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Monday 9am - 1pm Tuesday 9am - 1pm Thursday 9am - 1pm Friday 9am - 1pm

Child Psychologist Dr. Erin Arsala

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United States
Ripon, CA
Child Psychologist Dr. Erin Arsala

As a child psychologist, Dr. Erin specializes in treating anxiety, mood, and behavior challenges in children and teens.

She provides effective parenting strategies to address difficult behaviors and coping skills for navigating childhood and adolescence.

01/30/2026

What Is Seasonal Depression? How Do I Help My Child with the "Winter Blues?"

As the days are now shorter and colder, it’s common for kids and teens to feel more tired, irritable, or unmotivated. For some, these changes go beyond the “winter blues” and may be signs of seasonal depression (also called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD).

You might notice:
- Low mood or increased irritability
- Less interest in activities they usually enjoy
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Trouble concentrating or keeping up at school
- Wanting to withdraw from family or friends

How parents can help:

- Increase light exposure: Open curtains, spend time outdoors, or consider light therapy.
- Keep routines steady: Regular sleep, meals, and activity support emotional health.
- Encourage movement: Even gentle daily exercise can boost mood.
- Check in emotionally: Ask how they’re feeling and listen without rushing to fix it.

If low mood lasts weeks or starts to interfere with daily life, therapy can help your child build coping skills and feel like themselves again—no matter the season.

11/12/2025

How Do I Help My Child with Their Anxiety?

All kids feel worried sometimes—but when anxiety starts to interfere with school, friendships, or sleep, it’s time to do something.

Here’s how loving adults can help:

Validate their feelings with something like, “This must feel really hard." Validation builds trust and helps kids feel understood. We've all been told: “Don’t worry.” It rarely helps.

Model calm coping: Kids watch how you handle stress. Take a deep breath together or go for a short walk—show them calm. They notice.

Don't avoid the Stressor (usually): Most of the time, avoiding the trigger can make anxiety stronger. If anxiety is causing distress or avoidance, a child therapist can teach coping tools and help your child feel more confident and in control.

Keep routines steady: Predictability lowers anxiety. Stick with regular sleep, meals, and after-school rhythms.

With patience and consistency, kids can learn to manage anxiety—and even grow stronger because of it.

10/02/2025

How Do I Handle Parental Burnout?

Parenting is rewarding... and totally exhausting. Parental burnout happens when the daily demands of parenting feel overwhelming and never-ending. If you’re running on empty, you’re not alone.

Signs of burnout may include:

- Constant fatigue, even after resting
- Irritability or impatience with your child
- Feeling detached or guilty
- Losing joy in parenting

What helps?

1. Prioritize self-care: Small breaks matter. Even 10 minutes of quiet or 2 minutes alone can help you reset.
2. Ask for support: Lean on family, friends, or other parents. You don’t have to do it all alone.
3. Set realistic expectations: Perfect parenting doesn’t exist. Focus on connection over perfection.
4. Seek professional support: Talking to a therapist can give you space to recharge and develop new strategies.

Remember: taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential. A rested, supported parent is better equipped to nurture their child.

If burnout feels overwhelming, reach out for help. You deserve support, too.

09/12/2025

What are early signs of Autism / ASD in toddlers?

Children have their own timelines for development. However, some differences in developing certain skills may be early signs of autism. Noticing them early can help kids get the support they need to thrive.

When looking at a two-year-old, a parent/caregiver can expect them to…

Make good eye contact
Respond to their name
Wave, point, and show toys to adults they trust
Continue using their first several words
Play with a variety of objects and use them in different ways
Show only mild distress and recover quickly with changes in routine or certain sounds

Delays in a few of these skills can be normal. However, if children have not obtained most of these skills by about Age 2, it might be time to speak to a pediatrician or ask me about an evaluation.

Early identification can open the door to support and skill-building during the years when children’s brains are most ready to learn.

08/29/2025

How can I protect my child from bullying?

A parent’s heart aches to hear of children getting bullied at school or elsewhere. With support, children can learn skills to help them cope with their feelings and respond to bullies from a place of power.

