Kids (Ages 4–10)
For younger kids, I primarily use Child-Centered Play Therapy, giving them a safe, natural way to explore their inner world and express feelings that are hard to put into words.
Child & Teen Therapy · Parent/Caregiver Coaching · West Los Angeles
Behind every behavior is a kid trying to tell us something.
I help kids feel deeply seen, accepted, and safe, so they can develop the confidence, resilience, and emotional skills they need to grow.
Aften Lee, AMFT / APCC
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AMFT #23781
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North Star Families
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Supervised by Wendy Denham, Ph.D., PSY #20898
Currently accepting new clients
About Aften
I’m dedicated to providing therapy to children and teens, along with the families who care about them.
I’m Aften Lee (she/her), a child and teen therapist in West Los Angeles, and a mother. My entire practice is built around kids, teens, and their families. It isn’t just my specialty. It’s where my whole heart is. As both a therapist and a mom of two, I come to this work deeply knowing what it feels like to watch your kid struggle and not always know what to do, and also with the knowledge to help guide you.
I believe kids and parents/caregivers are always doing the best they can with what they have. That belief shapes everything about how I work. My approach is relationship-first and non-judgmental. I’m here to understand what’s happening with your kid underneath their behavior, help them feel fully seen and accepted for exactly who they are, and support you in understanding what they’re communicating, so you can show up for them with more curiosity, confidence, and ease.
Working with just kids and teens (as opposed to all ages) has let me go deep rather than wide: I have a deep understanding of how kids think, how they communicate, and what they need at each age. I also genuinely love working with parents/caregivers, because the parent-child relationship is one of the most powerful tools in therapy. A lot of my work is helping parents/caregivers lead with more confidence and curiosity, and have more fun with their kids along the way.
I’m warm, playful, and honest. Whether I’m sitting with a 6-year-old or a 16-year-old, I bring the same energy: show up real, stay curious, and make sure this person feels safe so they have the environment they need to explore their inner world and make the necessary changes for positive transformation and growth.
“I consider it a privilege to walk alongside kids and families during some of life’s hardest seasons, and to witness the courage and connection that emerge when kids feel truly safe.”
Training: I earned my M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. My clinical training was completed at Counseling Partners Los Angeles (CPLA), where I supported TK–8th grade students and collaborated with families and school personnel, and at Children’s Institute, a nonprofit supporting underserved communities serving kids ages 5–16. I’m currently completing advanced training in Child-Centered Play Therapy with a neurorelational emphasis and advanced training in Gestalt Play Therapy. I have a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida and a M.S. in Management from the University of Florida.
When not at work, you can find me spending time with my family and two dogs, leading a local Girl Scout troop, cooking, reading, swimming, and making pottery.
My Approach
Relationship first, at every age.
I work with kids ages 4–18 and their parents/caregivers, and that is my whole practice. My work across all ages is informed by nervous system regulation and sensory processing differences, recognizing that emotions, behavior, and the body are deeply connected. I tailor my approach based on each client’s unique needs and goals, but all of my work starts with an authentic, safe, non-judgmental relationship.
Most families come to me for child therapy or teen therapy around anxiety, big emotions and meltdowns, ADHD and attention challenges, low self-esteem, or a hard family transition like a divorce or a loss. I also work with autistic and other neurodivergent kids, and with gender-diverse kids and teens.
What the work looks like at each age.
Ages 4–10
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
Kids this age live primarily in their feelings, not in their thoughts. Asking a kid to sit and talk about emotions is like asking an adult to express themselves only by playing with blocks. It doesn’t match how they communicate. Play is the answer.
Child-Centered Play Therapy is an evidence-based approach backed by decades of research. In the playroom, kids “play out” their feelings, struggles, and worries so they can make sense of them, gain control over them, and practice solutions that feel right to them. When kids lead the process, something remarkable happens: they become invested and confident. They learn they can solve problems on their own. They begin to believe in their own abilities. This creates deep, lasting growth rather than temporary behavior fixes.
What kids build in the playroom
A broader perspective
Kids begin to see themselves and others in a more flexible, balanced way, meeting challenges with confidence and insight.
Stronger self-esteem
Accepted exactly as they are, kids make choices, take the lead, and discover that their ideas and abilities matter. Real self-worth, built from the inside out.
Better emotional regulation
With a safe space to express big emotions, kids become better able to manage those feelings in everyday life: calming themselves and making thoughtful choices.
A richer emotional vocabulary
Kids get better at recognizing, naming, and communicating emotions. This is often the first area to improve, and one that makes home life noticeably easier.
Ages 11+
Preteen & Teen Therapy
Teens need a different kind of space than younger kids, one that respects their growing need for autonomy while still offering real connection and support. My work with preteens and teens is relational first: the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of everything we do together.
I draw from Gestalt therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), existential approaches, and the Violet Oaklander model, combining them based on what each person needs. The goal is a space where teens feel safe enough to be open, explore who they are, and start to make sense of what they’re carrying.
For Parents/Caregivers
Working with Parents/Caregivers
I require monthly parent/caregiver consultations as part of every client’s treatment. This isn’t a formality. It’s some of the most important work we do together.
