MILIKA CENTER FOR THERAPY & RESILIENCE
3 of the Best Los Angeles Child Therapists
Evidence-based child therapy to help your little one build resilience
- Evidence-Based Child Therapy: We use tools rooted in research to help your child work through anxiety, stress, anger, grief, medical trauma, life changes, and more.
- Resilience-Focused Child Development: Our specialized resilience training services empower your child with a range of crucial skills, such as emotion regulation, effective communication, time management/goal-setting skills, as well as gratitude and self-compassion, to name a few. These skills will benefit your child throughout their life, enabling them to bounce back from challenges and setbacks.
- Innovative Treatment Methods: We support your child's healing through cutting-edge techniques, like virtual reality therapy, and other approaches, such as play therapy and art therapy.
- Flexible Family Scheduling: We provide extended hours including evenings, offering both face-to-face sessions in Encino and Brentwood plus teletherapy options across California.
- Seamless Insurance Support: Our partnership with Mentaya takes care of the out-of-network insurance reimbursement process, allowing you to concentrate on supporting your child's progress.
- Progress-Driven Approach: We monitor your child's emotional development through research-backed assessment methods, customizing their treatment to match their needs.
About Milika Center for Therapy & Resilience
At MILIKA, child therapy is more than just changing your little one's behavior—it's about understanding the core of their emotional world. Through our comprehensive approach, we create a safe space where children can express themselves and learn new skills to manage big feelings and foster resilience that will carry them through life.
We understand that seeking support for your child requires trust, and we honor that trust by involving parents in the process every step of the way. In addition to child therapy and specialized resilience training, we also offer parenting support so you can promote your child's mental health even after our work together comes to an end.
The MILIKA difference stems from our whole-child perspective on therapeutic care. While many practices focus solely on symptom management, we believe in equipping children with the emotional tools they need for lifelong well-being and continued personal growth. Using a unique blend of tools like cognitive behavioral therapy, virtual reality therapy, play therapy, trauma-informed interventions, and more, we can help your child flourish.
Meet our top-rated child therapists in Los Angeles, CA
1. Dr. Kanchi Wijesekera, Ph.D.
Dr. Kanchi Wijesekera brings extensive experience in child psychology to her role as founder and clinical director of MILIKA. As former Outpatient Director of Clinical Psychology at UCLA's Pediatric Heart Transplant Center, she provided crucial support to children and families facing life-threatening medical challenges.
A mother of two, Dr. Kanchi combines her clinical expertise with a naturally nurturing approach to help young clients build resilience and emotional well-being. With specialized training from prestigious institutions including CHOC Children's Hospital, Stanford Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, and UCLA, she creates a warm, engaging environment where children can thrive through evidence-based therapeutic techniques.
2. Dr. Venus Mirbod, Psy.D. ("Dr. V")
Dr. Venus Mirbod ("Dr. V") combines her extensive training from UCLA, Boston Children's Hospital and UCSF with a naturally engaging approach to create meaningful connections with young clients. Specializing in early childhood development and play therapy, she creates dynamic therapeutic spaces where children feel safe to express themselves and grow.
Dr. V's expertise in pediatric psychology helps children navigate various challenges, from anxiety and behavioral concerns to medical conditions. With additional specialization in parent support and family dynamics, she partners with families to foster resilience and emotional well-being, empowering children to thrive through evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care.
3. Shilloy Sanchez-Lomeli, LMFT, Ph.D.c
Shilloy Sanchez-Lomeli brings over twenty years of experience to her work with children and families at MILIKA. Drawing on extensive training in trauma-informed care and family systems, she helps young clients and their families build stronger connections and navigate challenges together.
As both a clinician and grandmother, she combines professional expertise with genuine understanding of family dynamics. Shilloy's unique research on technology's impact on child development makes her especially skilled at helping families foster healthy digital habits. Through her warm, integrative approach, she creates a supportive environment where children and families can grow, heal, and thrive together.
How to start child therapy in Los Angeles
Step 1: Connect with us
The first step is simply reaching out to request more information. You can contact us through our website or by phone to schedule a free consultation.
Step 2: Parent consultation
During this initial free phone consultation, we'll discuss your child's needs, concerns, and your family's goals for therapy. This helps us understand your child's unique situation and match them with the right child specialist.
Step 3: Begin your child's journey
Once matched with a therapist, your child will begin their personalized therapy sessions. Together, we'll help your child develop emotional skills, build confidence, and create positive changes that benefit the whole family. To ensure lasting progress, separate and/or conjoint parent sessions with your child will be scheduled, providing a comprehensive support system for the whole family.