Teaching children to stay calm, stand tall, look the bully in the eyes, speak with a strong voice, and walk away can help stop bullying. It can be hard for children to ask for help, but is usually necessary.

Often, bullying requires a responsive, proactive approach from adults in the child’s community, including teachers and caregivers.
After bullying occurs, it is important to listen to children without judgement and remind them that the bullying is not their fault. Connecting them with supportive peers and activities that build their confidence can also help.

If bullying causes a child to be fearful, anxious, or avoid school, therapy may be able to help them regain confidence to face their fears. Every child deserves to feel safe and strong. It often takes a village.

08/12/2025

Is My Child’s Behavior Normal—or Something More?
Just when you think you know your all child’s nuances, they change! All kids go through phases. Moodiness and testing boundaries are part of growing up. Behavioral changes often happen during transitions—like starting school, puberty, or after a big life event.
However, sometimes behaviors last longer, feel more intense, or start to interfere with daily life. It may be time to seek help if your child:
• Has frequent, explosive outbursts that seem out of proportion
• Withdraws from friends or activities they once enjoyed
• Struggles to keep up at school despite trying their best
• Shows big changes in sleep, appetite, or mood
• Talks about feeling hopeless, worthless, or wanting to not be here anymore
Trust your instincts—you know your child best. Seeking help doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with them. It’s a way to give your child (and your family) the tools to cope, communicate, and thrive.

07/17/2025

How Young Is Too Young for Therapy?
Many parents wonder if their child is "too young" for therapy. No child is too young to receive support. However, your goal for therapy will determine the best approach to treating your child.
If a child is struggling with behavioral issues (common in children under about age 6), parent coaching and behavioral interventions will likely be the most effective treatment.
If a young child is struggling with the expression of emotion, play therapy can allow them to explore their feelings and experiences without judgement.
For more mature children (typically ages 6 and up), talk therapy can be very effective in treating:
• Stress through Challenging Transitions
• Fears / anxiety
• Grief after a loss or big change
• Withdrawal or sadness
• An experience of something traumatic
Additionally, parents seeking support for themselves through therapy can, in turn, be the best parent they can be for their child.
Therapy isn’t about “fixing” your child or self—it’s about supporting development and helping families build strong emotional foundations.
You don’t need to wait until your child is older or things get worse. Starting early can make all the difference.

06/26/2025

Does My Child Need ADHD Testing?
All kids get distracted —but when forgetfulness, or restlessness are happening a lot and affecting school, home, or friendships, it might be time to look deeper.
You might consider an ADHD evaluation if your child:
• Struggles to focus, even on things they enjoy
• Makes frequent mistakes
• Has trouble following directions or finishing tasks
• Loses things often or seems disorganized
• Acts impulsively or has a hard time sitting still
• Gets frequent behavior reports or reports of “not listening” from teachers
If these patterns are ongoing and causing frustration or stress—for your child, you, and/or their teachers—an evaluation can bring clarity. Please note that these symptoms can be caused by a lot of other factors besides neurodevelopment, some of which might be easy to fix. I'm happy to hold walk with you and help you discover strategies that can help your child focus. Testing isn’t about labeling—it’s about understanding and supporting your child in the most helpful way possible.

06/16/2025

Is My Child Anxious—or Just Shy?

It’s normal for some kids to be shy—especially in new situations. Shy children may hang back, observe quietly, or take longer to warm up. But if your child’s worry is getting in the way of their daily life—avoiding school, skipping playdates, or complaining of stomachaches before everyday events—it might be anxiety.

Shyness usually fades as kids get more comfortable. Anxiety tends to stick around—and can even grow stronger over time if left unaddressed.

The good news? Support is available. Therapy can help children learn tools to manage anxious thoughts and feel more confident in themselves.

If you’re wondering whether it’s just shyness or something more, trust your instincts. You don’t have to wait until it gets worse—early support can make a big difference.

06/13/2025

will be taking clients (virtually across California and in-person in Ripon, CA) starting in August, 2025.

Address

111 S Walnut Avenue
Ripon, CA
95366

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 1pm
Tuesday	9am - 1pm
Thursday	9am - 1pm
Friday	9am - 1pm

Website

https://sites.google.com/view/drerinarsala

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