Dr. Emily Keller

12/13/2025

Sudden onset OCD symptoms in a child?

Go to a pediatrican first.

Talk to them about PANS/PANDAS.

Immediate treatment helps.

Play therapy also helps. Play therapy offers a developmentally appropriate way for children to lean into their experience and learn that they can tolerate it.

Play therapy and ERP can be combined to deliver the gold standard of care.

When a child suddenly begins to have new thoughts and unusual behaviors, it can be alarming to parents and family members. If the changes occur suddenly and include unwanted recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive behaviors (compulsions), and/or

12/11/2025

We don't need to teach children to relax away negative feelings. What helps is teaching them to name them, acknowledge them, and that they can tolerate them.

The younger they are, the more reliant they are on the parent-child relationship to learn these things.

12/09/2025

“Let people know how you feel.”

Sometimes, it’s easier for children to share their feelings through play and art. Play therapists help children express their feelings in their natural language: play.

12/06/2025

Speaks English, Cantonese 廣東話, and Mandarin 國語

Meet Mon Wong, an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT #149584) and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC #17483), supervised by Dr. Emily Keller, LPCC #10821, at Wonderment Family Therapy.

"My background as a high school teacher gives me a unique perspective on emotional and social development in both kids and teens."

Mon has training in play therapy, NLP, EMDR, brainspotting, and more. She works with children, couples, and individuals.

Mon is available:
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in-person in Livermore, CA and online via telehealth throughout California.

Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation with Mon: https://wondermentfamilytherapy.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/2/treatment/7

12/06/2025

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is our calm presence when they’re having a hard time regulating their emotions.

In these moments, the goal isn’t to help them “feel happy” again.
It’s to stay regulated ourselves, reflect their feelings with neutral acceptance, and send the message:
“It’s OK to feel what you’re feeling. I’m here with you.”

When we do this, we communicate trust — trust that the feeling is here for a reason, and trust that their bodies, in connection with us, have what they need to return to regulation.

One of the quickest ways to increase a child’s distress is to withdraw relational connection at the moment they need it most.

The younger the child, the more they rely on us to regulate.
But this is also true for older children and teens, especially during challenging seasons.
Emotional development isn’t linear — and connection remains the foundation.

Read More:

Emotions are part of being human, and kids feel big ones from the very start. But unless we help them understand what those feelings are and what to do with them, emotions can become overwhelming—for both children and parents.

11/14/2025

Today, I am presenting on spiritual and religious themes that emerge in play therapy. We'll be increasing our self-awareness and multicultural humility related to this topic.

10/30/2025

My view as I sit in the waiting room motivating myself to clean the playroom after group play therapy.

10/30/2025

My view as I sit in the waiting room staring down the play room I have to clean in the next 15 minutes.

10/28/2025

This is a great episode for parents.

I will elaborate in my newsletter.

Hidden Brain · Episode

09/04/2025

If we want to raise children with the capacity to explore different and sometimes conflicting thoughts so they can progress their thinking, we need to help them develop emotional regulation.

A sign of emotional immaturity is needing others to think similarly/ having a low tolerance for new ideas.

We simply won't think beyond our emotional regulation skills.

08/30/2025

🌿 Not every child needs play therapy right away.⁠
Sometimes, the best way to support your child is by starting with you.⁠
⁠
In my practice, I’ve learned that when kids are stuck in therapy, it’s often because the family system is overwhelmed or misaligned.⁠
⁠
👂 Maybe the adults aren’t on the same page.⁠
🤐 Maybe there’s unspoken conflict between co-parents.⁠
👵 Maybe caregivers like grandparents or sitters are sending mixed messages.⁠
⁠
Children feel all of that. Even when no one’s talking about it.⁠
⁠
This week on the blog, I’m sharing some of the reasons I gently recommend family therapy, parent support, or couples work before starting play therapy—and why that leads to better outcomes in the long run.⁠
⁠
✨ You don’t have to figure it out alone. Let’s find the right first step together.⁠
⁠
🧠 Read the full post at the link in bio.⁠

08/30/2025

🌿 Not every child needs play therapy right away.
Sometimes, the best way to support your child is by starting with you.

In my practice, I’ve learned that when kids are stuck in therapy, it may be because something is off in the family system.

👂 Maybe the adults aren’t on the same page.
🤐 Maybe there’s unspoken conflict between co-parents.
👵 Maybe caregivers like grandparents or sitters are sending mixed messages.

Children feel all of that. Even when no one’s talking about it.

This week on the blog, I’m sharing some of the reasons I gently recommend family therapy, parent support, or couples work before starting play therapy—and why that leads to better outcomes in the long run.

✨ You don’t have to figure it out alone. Let’s find the right first step together.

🧠 Read the full post at the link in bio.