You're looking for someone you can trust with your child.
Dr. Lindsay O’Shea
Child, teen, and parent therapy to help your family feel calmer and more connected again.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PhD) with 10+ years helping kids, teens, and parents.
Practical, relational therapy with tools and scripts you can use between sessions.
Options like walk-and-talk sessions and a friendly therapy dog for to help anxious or skeptical kids feel more comfortable.
In-person in Cardiff-By-The-Sea (Encinitas), San Diego, and virtual across CA, CO, and UT.
No pressure. This is just a first step to share what’s going on and see if this feels like the right fit.
Meet Dr. Lindsay O’Shea - Child, Teen, & Parent Psychologist
Most parents who find me are exhausted from handling constant meltdowns, big feelings, school issues, or shutdowns on their own. You’ve tried different strategies, read the books, maybe even started therapy before - and you’re still worried and worn down.
You want someone who understands kids and teens and actively includes you as the parent so you’re not left out of the process. Together, we will help your child feel more regulated while you feel clearer, more confident, and less alone.
I work with children (ages 6+), tweens, teens, and their parents who are dealing with things like:
Anxiety and constant worry
ADHD, focus, and impulsivity challenges
Big feelings, emotional outbursts, and meltdowns
School stress, avoidance, and homework battles
Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes
Ongoing parent-child conflict
Not sure if what you’re seeing is “serious enough”?
That’s exactly what we can sort out together on your consult call.
How We’ll Get Started Together
Free 20-minute parent consultation. You share what you’re seeing; I listen, ask questions, and help you make sense of it - you do not need to have it all figured out.
Choose the right structure. Together we decide whether child/teen sessions, parent sessions, or a combination makes the most sense.
Practical support every week. You’ll get clear feedback and specific strategies and scripts to try at home between sessions.
If we decide I’m not the right fit, I’ll share trusted referrals so you’re not left hanging without support.
My Background
I’m a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PhD) with specialized training in child, teen, parent, and family therapy - especially anxiety, ADHD, emotional regulation, and complex family dynamics.
My work is grounded in research, but always tailored to real families with busy schedules, sibling stress, and school pressure.
Behind the scenes, I draw from attachment-based work, play therapy, CBT, DBT-informed tools, and psychodynamic therapy - all translated into plain language and practical steps for you and your family.
Learn more about how I work with clients here.
Making Therapy Easier for Kids Who Hate the Idea of Therapy
Many kids and teens are nervous or outright refuse therapy at first. A quick phone call before the first session can make a huge difference - they realize that I’m relatable, easy to talk to, and nothing like what they imagined therapy would be.
I also offer:
Dr. Lindsay + Arlo
Therapy Dog
Meet Arlo - my Bernedoodle who can join sessions to help anxious kids relax and open up.
Walk-and-Talk Sessions
We walk the nearby Cardiff Rail Trail instead of sitting in an office, which helps kids who shut down in traditional settings.
Mention it during your consult if either option feels right for your child.
For parents who feel overwhelmed, worried, and worn thin
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure what to do next, that makes sense. Parenting a struggling child or teen is incredibly hard - especially when nothing you try seems to work for long.
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need the right support.
Next step today: Schedule your free 20‑minute parent consultation.
You share what’s going on; I’ll listen, ask thoughtful questions, and offer initial ideas. You’ll leave our call with more clarity and options.
If I’m not the right therapist for your family, I’ll provide trusted referrals so you’re not left without support.
This may be the right fit if…
Your child is anxious, emotionally reactive, melting down at home, or struggling at school.
Your teen is shut down or has pulled away, and nothing you try seems to reach them.
You want a therapist who actively partners with you as the parent.
You want practical tools and scripts for real-life moments, not just a place for your child or teen to talk once a week.
Your child would do best in a relaxed setting with a relatable adult, a therapy dog, or with walk-and-talk sessions instead of a stiff office.
You’re tired of feeling like you’re failing despite trying your best.
Click below to schedule your free 20‑minute parent consultation. I’ll respond personally with next steps and available times.
A Note for Parents About Your Consult Call
Most parents who reach out have already tried a lot - read the books, adjusted their approach, maybe even worked with another therapist - and they're still exhausted.
