Lauren provides Cognitive Leap with insight surrounding all things related to child and adolescent mental health. She has a private practice in the Los Angeles area that integrates play therapy and mindfulness using a range of insight-oriented and evidence-based techniques. Lauren is one of the key persons behind the design of Cognitive Leap’s treatment programs for children using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Lauren earned her MSW from the University of California, Los Angeles and went on to become a certified Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (ECMHS) as well as a Registered Play Therapist. She has created her own EMDR tools, written a children’s book about emotional regulation called “Be Mindful of Monsters,” runs the popular blog CreativePlayTherapist.com, and also serves on the Executive Board for the California Association for Play Therapy.

Lauren Himes is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who works with children, teens, adults, and families. She supports clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, neurodiversity, life transitions, and relationship challenges. Her approach integrates person-centered therapy with mindfulness-based modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), combining practical tools with compassionate care and deep emotional understanding.

Lauren believes that meaningful growth and transformation can occur within the safety, genuine care, and mindful presence of a therapeutic relationship. She values compassionate understanding, curiosity, openness, authenticity, and cultural awareness in her work. Her goal is to create a supportive and empowering space where clients can navigate life’s challenges while staying grounded in their values and moving toward a more meaningful life.

Wendy is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Touro University Worldwide. She has over six years of experience working with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in an applied behavior analysis setting, as well as supporting families through parent training and collaborative care.

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Wendy works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She specializes in supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, and complex PTSD, as well as ADHD and ASD. Her approach is integrative, collaborative, and client-centered, with a strong emphasis on creating a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered.

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Wendy believes that each person is the expert of their own life and that healing happens through connection, compassion, and building on individual strengths. She works from a trauma-informed lens and draws from evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and other tailored approaches based on each client’s needs and goals.

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Outside of her work, Wendy enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Maggie Tsai is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She supports individuals navigating life transitions, recognizing that these periods can feel overwhelming and may disrupt one’s sense of identity and daily functioning. During such times, clients may experience anxiety, stress, fear, anger, grief, low self-worth, or depression. Maggie provides a supportive space where clients do not have to face these challenges alone.

She understands that while the brain is highly adaptive, unprocessed experiences—such as childhood trauma, family-of-origin dynamics, and attachment wounds—can accumulate and shape thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Drawing from both her professional training and lived experience, Maggie works collaboratively with clients to foster meaningful processing, deeper insight, and emotional healing.

Maggie integrates talk therapy with several core modalities, including Adlerian Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). She is also credentialed in Brainspotting, a trauma-focused approach that supports deeper processing. When working with younger clients, she incorporates Play Therapy and Art Therapy to encourage developmentally appropriate expression and emotional regulation.

She believes that effective counseling is grounded in a therapist’s ability to listen deeply and cultivate a safe, trusting relationship. Maggie’s style is warm, compassionate, and genuine. As an Asian American therapist, she brings a culturally responsive and multicultural perspective to her work. She offers counseling in both English and Mandarin Chinese, through in-person and online sessions.