Kelly Kratzer

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 10 years of experience. I specialize in working with: children, teens, and families to address a variety of mental health challenges. My areas of expertise include helping clients overcome: Autism and Neurodivergent Children and Teens, Learning Disabilities, School Challenges, Social and Emotional Development, Parents of Children/Teens with Autism, Behavioral Support and Planning, Siblings of family members with Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Peer Relationships. I am committed to creating a non-judgmental, safe environment in which my patients can feel comfortable and supported as we work together in therapy. I understand that each client is unique and has their own specific needs and expectations, so I tailor my treatment approach to meet their individual goals.

My approach

I use various techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, social skills curriculum and practice, communication curriculum, self-regulation activities, play therapy, and therapeutic games. I tailor my therapy to the unique challenges facing each individual.

My focus

I specialize in assisting children, teens, and parents in overcoming and finding relief from anxiety, and ADHD symptoms, improving upon communication and socialization skills for youth, parenting challenges, sibling relationships, peer relationships, family systems, and communication. I am also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 15 years of experience in developing and reviewing behavior intervention plans for problematic and challenging behaviors in the home and the community and creating systems to promote desired outcomes. Additionally, I work with teenagers to learn how to manage their emotions and impulses, leading to better self-regulation. In therapy, we can address issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, self-harm, academic struggles, adjustment difficulties, behavioral issues, communication issues, and bullying. My goal is to help children and teens build resilience and cope with the challenges they may be facing. Working with parents in therapy can be a valuable tool to help address a variety of parenting issues. These issues may include difficulties with discipline, communication, or establishing healthy boundaries with their children. Therapy can allow parents to explore their parenting style and identify areas where they may need to make changes. It can also help parents better understand their children's needs and find effective ways to meet those needs.

My communication style

My goal is to provide a safe, nonjudgmental environment where you can process and create meaningful change. I believe, that while I have a specific set of skills, knowledge, and experiences, the patient is also a vital partner in this work. I welcome feedback and strive to incorporate suggestions. I strive to use language that is accessible to all and welcome questions and consider using all learning styles or preferred learning styles in sessions.

My journey to mental healthcare

Many of my early experiences with employment and internships were with youth and families. For example, I was a youth counselor back East for a summer and coached volleyball with my collegiate coach. During grad school, I was a research assistant at UCLA for youths with traumatic brain injuries and epilepsy, where I honed my assessment skills, as well as working in the Pepperdine Disability Services Office, where I was able to provide learning support to young adults on campus. These experiences led me to focus on pediatrics and how to support siblings and parents.

My goals for you

My approach to goal setting is assessment and patient-informed. I look at goals for incremental milestones as well as possible end-goal targets that can be reevaluated as needed.

My first session with you

Depending on the age of the client, I might spend time building rapport with a younger client that would involve games and play. There may be a more formal assessment for a parent or teen to complete in addition to building rapport. Ultimately, the first session is to gather information, answer any questions the client has, and make everyone feel at ease.