Your consultation call isn’t a sales pitch; it’s a conversation. You share what's going on, I listen, and together we decide whether working together feels like a good fit - or I’ll point you toward trusted referrals.
Parents often tell me they feel calmer and more hopeful after this first conversation, even before starting therapy.
Questions You Might Have
If your question isn’t answered here, you’re always welcome to book a free parent consultation - no question is too big or too small, and we’ll figure out together what your child needs.
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I specialize in working with anxious, emotionally reactive, or shut‑down kids and teens, and I actively include parents in the process instead of keeping you in the dark. Sessions are practical and relational, so your child feels understood while you walk away with clear tools and scripts to use at home.
I also offer options like walk‑and‑talk sessions and a therapy‑dog‑in‑training for kids who feel uncomfortable in a traditional office. Parents often tell me they finally feel like someone “gets” their child and their family, not just the diagnosis.
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I work with children ages 6 and up, tweens, teens, and their parents. Many families come to me for support with transitions in elementary school, middle school, and high school when anxiety, ADHD, school stress, or big feelings start to feel unmanageable.
If you’re unsure whether your child is the right age for therapy, we can talk it through on a free parent consultation call.
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Some signs that therapy could help include frequent meltdowns, intense worry, trouble focusing, school refusal, big emotional swings, or withdrawing from friends and family. You might notice more conflict at home, constant homework battles, difficulty sleeping, or your child saying things like “I hate myself” or “What’s the point?”.
You don’t need to be sure it’s “serious enough” to reach out; part of my job is helping you understand what’s going on and what level of support makes sense right now.
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A sudden shift - like becoming more anxious, irritable, angry, withdrawn, perfectionistic, or shut down - is usually a sign that something underneath needs attention.
Sometimes this shows up as more arguments at home, changes in grades, sleep or appetite, or losing interest in activities they used to enjoy. It doesn’t always mean there’s a crisis, but it does mean your child is struggling and could benefit from extra support.
In our parent consultation, we’ll talk through what you’re seeing and whether therapy, parent coaching, or another resource is the best next step.
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This is extremely common, especially with anxious or skeptical kids and teens. I make the first sessions as low‑pressure and relational as possible, focusing on building trust rather than diving straight into “hard work.”
Options like having my therapy‑dog‑in‑training, Arlo, in the room or doing walk‑and‑talk sessions on the Cardiff Rail Trail can help therapy feel more relaxed and natural.
Before your child ever comes in, we’ll talk about how to introduce therapy in a way that feels safe, respectful, and aligned with your values.
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I work with parents as active partners, not as bystanders. That can look like dedicated parent sessions, brief check‑ins, or parent coaching to give you specific strategies, language, and scripts for real‑life moments at home.
When parents feel more confident and supported, kids and teens usually feel safer and more regulated too. Together, we’ll decide how to balance child/teen sessions and parent sessions so your whole family benefits.
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I use a evidence-based, practical approaches that helps children and teens build emotional regulation skills, confidence, and lasting coping strategies.
I combine attachment‑based, play, CBT, DBT‑informed, and psychodynamic approaches, but I always start with what will feel most comfortable and useful for your child and family. Each session is designed to feel safe and collaborative, and to give you at least one clear, practical takeaway you can use at home or school between appointments.
Learn more about how I work here.
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My office is in Cardiff‑By‑The‑Sea (Encinitas), San Diego, and I offer in‑person sessions for children, teens, and parents in the local area. I also provide secure, virtual therapy and parent sessions for families throughout California, Colorado, and Utah.
During your parent consultation, we can talk about whether in‑person, online, or a mix of both would be the best fit for your child and your schedule.
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A free 20‑minute parent consultation is a no‑pressure first step where you share what you’re seeing at home and at school, and I help you make sense of it. I’ll ask thoughtful questions, offer initial impressions, and walk you through options for next steps - whether that’s therapy with me, parent coaching, or a different resource.
This call is not a sales pitch; it’s a chance for you to feel heard, get clarity, and decide whether working together feels like a good fit. If I’m not the right therapist for your family, I’ll provide trusted referrals so you’re not left without support.