Child & Family Psychotherapy

Helping young people—and the adults who love them—grow together

Why Choose Child & Family Therapy?

Children and teens express distress differently from adults. Tantrums, school refusal, anxiety about friendships, or sliding grades are often a child’s way of saying, “I need help.” We partner with the whole family to translate those signals, strengthen connection, and restore a sense of safety at home. Our work is rooted in the same strength-based, person-centered philosophy that guides all of San Francisco Counseling Collective’s services, honoring each child’s innate capacity for growth while respecting every family’s unique culture and values.

What we Help With

  • Preschool behavioral challenges & parent coaching

  • Anxiety, perfectionism, and school avoidance

  • Depression, self-esteem, and identity exploration

  • Attention-deficit / executive-function challenges

  • Grief, loss, or family transitions (divorce, blended families, relocations)

  • Sibling conflict and communication issues

  • LGBTQIA+ support and gender-affirming care for youth and families

  • Trauma recovery and attachment difficulties

Our Approach

  • Whole-family lens. Even when we meet individually with a child or teen, we keep the family system in view, offering parent sessions, joint meetings, and practical home strategies.

  • Developmentally-attuned methods. Play therapy, creative arts, sand-tray, CBT, and mindfulness meet kids where they are, while older adolescents benefit from narrative and solution-focused techniques.

  • Cultural humility & inclusivity. We honor each family’s cultural identities, faith traditions, and definitions of “family,” and we offer family services in California in English, Spanish, and ASL.

  • Collaboration with schools & providers. With your permission, we may coordinate with teachers, pediatricians, and psychiatrists to create consistent support across environments.

  • Brief or longer-term therapy. Some goals resolve in a few focused sessions; others require deeper, ongoing work. We work with you to determine treatment length wherever possible.

Meet Our Child & Family Therapists

Nancy Pullen, AMFT, APCC (she/her)



Before joining SFCC's clinical team, Nancy Pullen spent over two decades working with children and families in Montessori, school-based, and community settings. She brings that firsthand understanding of how kids learn, grow, and struggle into the therapy room — working with children, adolescents, and families across a range of emotional and relational concerns. Nancy was an invited presenter at the 2025 Oxford Symposium in School-Based Family Counseling in England. She works out of both our Walnut Creek and San Francisco offices.

Visit Nancy’s page for more information.




Amanda M. Chan blends a 20-year Silicon Valley career with experience in hospice-based grief work and high school-based counseling to guide her work with children, teens, and their families, using collaborative, strength-based approaches that are appropriate for their stage of social and emotional development. Amanda also works with adults and has completed Level 1 and Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

Visit Amanda’s page for more information.

Amanda M. Chan, AMFT (she/her)

What to Expect

  • Free 20-minute phone consultation to ensure fit and answer your questions.

  • Intake & goal-setting—we meet with caregivers first, then your child, and together craft goals everyone supports.

  • Regular check-ins so parents stay informed and children feel ownership of their progress.

  • Clear next steps—whether that’s graduation from therapy, occasional “booster” sessions, or referrals for additional services.


Ready to Begin?


Contact us to schedule your consultation. We provide in-person sessions in San Francisco’s Castro district and secure teletherapy for families anywhere in California.