Kari Sylvester

I want to help your child reach their fullest potential.

It is incredibly difficult to watch your child struggle, and even more so when you aren’t sure how to help them. You see so much promise and potential in them—when something is standing in the way of that, it can feel all-consuming.

Your child might be struggling with their friendships, with peer behavior often more “cutthroat” than it’s ever been—both online and off. Perhaps you’re noticing grades slipping or more calls from teachers who are concerned, and you’re not sure what might be going on under the surface.

I believe that healthy coping skills and support in a child’s early years translate into greater health, success, and fulfillment later in life. In my work with children, pre-teens, and teens, I aim to equip them with strategies that translate into healthier friendships, improved decision-making, and a greater sense of self-confidence and direction for years to come.

My Background & Approach

I utilize an evidence-based, eclectic approach to meet your child's needs. I incorporate play therapy methods when working with younger children, which allows me to get to know them on their level. Since play is your child's primary form of expression, I can gain access and insight to their challenges while simultaneously creating a safe and comfortable space where they can open up and express themselves.

With pre-teens and teens, I draw from concepts in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Behavior Modification to create concrete, actionable goals that target negative beliefs, low-self esteem, and anxious and depressive symptoms. To evaluate your pre-teen/teen's readiness to change, I integrate Motivational Interviewing techniques into talk therapy. I also incorporate Mindfulness Practice and coping skills (often found in EMDR) to provide your pre-teen/teen with the skills needed to develop resiliency and to meet the challenges they are currently facing.

I also believe that you, as the parent or caregiver, are an important part of this process. I’ll work closely with you to establish a healthy channel of communication with your child—one that continues even as they grow and develop. As a team of adults, we can ensure that your child is growing and developing in a healthy way.

I graduated from USC with my Master’s in Social Work (MSW) with specializations in: Families & Children and Military Families in 2016. In 2018, I received my Master’s in Education (MEd) from ASU with a specialization in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

I started my career as a school counselor (Compton Unified School District) and a Behaviorist (San Deguito Unified School District), prior to transitioning to a small group practice setting.

After 6 years of working in a highly esteemed small group practice, I made the decision to leave my role as the Associate Director and Lead Clinical Therapist to start Coastal Minds Counseling. Within several months of sharing the news, I began to grow the team, bringing on clinicians with various specialties with the goal of providing high quality, specialized care to the community of Newport Beach.

I am an EMDR-certified therapist and actively working towards EMDR Consultancy (as a Consultant-in-Training) to enhance my clinical ability to equip future EMDR clinicians with the tools they need to provide trauma-informed care. Additionally, I am Gottman Level 2 trained, which informs my work with parents. Finally, I am pursuing AASECT Certification for sex therapy focusing on teen and emerging adult sexual health, sexual integrity, and the intersection of social media and sex information on the developing brain.