Passionate Child and Family therapist and RPT-Supervisor

Founder and Owner of Kid Counseling Sacramento

Lyla Tyler, LMFT, RPT-S™

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist #MFC40757.
Registered Play Therapy Supervisor
Certified Advanced Nurtured Heart Approach Trainer

EMDR Child Specialist and EMDR certified

Children's Play Therapist in Sacramento

Lyla Tyler, LMFT, RPT-S, owner of Kid Counseling Sacramento

My approach:
I started my career working with children in Residential Treatment Centers and have never looked back! I love working with children and families and know how important it is for kids to grow up in a home where they feel loved and cared for. At the same time, I understand how intense children can wear us down and make family life chaotic and difficult. I believe in early intervention for kids to get them on track as soon as possible. I also know that children do not just open up and talk about their feelings or know how to express what is bothering them. That is why I am so passionate about the use of play therapy to help children express their emotions, fears, and desires. With older tweens and teens I use games, art and creative interventions to help them express themselves.
I also focus on helping parents get the help they need to parent their child and help them through whatever difficulty they are facing. I see us working as a team to help your child and family.
I love what I do and try my best to be kind and creative in the work I do. I always bring my playfulness and sense of humor to every session.

My education and experience:
I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Psychology from Chico State University. While there I worked at a child abuse agency and decided this is what I wanted to do when I grew up! I worked at 2 large Residential Treatment Centers in Sacramento as a Manager for over 25 years. During that time I returned to school to get my Masters in Counseling at Sacramento State University. I then worked as a Clinician with an infant mental health program. I also was a Clinician at Sutter Health for the Children’s Bereavement Art Therapy Program and the Children’ s Art Therapy Support Program. About 15 years ago I started my private practice working with children and families. I was the founder of the Sacramento Chapter of the California Play Therapy Association. I provide training and consultation for other therapists, parents, teachers, and other agencies so they can provide creative therapy to the clients they serve. I am a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, a Certified Advanced Nurtured Heart Approach® trainer, EMDR Certified, EMDR Child Specialist, trained in Art Therapy, Trauma Response Method, Theraplay®, TF-CBT, and Grief and Critical Illness.

A little more about me:
I am married and have 1 adult daughter. I love to play in my spare time, as much as I do in my office. I am part of a running group and often say , "I’m just like Forrest Gump, I’m slow but I keep going!" I started the Sacramento Chapter of the California Association of Play Therapy and I am on the board for the California Association of Play Therapy.

Registered Play Therapist for children and Teens

Rita McCampbell, LMFT, RPT™

Clinical Manager

Licensed LMFT 96733, Registered Play Therapist

Certified Nurtured Heart Approach Trainer

EMDR Child Specialist

Therapist for Kids and Teens

Rita McCampbell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over fifteen years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families facing challenges ranging from crisis to the normal transitions of life. She holds a BS in Child Development from UC Davis as well as an MA in Couple and Family Therapy from Alliant International University and has recently had the pleasure of serving as President for the Sacramento Chapter of the California Association for Play Therapy.

Rita's heart lays in her specialization of using play therapy as a modality to help her clients express themselves in a safe and relaxed environment all while making therapy fun! Rita understands the developmental and emotional needs of children and teens, as well as the demands placed on caregivers to meet those needs. She focuses her warm and inviting energy on building a trusting therapeutic relationship, so regardless of age her clients feel supported while the needs of all members of the family are being addressed. Rita has specialized training in art therapy and sand-tray therapy. She also has extensive experience working with anxiety and trauma in children and teens and is certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has completed EMDR levels 1 and 2 and Theraplay level 1. Her other focus areas include parenting issues, family therapy, divorce/separation, ADD/ADHD, depression, behavior problems, grief and loss, and medical issues/trauma.

ABOUT ME:

Rita lives with her husband and together they are navigating the joys of simultaneously parenting a teenager and a toddler! Rita personally understands blended family life, and is focused on her life as a mom when she’s not working. Rita loves spending time with her family and friends, cooking, taking walks, trips to the beach, camping, and watching the NFL--she’s a diehard 49er Faithful!

Compassionate Child/family Therapist

Nadine Diefenbacher, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, #40381

My Approach

I have always worked in the Helping Professions and my first job/career out of high school was being a Registered Nurse. As a nurse, I cared for children, adults, and their families, facing a large variety of illnesses. I have always been a compassionate person and I have always been involved in caring and supporting children and teens in a variety of settings. I am very empathetic and can easily connect with my clients and I allow them to direct the goals that they want to achieve in treatment. I love using play therapy to help children and families!

Experience and Education

I received my Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from CSUS and my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from National University. I have been licensed since 2003. I have worked in a residential treatment center in Sacramento, a therapeutic group home for adopted children and a local psychiatric group practice in Roseville and Folsom. I have been in private practice for five years dealing with depression, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, self harm, parenting challenges and issues resulting from divorce. I have also worked with adoptive families and the many struggles related to the dynamic within this family system. I have also worked with children with severe emotional and/or behavioral problems. In 2018, I attended a roundtable workshop at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and now I am a member of its Family Advocacy Outreach Network. Since 2003, I have provided a number of specialized therapeutic services to those dealing with challenging life experiences. Client well-being is my number one priority, and I go above and beyond to help them through all their obstacles.