Why choose our Los Angeles child therapy services
Evidence-based treatment excellence
We blend proven child therapy approaches with engaging play-based interventions, creating an innovative environment that helps children develop emotional skills and confidence naturally. Our child-centered methods enhance traditional treatment, making emotional growth more accessible and effective for young minds.
Premier child specialist team
Our exceptional therapists bring extensive pediatric experience from leading children's hospitals and institutions, offering specialized expertise in child development, family dynamics, and early intervention. Each clinician offers unique strengths to help your child achieve lasting emotional well-being.
Family-friendly experience
We prioritize your family's comfort and schedule with both in-person and virtual therapy options. From our welcoming offices in Encino and Brentwood, we serve local families while extending our expertise across California through secure online sessions.
Progress-focused approach
Your child's development matters to us. We carefully monitor therapeutic progress and continuously adapt our methods, ensuring your child achieves meaningful growth in emotional regulation and building lasting resilience.
Culturally-informed care
Our multicultural team recognizes that every family brings its own traditions, beliefs, and parenting approaches to therapy. We create an inclusive environment that celebrates your family's unique cultural identity, incorporating your values and customs into your child's therapeutic journey.
Simplified support
Focus entirely on your child's growth while we handle the logistical details. Our reimbursement service, Mentaya, helps you access your out-of-network benefits, manages insurance paperwork, removing administrative stress from your family's therapy experience.
Common childhood challenges we treat
Anxiety & fears
From separation anxiety to school worries, we help children understand and manage their fears through age-appropriate coping strategies. Our specialists address both everyday anxieties and more specific phobias that may be limiting your child's potential.
Depression & mood changes
We support children struggling with persistent sadness, low self-esteem, or changes in sleep and eating patterns. Our approach helps rebuild joy and engagement while strengthening your child's emotional resilience.
Trauma & difficult experiences
Through gentle, trauma-informed care, we help children process and heal from challenging or frightening experiences. Our specialists create a safe space for children to work through past events at their own pace.
Grief & loss
Whether facing the loss of a loved one or adapting to major life changes, we support children through their grieving process. Our therapists help children express and understand their feelings while honoring their unique way of processing loss.
Medical trauma & chronic illness
For children facing illness or medical procedures, we provide specialized support to reduce anxiety and build coping strategies. Our team helps children and families navigate the emotional impact of health challenges.
Behavioral challenges
From defiance to disruptive behaviors, we help children and parents understand the root causes of acting out. Our approach focuses on positive behavioral strategies that promote cooperation and self-control.
Stress management
We teach children healthy ways to handle academic pressure, busy schedules, and life changes. Our strategies help young minds navigate daily stressors while building lasting coping skills.
Anger & emotional regulation
We help children who struggle with emotional outbursts understand their triggers and develop better control through research-back strategies. Our approach emphasizes healthy expression of feelings while building stronger self-regulation skills.
Motivation & focus
We work with children who struggle with task completion or seem disconnected from their goals. Our specialists help identify underlying factors while building confidence and self-motivation.
Family relationship struggles
Whether dealing with sibling rivalry, parent-child conflict, or peer relationships, we strengthen family connections and communication. Our therapists help children develop social skills while supporting parents in fostering positive family dynamics.
When another child therapy provider may be more appropriate
While we're committed to providing exceptional child therapy and mental health care, we understand our practice may not be the best match for every family's situation. We want to ensure your child receives the most appropriate care for their needs, so we recommend exploring other treatment options if:
- Your child needs immediate crisis intervention or emergency psychiatric services
- Your family is located outside of California, as our clinical team is licensed specifically for California practice
- Your child requires intensive treatment programs or partial hospitalization
- You're seeking primary treatment for severe eating disorders or substance use
- You need a custody evaluation, assessment of mental competency, or other services that may be more suited for a forensic psychologist.
- You must use in-network providers (though we do offer support with out-of-network reimbursement)
If you're unsure whether our child therapy services align with your family's needs, we welcome you to schedule a complimentary parent consultation to discuss your situation and goals. We're happy to help guide you toward the most appropriate care options for your child, whether with our practice or another provider.
Start working with a Los Angeles child therapist today
Our dedicated team is passionate about nurturing your child's emotional resilience, physical health, and cognitive development. We're here to support you in navigating life's challenges, including anxiety, stress, behavioral issues, relationship struggles, and other emotional difficulties. Together, we'll work towards healing, building coping skills, and fostering a happy, resilient, and fulfilled life for your child. Connect with us today to take the first step.