Smiling woman with long brown hair sitting at a desk with her hands on a closed notebook, plants and bookshelves in the background

Hi, I'm Michelle!

I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of The Playful Path Child Therapy. I help kids, teens, and their parents find their way through big feelings, friendships, and the everyday hard stuff.

MY path to the playful path

Children Do Well When They Can

Family walking through an urban park beside a pond, with a child and stroller, playground, and city buildings in the background
Mother helping her child with homework at a wooden dining table at home

I've loved kids for as long as I can remember. Not just watching them get by, but watching them truly thrive and grow into grounded, confident people.

While earning my master's degree, I worked full-time as a substitute teacher. I saw up close how much school pressure, classroom dynamics, and social stress shape a child's day. From there, I worked in early intervention at Cheerful Helpers, supporting preschoolers who had been asked to leave multiple schools. Then I worked with nonprofits serving children in foster care, and spent four years at a thriving group practice in Pasadena, where I designed and led my own social skills groups.

In every classroom and clinic, I learned the same truth: children do well when they can. A meltdown or a shutdown isn't a character flaw. It's a child carrying an invisible weight. I became a therapist to be a steady, safe place for families, someone who looks past the behavior and champions the incredible kid underneath.

Behind the name: Why I Named It The Playful Path

Growth doesn't have to happen behind a desk or through a lecture, especially for kids. Play is a child's natural language. It's how they process emotion, practice self-regulation, and make sense of their world.

The Playful Path reflects what I believe therapy should be: a journey kids feel invited into and excited to show up for. Even the hardest emotional roadblocks can be worked through with creativity, warmth, and play.

Bright living room with beige slipcovered sofa, mustard yellow pillows, cream throw blanket, framed beach photographs, wood coffee table, and patterned rug

What I Believe About Kids and Families

Behavior is communication. When a child is struggling with big emotions or explosive reactions, it is never proof of bad parenting or a "bad" kid. It's a sign that some skills are still developing, or that their sensory and emotional system is overwhelmed.

My work is rooted in collaborative problem-solving and sensitive-child philosophies. I partner with parents to build connection, solve problems together, and honor each child's unique wiring.

My Professional Background

    • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California (LMFT #140812)

    • Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Pepperdine University

    • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Trained

    • Advanced training in play therapy, childhood anxiety, and neurodiversity-affirming care

    • Nearly a decade supporting children and families in schools, early intervention, foster care, and private practice

    • ADHD, autism, and social pragmatic differences

    • Anxiety and worry

    • Emotional regulation and big reactions

    • Adjustment to life changes

    • Family and relationship challenges

Let's Talk About Your Child

Choosing a therapist is personal. A free 15-minute consultation call gives us a chance to connect and see if I'm the right fit for your family.

Book a Free Consultation Call →