mental health

Trauma is defined as any type of distressing event or experience that can have an impact on a young person’s ability to cope and function.  Trauma can affect the innerworkings of a child’s brain. For example, research indicates that traumatic stress…

Emotional intelligence (EI) is described as the “capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.” Dance therapy, also known as dance/ movement therapy (DMT), emerged in the 1940s as early…

Adventure therapy is a form of psychotherapy aims to “improve an individual’s physical, social, spiritual, and psychological well-being through the healing power of the wilderness with evidence-based, experiential therapy, recreational activities, and wilderness expeditions.” It is derived from the principals…

All forms of music, according to Psychology Today, “may have therapeutic effects, although music from one’s own culture may be most effective. In Chinese medical theory, the five internal organ and meridian systems are believed to have corresponding musical tones,…

Sensory integration (SI), also referred to as Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI), is a framework conceptualized by Dr. A. Jean Ayers, Ph.D. in the 1970s, who “was guided by the principle that ‘intersensory integration is foundational to function,’” while dysfunction in…

In the dynamic landscape of mental health support across Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, and Thousand Oaks, Engage Therapy is pioneering the integration of physical activity into therapeutic practices. Amid the stress and unpredictability of modern life, identifying effective strategies for…

The journey through young adulthood in the diverse communities of Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, and Thousand Oaks is filled with unique challenges and opportunities. Amidst the pressures of education, career decisions, and personal relationships, young adults often find themselves navigating…

Anxiety is defined as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” It is the body’s natural response to stress and will manifest differently in everyone. While fleeting anxiety is…

Erik Erikson, an expert in human growth and development, defines play as a “situation in which a child can work through experiences by creating model situations and master reality through planning and experimentation.” Play is a natural part of childhood…

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”  Resilient children can bounce back…