Counseling and Psychotherapy in Los Altos, CA

Therapeutic Services

Court-Involved Therapy

I specialize in court-involved therapy, which may be defined as any mental health professional providing psychotherapeutic treatment to an individual, parent, child, couple, co-parents, or family who is at any time during treatment involved in the legal system. These cases tend to be complex in that they include issues and dynamics requiring special consideration during treatment. Improper handling of Court-involved cases can increase family conflict and exacerbate trauma and distress in children, parents, and in the extended family, while proper treatment can greatly enhance overall family functioning and well-being.

I am committed to the collaborative process in treating Court-involved families, working closely with other professionals to fully support you (and your loved ones) throughout.

Family Therapy

Family therapy works with families and couples in close relationships to help promote change and healthy development. A central focus of family therapy is the belief that treating a family system as a whole is of great benefit. In treating children, for example, I feel it is of critical importance to involve parents so that improvements made during the child’s therapy can be maintained in all areas of their lives.

Individual Adult Therapy

Individual counseling addresses a variety of problems including family conflict, separation/divorce, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, low self-esteem, career challenges, and life transitions. I have extensive training and experience in working with all forms of domestic violence, the child custody evaluation process, and PTSD.

Child and Adolescent Therapy

Individual therapy is often necessary for children experiencing emotional and/or behavioral problems. It is helpful for children to have a neutral person independent from their family to share their experiences with in confidence, build effective coping skills, and resolve past trauma. Play therapy is my treatment of choice, as research supports the effectiveness of play therapy in treating children. Using sand tray play, art, clay, and games, I create a safe environment allowing healing to occur on many levels following a child’s natural tendency towards health.

Sometimes it is necessary to repair a parent-child relationship. I can work with the whole family, or just a parent-child, to repair the relationship(s) and return a family to harmony.

Co-Parenting Counseling

Co-parenting counseling assists parents to effectively meet their children’s needs and keep the children out of the middle in “high-conflict” divorce. I help you and your co-parent improve communication skills and your ability to work together. I assist families before they have separated, typically in mediation crafting child-centered parenting plans, as well as post-separation/divorce.

Specialty Services

Court-Ordered Child, Individual, and Family Therapy (including Court-ordered family therapy involving Parent Child Contact Problems, specifically cases in which a child resists and/or refuses to have contact with a parent post-divorce/separation)
Child Custody Evaluations (including relocations, child physical/sexual abuse, and domestic violence)
Brief Focused Assessments
Emergency Screenings
Mediation (including Recommending Mediation)
Collaborative Divorce
Co-parenting Counseling
Parallel Parenting Counseling
Parenting Consultation/Parent Coaching
Parenting Coordination
Divorce Coaching Services/Strategic Consultation to Parents involved in family law litigation
Trauma-informed Treatment
Play and Art Therapy for Children
Trial Support Consultation for Attorneys
Consultation for Parents involved in Litigation
Provide services referred by Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office Victims of Crime
Mental Health Diversion services in criminal law matters

"Ms. Burgess is in an exceptional league of her own. She is not only therapist but attorney, and if you are in need of someone who understands the extremely challenging path of litigation and custody through family courts, she is by far and above the most qualified therapist I have ever met."
– Divorced Mother of Two