe their emotions result in social isolation, loss of motivation, or negative self-talk. You may be feeling helpless and unable to understand your child’s needs. My goal is to strengthen this understanding, help your child process their emotions, and provide you and your child with tools to manage future difficulties and stressors.
I work with children and teens ages 3-17 and their families. I provide individual therapy, caregiver sessions, or family therapy, depending on your child’s and family’s needs. Though the level of caregiver involvement in therapy may vary depending on your child’s age and/or need, I partner with caregivers to develop a treatment plan based on your child’s needs and your family’s cultural values. I utilize an attachment-based and ecological systems approach to better understand the presenting issues. I understand that your child exists within many systems (i.e., your family, their school, the community) and I aim to collaborate with any providers or individuals who are integral to your child’s wellbeing, such as teachers, pediatricians, or other caregivers.
I believe that children, teens, and caregivers are incredibly insightful and resilient. Your child has the ability to grow, develop coping skills, and come to understand, accept, and regulate their emotions. My job is to help facilitate this process alongside you and to develop a safe space and strong therapeutic relationship with you and your child.
In addition to children and adolescents, I also work with young adults ages 17-21. Young adults face unique challenges of experiencing many “firsts,” such as acquiring your first job, living on your own for the first time, or navigating your first romantic relationship. Or perhaps early life trauma or stressors are beginning to resurface, and you need support to process and understand these emotions. It is not uncommon for these experiences to bring about anxiety, depression, or other difficult emotions while navigating this transitional time period. If you are facing these or similar difficulties, I can provide a safe space to discuss these heavy topics and help you develop skills to move forward through your journey of personal growth.
Qualifications & Training
Education & Training
Dr. Wagle is a licensed psychologist in the state of California and specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. She completed her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in Psychology and Media Studies. She then went on to receive her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in the combined clinical, counseling, and school psychology program (CCSP).
Dr. Wagle completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in the child/family track. After graduating with her doctorate, Dr. Wagle completed an APA-accredited two-year post-doctoral fellowship in the trauma specialty track at the University of Southern California’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).
Evidence-Based Practices
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Coping Cat
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Motivation Interviewing (MI)
Specialty Areas of Practice
Trauma
Trauma can have a profound impact on children of any age and lead to emotional, behavioral, or relational challenges if left unresolved. There are many types of trauma, including medical trauma, intergenerational trauma, racial trauma, traumatic grief and loss, and abuse. Researchers now understand that trauma changes brain functioning, particularly when it occurs early in life. However, the brain is elastic, and further positive changes in the brain can be possible with the right support. I utilize evidence-based practices, such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to help you and your child better understand trauma, develop coping tools in order to feel safe again, and help your child empower themselves in developing ownership of their story. My goal is to help your child’s traumatic experience become a part of their story, rather than become their entire story.
Behavioral Difficulties
It is common for young children to exhibit tantrums, non-compliance, or aggression. When these challenges grow in intensity and/or frequency, it may indicate a need for additional support. My goal is to help you feel a regained sense of control in your parenting approach and help your child with their emotional and behavioral regulation. I will work with you to help you better understand and address your child’s underlying needs through preventative approaches and a positive-behavior management system. I utilize evidence-based practices such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), which helps stabilize your child’s behaviors and strengthens the critical parent-caregiver relationship.
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety and depression can often look different in children and teens than it does in adults. Symptoms may include irritability, difficulty sleeping, lack of motivation in school, and social isolation. These challenges can be overwhelming and difficult for your child and/or for the entire family. Moreover, anxiety and depression may have a deeper cause, such as family transitions. I will work with you and your child to better understand this underlying cause, process challenging emotions, and develop coping tools to more effectively manage symptoms. I utilize evidence-based practices, such as Coping Cat, CBT, DBT-informed principles, and Motivational Interviewing to help your child or teen work through anxiety and depression.