When your child is struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, or patterns of negative thinking, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help them learn skills to use beyond the counseling room. HillsidesCares provides cognitive-behavioral therapy for children and teens ages 6–17 in Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area. CBT may include individual, family, and group sessions as part of a plan shaped around your child’s needs.
Our team uses a trauma-informed, family-centered approach. By using CBT, our therapists help youth understand the connection between what they think, how they feel, and what they do, then practice healthier ways to respond to difficult situations. A clinical assessment can help determine whether outpatient CBT or a more structured level of care is the right starting point.
What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a structured form of talk therapy that focuses on the relationship among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The American Psychological Association explains that CBT helps people recognize unhelpful patterns and practice more effective ways of thinking and responding.1
For a child or teen, the core of the CBT process may look like this:
CBT and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are both common behavioral therapies used for youth mental health. Read our guide to CBT vs. DBT for teens for a detailed comparison of when these approaches may be recommended.
Why we offer behavioral therapy for teens and children
Children and teens are still developing the language and skills they use to understand emotions, solve problems, and communicate their needs. Behavioral therapy for kids can make those skills easier to practice at home, at school, and in relationships.
- Negative self-talk and low self-esteem: CBT helps youth notice harsh or all-or-nothing thoughts and practice a more balanced response.
- Sadness and depression: A therapist can help a young person identify patterns that may deepen isolation or hopelessness and set manageable goals for reconnecting with daily activities.
- Anxiety and stress: Youth can learn ways to examine worried thoughts, prepare for challenging situations, and use coping skills when stress rises.
- Anger and impulsive reactions: CBT-based skills can help a child recognize triggers, pause, and choose a safer or more constructive response.
- Communication and relationships: Sessions create opportunities to name emotions, express needs, listen, and work through conflict with greater clarity.
CBT can be a flexible, personalized way to help your child learn skills to handle everyday challenges. The approach, pace, and goals should reflect your child’s age, symptoms, strengths, family context, and treatment plan.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy program treatments
At HillsidesCares, our cognitive-behavioral therapy program in Los Angeles offers several treatments to help children and adolescents heal mentally and emotionally.
Individual therapy
Individual therapy for teens and younger children provides private, one-to-one time to build trust, set goals, and discuss experiences at a developmentally appropriate pace. A therapist may help the youth notice recurring thoughts, connect those thoughts with feelings and actions, and practice coping or problem-solving skills between sessions.
Family therapy
Family therapy for teens and children gives youth and caregivers a structured place to talk about concerns, patterns, and expectations. Families may work on communication, conflict, routines, boundaries, and ways to reinforce coping skills at home.
Group therapy
Group therapy for teens can reduce isolation and provide a structured setting to practice communication, emotional awareness, and coping skills with peers. Youth can hear other perspectives and try new responses while maintaining clear group expectations.
Individual therapy
Aggression Replacement Training is one option for youth who need support with anger, conflict, or impulsive reactions. Sessions focus on recognizing triggers and practicing safer, more constructive choices. For families searching for anger management for teens, an assessment can clarify whether this approach should be part of a broader treatment plan.
When outpatient CBT isn’t enough
Some young people can make progress through regular outpatient therapy sessions while living at home and continuing school and daily activities. Others need more time, structure, coordination, or supervision. A clinical assessment can help guide that decision.
It may be time to ask about more support when:
- Symptoms are worsening or interfering with school, sleep, relationships, or basic daily routines.
- Safety concerns are increasing or the family cannot maintain a workable plan at home.
- The youth needs more frequent therapeutic contact than standard outpatient visits provide.
- Progress has stalled even after the treatment plan, goals, and barriers have been reviewed.
- The family and current providers need closer coordination across services.
Outpatient care, where someone attends appointments and leaves the same day (usually once weekly), is different from a dedicated intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization program that provides more coordinated hours of care. Residential care, which means living at a treatment center for a period of time, is also an option, and can include CBT sessions.
| Care setting | General structure | May be considered when |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient | Scheduled weekly (or less frequent) individual, family, or group appointments; youth lives at home. | The youth can participate safely in daily life with periodic therapeutic support. |
| Intensive outpatient program (IOP) | More frequent, structured services while the youth continues living at home. | Standard outpatient visits do not provide enough frequency or coordination. |
| Partial hospitalization program (PHP) | A structured daily program with multiple services; youth returns home outside program hours. | The youth needs substantial support without living at the program. |
| Residential care | The youth lives in a structured treatment setting and participates in an integrated daily program. | The youth needs a safer, more coordinated environment than home-based outpatient care provides. |
Our treatment center in Los Angeles, CA
We offer a dedicated cognitive-behavioral therapy program for youth ages 6–17 in Pasadena, CA. Enrolling your child in any of our programs offers several unique benefits, such as the following:
- Early intervention: We believe prevention is better than cure and that by commencing treatment early, we can help the youth build a happier and more beautiful future for themselves. Unlike other facilities that will not treat children until they are twelve, we treat everyone from six to seventeen years at our youth-focused facility.
- Evidence-based therapies: Since every child has unique needs, we offer a variety of evidence-based therapies, including CBT, to help them.
- Queer-friendly clinic: We understand children from the queer community or marginalized backgrounds face additional difficulties. As an LGBTQ+-friendly center, we offer a safe and supportive space for the youth.
- Multi-family programming: We also offer family counseling sessions and train loved ones to play an active role in the child’s healing and become a robust support system.
- Aftercare: We ensure a seamless transition to reconnecting with the community after finishing treatment. We connect the youth with wellness and support groups so that they remember to take care of their mental health as they go back to everyday life.
CBT program for adolescents at HillsidesCares
HillsidesCares can help your family discuss what your child is experiencing, what support has already been tried, and which next step may fit. Our CBT programming serves children and teens ages 6–17 in Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area, with family involvement and access to a range of supportive services.
Explore our adolescent behavioral health programs or contact HillsidesCares to ask about availability, assessment, insurance questions, and the admissions process.