Parent Coaching in Los Angeles
Parent coaching in Los Angeles helping parents support anxious children and teens. SPACE-certified. Learn strategies that actually work. Providing telehealth in CA, FL, UT.
You Might Be Here Because...
You've tried everything to help your anxious child, and nothing seems to work
Your child's struggles are affecting the whole family
You're exhausted from walking on eggshells
You want to help but worry you're making things worse
Your child refuses to go to therapy, but you know they need support
You're ready to learn new strategies that actually work
Parenting a struggling child is hard. And sometimes, the most powerful changes start with you.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Meet Brooke Sundin, LMFT
Hi, I'm Brooke. I'm the owner and founder of Light Minds Child and Family Therapy, and I've spent over ten years working with children, teens, and their parents.
If you're feeling stuck, watching your child struggle and not knowing how to help, I want you to know something: you have more power to create change than you realize. When you shift how you respond to your child's anxiety, your child shifts too. Parent coaching gives you the tools to become the support your child needs, and to feel confident doing it.
I'm certified in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an evidence-based program developed at the Yale Child Study Center. SPACE has been shown to reduce child anxiety and OCD even when the child never sets foot in therapy. It works because it focuses on what you can control: your own responses.
CREDENTIALS & TRAINING
License Number: California #124192
Additional Licenses: TPMF1613 (Florida), 14231277-3902 (Utah)
Education: MS Marriage and Family Therapy, California State University, Long Beach
Certifications: SPACE (Yale Child Study Center), ACT (Institute for Better Health)
Years in Practice: 10+
Modalities Used: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Play Therapy, SPACE, and more
My approach to parent coaching
I know that reaching out for parent coaching takes courage. You might be wondering if you're "failing" as a parent because you need help, and I want to be clear: you're not. The fact that you're here means you're paying attention and willing to try something new. That already puts you ahead.
My job isn't to tell you what you're doing wrong. It's to help you see the patterns that are keeping things stuck and give you a different way forward. Sometimes that means looking at how you respond when your child melts down at homework time, or what happens when anxiety takes over the morning routine. We figure it out together.
I also believe that parent coaching for anxiety doesn’t need to feel heavy all the time. We'll tackle hard stuff, but there's room for humor and lightness too. When things start clicking at home, you'll feel it.
What is SPACE?
I'm certified in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an evidence-based program developed at Yale. Research shows it's as effective as CBT for children, even when the child doesn't participate in treatment.
How It Works
Instead of focusing on changing your child directly, SPACE focuses on reducing "accommodations" — the things you do to help your child avoid anxiety. Accommodations come from a place of love, but they often keep anxiety stuck. SPACE teaches you how to be supportive without accommodating, which helps your child build real confidence.
Who It's For
Parent coaching is ideal when:
Your child refuses therapy or isn't ready
You want to complement your child's individual therapy
You're dealing with anxiety, OCD, or avoidance behaviors
You want concrete strategies you can use at home
Parent Coaching SpecialtiesAreas I Can Help With
Anxious Children & Teens
Your child asks for reassurance ten times before bed. They need you to check, promise, or stay close before they can do anything. I'll help you learn to respond in ways that build your child's confidence instead of keeping the anxiety cycle going. If you're seeing signs of social anxiety in your child, that's something we can work on together too.
OCD & Rituals
You've been washing their clothes a certain way, avoiding certain words, or following a routine that keeps getting longer. These accommodations come from love, but they keep OCD in charge. I use SPACE to help you step out of the cycle without your child feeling abandoned. If you're not sure where to start, I've written about how to explain OCD to your child.
School Avoidance
The morning battles, the crying, the "I feel sick" that shows up every weekday. I help you set supportive limits while addressing what's driving the avoidance, so your child can get back to school and you can stop dreading the alarm.
Oppositional Behavior
The arguing, the refusal, the "you can't make me." I help you stay calm and consistent when every instinct says to either give in or escalate. We find the strategies that actually reduce conflict in your household.
