Family Counseling for Parenting Issues in San Ramon, CA

If you and your child keep landing in the same standoff, and nothing you try seems to shift it, you’re probably tired and a little unsure of what you’re missing. Parenting was never supposed to feel this heavy every single day. That daily wear is real, and it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Family counseling for parenting issues in San Ramon, CA gives your whole family a place to work through it together.

When parenting stops feeling like something you can figure out alone

Most parents arrive here after trying everything they can think of. The consequences, the calm talks, the new routines. And still the tension keeps returning.

Sometimes the struggle is one child who pushes back on every limit. Sometimes it’s two parents who can’t agree on how to respond. Often it’s both, tangled together until no one feels heard.

At Treehouse Family Counseling Services in San Ramon, we work with the whole picture. Not just the behavior you see, but the feelings and patterns underneath it.

What family counseling actually looks like

We meet you where you are. That means starting with warmth and real curiosity about what’s happening at home, without judgment about how it got this way.

In the first session, we listen. We gather what you’re seeing, answer your questions, and begin to map out what change could look like for your family. When children are part of the work, we let them lead early on, so trust has room to build.

By the second and third sessions, the work goes deeper. We look at the patterns driving the conflict and start building skills that help everyone respond differently. Many parents come to us when everyday routines start to feel like constant battles, and our family counseling gives them a structured way to work through those conflicts together.

A treatment team, not a single appointment

One thing sets us apart. A family here may work with two or three therapists at once, each focused on a different part of the family system.

One clinician might support you as a parent. Another might do individual play therapy with your child. A third might guide the whole family together. They stay in sync, so no one is working in isolation.

That coordinated approach means the pieces fit. What your child learns in play therapy connects to what you’re building in parent sessions.

Common situations we help with

Parenting challenges rarely look the same from one family to the next. Some of what brings parents in includes:

• Constant power struggles over rules, homework, or screens
• Big emotional reactions that feel out of proportion
• Parents who disagree about discipline and boundaries
• A child who has been through something hard and is showing it at home
• Routines that have turned into daily conflict

When disagreements about discipline or boundaries escalate repeatedly, family therapy for high conflict parents in San Ramon CA can help both adults find calmer, more united ways to respond.

Parents who are raising children across two households often find that co-parenting therapy in San Ramon CA helps them stay consistent and reduce tension between homes.

Why the stress at home matters more than it seems

Kids feel the strain even when the adults think they’re hiding it. Ongoing parenting struggles rarely stay between the adults, and understanding how family stress affecting children plays out can motivate parents to seek support sooner.

The good news is that families change. Most of what we see is real relief in daily life. Emotions become less intense, coping skills grow, and the house starts to feel calmer.

The people you’ll work with

Our practice is led by Mary Ruth Cross, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 30 years of experience and a deep belief in the power of play. She works closely with a team of skilled clinicians.

Jotika Jagasia brings over a decade of experience and a culturally sensitive, inclusive approach for families, women, and children. Faith Ho specializes in helping children ages 6 to 12 with anxiety and emotional regulation, and she partners with parents throughout the process. Faith is bilingual in Mandarin and English.

Together, they make the collaborative team model possible for the families we serve across the East Bay.

Getting started

Sessions run 50 minutes and usually happen once a week. Parent meetings take place every four to six weeks, so you stay involved in your child’s progress.

Booking starts with a call to our office at 925-820-8447. You’ll speak with our Intake Coordinator, Christine Holmberg, LMFT, who will match you with a therapist and schedule your first session promptly. If a therapist isn’t available right away, we return calls within 24 hours.

We’re private pay only and do not bill insurance. On request, we provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. At least one clinician offers a free consultation call.

Frequently asked questions

How soon can we get an appointment? Usually quite quickly. After you speak with our Intake Coordinator, a therapist is assigned and your first session is scheduled promptly. If no one is available when you call, we return calls within 24 hours.

Do you take insurance? No, we’re private pay only. We can supply a superbill on request, which you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

Will my child and I be in the same sessions? Sometimes, and sometimes not. Many families work with more than one therapist, so your child may have individual play therapy while you have your own parent sessions. The team coordinates so everything connects.

How long does family counseling take? It depends on your family and what you’re working through. Sessions are weekly and 50 minutes, with parent meetings every four to six weeks. Your therapist will talk with you about a realistic timeline as the work unfolds.

What if we’re in crisis right now? In case of an emergency, please reach out to one of the following resources: 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline; SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357); Crisis Support Services of Alameda County 1-800-309-2131; Contra Costa County Crisis Center (925) 939-1916.