A Little Bit About me

I, along with my husband, have raised 5 children, four adopted, here in the Sacramento Area. I love to take trips to Napa, Berkeley Marina, and S. Lake Tahoe. I love to walk and hike for exercise and have participated in several 5K events, in which I walk…because I absolutely hate running. I enjoy the ocean, reading and finding great spots to relax. I love having coffee and lunch with friends when time allows for it.

Creative, thoughtful and genuine Therapist

Geneva Knowles, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor #14421 and PPS

My Approach:

The most important thing to know about my approach is that I am fully committed to partnering with you in ways that will support your child’s personal growth and emotional development. I cherish the work I get to do with children, adolescents, teens, and families and deeply value the relationship built with each individual. Others have described me as warm, thoughtful, genuine, and bubbly which are characteristics I strive to bring into each session. Over time, I have developed a passion for mindfulness and find creative ways to integrate all six, yes six, senses into therapy whenever the opportunity presents itself. I also connect with the natural ways that play and expressive arts allow relationships to evolve and foster healing, self discovery, and enjoyment. I’ve always known my purpose has been to walk alongside others on their path to remind them of where they’re going and how close they are to their destination when obstacles emerge. Hope is the cornerstone of my attitude and I wholeheartedly believe in each person’s ability to overcome life’s challenges. I will meet your child where they are and move at their pace so that I can best understand their world, their perspective, and their path.

Experience and Background:

I have been engaged as a helping professional since 2011. My career in mental health began following my undergraduate work at CSU, Chico where I served as a behavioral health counselor for the county. Since then, I have provided care to a diverse group of individuals ranging from children to adults in varying environments including school settings, community mental health, addiction counseling, residential treatment, acute hospitalization, and private practice. I received my masters degree in counseling from CSU, Sacramento and also hold my credential as school counselor. I am especially focused on maintaining relevant skills through current trainings and collaborative opportunities with other professionals in the field. With experience as both a school counselor and mental health clinician, I am equipped with knowledge that can help empower you and your child to advocate for the support needed for them to succeed in their learning environment.

A Little Bit About Me:

I am hooked on nature and opt to be outside as much as possible. Lately I’ve been soaking up as many snuggles my toddler son will share and am fully engulfed by his giggles. I’ve lived in the Sacramento region since 2016 with my husband and have grown to enjoy the lifestyle the city has to offer. During my free time, I enjoy fly fishing,

weightlifting, yoga, cooking, reading, and dancing to loud music. I will never turn down live music and good food!

I am really looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you into the space where amazing things can happen for you and your family!

Our Partnerships

We partner with local businesses and organizations to provide additional resources and support to families. Our partnerships allow us to offer a wide range of programs and services to meet the diverse needs of our community.

PlayFul, Creative, Child-Family Therapist

Andrea Kersten, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #136461

supervised by Lyla Tyler, LMFT #40757

My Approach

Play is the language of children and essential for their emotional, social and cognitive development. In my practice, I utilize a variety of play, creative, and expressive therapies to create a nurturing and attuned environment. As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, I utilize these therapeutic modalities to help children explore the world, gain self-awareness, and understand the importance of human connection. By fostering a safe and nurturing environment, I aim to empower children to find their voice, develop empathy, recognize their strengths, and pursue their passions, ultimately helping them build meaningful connections with others.

I specialize in working with young children and their caregivers facing various behavioral and developmental challenges, including trauma, ADHD, Autism, depression, anxiety, and other social-emotional concerns. By fostering a collaborative relationship with caregivers, we work as a team to identify effective strategies and interventions that leverage each child's strengths, enabling children to thrive in their daily lives. My focus encompasses enhancing social skills, promoting emotional well-being, and facilitating positive communication. I am dedicated to empowering children and their caregivers, helping them harness their inherent strengths and overcome any hurdles they may encounter along the way.

Education and Experience

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Science & Technology at UC Davis before pursuing my Master’s in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage & Family at the University of San Francisco. While at the University of San Francisco, I worked on a research team that studied the effectiveness of various animal-assisted therapies and how our relationships with animals positively impact our mental health. My work with children spans well over a decade, but therapeutically began as a social skills group facilitator and Neurofeedback technician for children with complex developmental trauma. I have worked therapeutically in a variety of settings, first in a large healthcare organization where I co-facilitated various groups, specifically working with social anxiety, eating disorders, postpartum mental health, and Autism, in addition to collaborating with other healthcare professionals on treatment, and managing my own caseload of children, families, and adults. I then gained further experience as a therapist and youth coach in a small private-practice setting where I specialized in working with adoptive families and children from difficult beginnings. I have been trained in Theraplay, Somatic Experiencing, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, Neurofeedback, Narrative Therapy, TF-CBT, DBT and am enjoying all the additional specialized training and guidance I am receiving with Kid Counseling Sacramento.

A little about me

I am just as creative and playful out in the world as I am in the therapy office. Grownups need play, too! I am an award-winning actor that actively works in both theatre & film and I have found many ways to incorporate this type of work into my therapeutic practice.

I also love running, yoga, hiking, kayaking, dancing, graphic design, gaming, reading and animals (especially my two dogs, Rufus & Dobby).

Helping you find the right therapist

Amber Landini, Intake Coordinator

Hi, I am Amber Landini,

I am a Sacramento native and currently an empty nester after raising 3 kids. I live with my husband and beloved dogs. With 20 years of experience in the advertising industry, I have honed my skills in marketing, communication and connecting . In addition to my advertising career, I also work as a part-time travel advisor and now the intake coordinator for Kid Counseling Sacramento!

When I'm not working, you'll often find me at the beach, enjoying quality time with my family and friends.