Emotional Dysregulation
Meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere, anger that's bigger than the situation, tears that won't stop. I help you learn to stay regulated yourself (harder than it sounds) and respond in ways that help your child come back down.
Sibling Conflict
The constant fighting, the tattling, the "they're looking at me." I help you set up structures and responses that reduce the battles and rebuild connection between siblings.
Co-parenting Challenges
Different households, different rules, and a child caught in the middle. I help you find a consistent approach that works across both homes and keeps your child's needs front and center.
Setting Boundaries
Saying no without the guilt spiral. Holding a limit when your child cries. Following through even when it's hard. I help you build the confidence to set boundaries with compassion and actually stick to them.
Building Connection
When things have been tense, reconnecting with your child can feel awkward or forced. I help you find small, genuine ways to rebuild closeness and remind your child (and yourself) that the relationship is still there underneath the hard stuff.
the ProcessWhat PaRent Coaching Looks Like
We Start with Your Story
I want to understand what's happening at home: the patterns, the triggers, what you've already tried. This helps me tailor the approach to your specific situation.
I Teach You the Framework
Whether we're using SPACE or other evidence-based strategies, you'll learn the 'why' behind the techniques so you can adapt them as situations change.
We Create a Plan Together
You'll leave each session with specific strategies to try at home. We'll troubleshoot what's working and what isn't.
what sets us apartwhy choose Light Minds?
SPACE-Certified
I'm trained in SPACE therapy through the Yale Child Study Center, one of the most respected programs for parent-led treatment of child and adolescent anxiety. Research shows SPACE is as effective as CBT for reducing anxiety, even when the child doesn't participate. If you're noticing signs of anxiety in your child or teen, this program gives you concrete tools to help before they're ready for therapy on their own.
Real-World Strategies
I don't teach theory and hope for the best. Every session gives you something to use that night: what to say when your child begs to skip school, how to respond when bedtime turns into a two-hour anxiety spiral, how to hold a boundary without the guilt taking over. For parents dealing with OCD rituals specifically, I've written about supporting your child with OCD at home.
Works With or Without Your Child in Therapy
Parent coaching can run alongside your child's individual therapy to amplify progress, or it can be the primary intervention when your child refuses to go or isn't ready. Many families I work with start here. You change how you respond, and your child starts to shift too. It works because anxiety is a family pattern, not just a child's problem.
Kind wordsWhat Parents say
★★★★★
“Brooke is an exceptional clinician for children, teens, women, and for parent coaching. I highly recommend her to any family seeking support during a vulnerable or challenging time.”
— J.L.★★★★★
“Brooke is such a kind, knowledgeable, and compassionate individual. She is dedicated to supporting her clients through all seasons of life, focuses on building rapport, and provides tools along the way to help her clientele meet their goals.“
— D.★★★★★
“Brooke's presence radiates kindness. As her colleague I was struck by the warm and encouraging approach with her clients. She has deep expertise supporting children and families, selecting effective interventions while offering a gentle presence that helps even the most challenging of circumstances.”
— L.L.YouR Questions, AnsweredFrequently Asked Questions
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Parent coaching focuses on teaching you specific strategies and skills, without your child present. Family therapy involves the whole family in sessions together. Both can be effective depending on your situation.
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No, that's one of the benefits of parent coaching. SPACE in particular is designed to work even when your child isn't in therapy. Your changes create ripple effects.
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Books give general advice. Parent coaching gives you personalized strategies for your specific child, plus ongoing support as you implement them. I'm your partner in this, not just an information source.
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Absolutely. In fact, it often makes therapy more effective. I frequently work with parents while their child is in teen therapy or child therapy — whether with me or another therapist.
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Light Minds is an out-of-network provider. I provide superbills you can submit to your PPO for potential reimbursement. I also offer a limited number of sliding scale slots.
Areas We Serve
Beverly Hills • Westwood • Venice • Pacific Palisades • West LA • Playa Vista
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
If you're feeling stuck and ready to try something different, I'd love to help. Parent coaching gives you real tools you can start using right away, and the confidence to know you're doing right by your child.