Each month we meet for 50 minutes. I share the themes, progress, and shifts I’m seeing; you bring me updates from home and school. We use that time to problem-solve specific situations, deepen our understanding of what your kid is communicating, and build skills you can actually use at home. I’m here as a partner, not to tell you what to do but to help you understand what your kid is communicating and respond to it with more confidence.
Weekly
Kid sessions, consistently scheduled
Monthly
50-minute parent/caregiver check-in: progress, themes, and tools to use at home
Anytime
Email between sessions with questions, updates, or concerns
Who I Work With
Every kid and family is welcome here.
All of my work is relationship-driven and begins with creating a space where kids and teens feel safe to show up exactly as they are. I offer child therapy, teen therapy, and parent/caregiver coaching from two offices, in West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, and I see families from Santa Monica, Brentwood, Culver City, Mar Vista, Century City, and the Mid-Wilshire area.
Preteens & Teens (11+)
With older kids and teens, I take a relational, evidence-based approach drawing from Gestalt, CBT, ACT, and existential therapy. The therapeutic relationship always comes first.
Parents/Caregivers
I work alongside parents/caregivers throughout the process, helping you read what your kid’s behavior is communicating and decide how to respond to it.
I also offer parent/caregiver coaching to help you through challenging, confusing, or difficult times.
Affirming & Inclusive Care
I have a particular passion for working with gender-diverse kids, teens, and their families. Every child deserves a space to show up exactly as they are.
The Practice
I’m part of North Star Families.
I see clients through North Star Families, a neurodiversity-affirming and gender-inclusive practice with offices in West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, founded by Dr. Wendy Denham, Ph.D. Working inside a group practice rather than on my own means your family gets more than one clinician’s thinking behind the care.
Supervision and collaboration
My work is supervised by Dr. Denham, and I have a team of experienced therapists and psychologists to consult whenever a case calls for another perspective.
Support for the whole family
Kids and teens are my focus, but the practice also offers adult, couples, and family therapy. If someone else at home needs their own support, I can connect you with a colleague.
A wider circle of specialists
When it would help, the practice partners with neuropsychologists for testing and with educational therapists and other pediatric specialists.
Help with the paperwork
There are people here who can help with billing and with getting insurance reimbursements, so that part isn’t yours to sort out alone.
FAQs
Questions parents/caregivers ask
Most therapists see a mix of adults and kids. I made a different choice: I only work with kids, teens, and the parents/caregivers who care about them. That means most of my training, supervision, and clinical experience has gone into this one group, which has let me go deep rather than wide. I know kids and teens. I know parents/caregivers. This is all I do.
I’m also a parent of two amazing, neurodivergent kids, so I understand from the inside how hard parenting can be.
I don’t work alone, either. I practice as part of North Star Families, a group of highly experienced therapists and psychologists I can collaborate with whenever a case calls for another perspective, so you’re getting more than just my own thinking. The practice also has people who can help with billing and with getting insurance reimbursements, so that piece isn’t something you have to sort out by yourself.
Every kid comes with their own set of experiences, strengths, and challenges, and the pace of therapy reflects that. There’s no set timeline. Some kids move quickly; others need more time to work through what they’re carrying. What I can tell you is that progress rarely looks linear: some weeks feel like big leaps, others feel quieter, and that’s all part of the process. What matters is the overall direction over time.
An essential one. You know your kid best, and I’m here to support you, not to hand you a list of things you’re doing wrong. Every month we meet for a 50-minute parent/caregiver check-in: I share the themes and progress I’m seeing; you bring me updates from home and school. It’s also our time to problem-solve specific situations and for me to offer tools and ideas. I’ll give you things to practice at home that strengthen what your kid is working on in session. When families weave this into everyday life, change tends to happen faster. The more consistent you can be with what we discuss, the better this goes for everyone.
Start with the free 20-minute call. You don’t need to have it figured out before you reach out, and you don’t need to be sure your kid needs therapy. We’ll talk through what’s going on and work out together what would actually help.
Sometimes that’s therapy for your kid. Sometimes it’s parent/caregiver coaching, which I also offer when it’s the right fit for the situation, and where the work happens with you rather than with your kid. And sometimes it’s a referral to someone better suited to what you need. There’s no pressure and no commitment on that call.
Yes. This is an area of particular passion for me. I provide affirming, accepting care for gender-diverse kids and teens and their families. My practice is a place where every client can show up exactly as they are.
North Star Families is an out-of-network provider, which means we don’t bill insurance companies directly. We’re happy to provide a superbill so you can access your out-of-network benefits with your insurance. That usually covers part of the fee, though how much depends on your plan.
Sessions are $250 for a 50-minute appointment.
For kids under 16, I see clients in person only. For kids 16 and older, we can talk about whether Zoom is an appropriate fit. Parent/Caregiver sessions can be held over Zoom or in person, whichever works better for you.
Get in Touch
Start with a phone call.
A free 20-minute call is the easiest place to begin. We’ll talk through what’s going on and whether I’m the right fit for your family. No pressure, no commitment.
If you’re looking for a child therapist or teen therapist in West Los Angeles, I’d be glad to hear from you.
Free 20-minute consultation call available