You keep arriving at the same place. Different year, same story. Let’s change that.

For the person who's tired of the same patterns — in relationships, in work, in how they feel about themselves — and is finally ready to understand why.

Compassionate, individualized therapy for children, teens, and adults — meeting you exactly where you are.

Heidi Patcheak, LMFT • Costa Mesa, CA

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

-VIKTOR FRANKL

Finding Space Within Therapy is an invitation to slow down, to notice, and to discover what lives in that space between what happens to you and how you respond.

ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Heidi

I'm Heidi Patcheak, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and owner of Finding Space Within Therapy, a practice based in Costa Mesa, CA. I work with children, adolescents, and adults, and I believe that good therapy begins with one thing: feeling genuinely safe and understood.

My approach is shaped by who you are and what you need. For some, that means exploring patterns and experiences beneath the surface. For others — especially children — it means meeting you in play, creativity, and the language that comes most naturally to you. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy.

What stays consistent across all my work is a commitment to showing up with warmth, genuine curiosity, and presence — and working at a pace that honors where you are when you walk through the door.

Adolescents

Children

Adults

Anxiety & Stress

Depression

Grief & Loss

In-person

Telehealth

MY APPROACH

The space between is where understanding begins

We live in a world that rewards reaction. We are conditioned to respond quickly — to defend, to shut down, to numb, or to please. But something powerful lives in the space within what happens to us and how we respond.

For clients drawn to deeper exploration, I bring a psychodynamic, depth-oriented perspective to our work. This means we look beneath behavior and symptoms — not to pathologize, but to understand. What unmet needs are quietly shaping the patterns you struggle with? What longings have never quite found words?

This kind of work isn't for everyone, and it isn't the only way I work. But for those ready to go there, it can be genuinely transformative.

WHAT DEPTH WORK LOOKS LIKE
Rather than focusing on symptoms alone, we explore what's underneath — the unconscious patterns, unmet needs, and relational experiences quietly shaping your present life.

MEETING WHERE YOU ARE
I consider where you are psychologically and emotionally when we begin, and I adjust the depth and pace of our work accordingly. There is no pressure to go somewhere you're not ready for.

NOT JUST FOR ADULTS
With children, depth is accessed differently — through play, expression, and the relationship itself. With teens, it often emerges through honest conversation in a space that finally feels safe.

Not everyone comes to therapy looking for deep exploration — and that's completely okay. Whatever brings you here, we'll find an approach that fits.

WHO I WORK WITH

I work with people across the lifespan — and the approach I use is shaped by the person in front of me, not a single method.

Therapy for every stage of life

Children

Children don't always have words for what they're feeling — and they don't need to. Through play therapy, I create a safe space where kids can express, process, and make sense of their experiences in the way that comes most naturally to them.

Play therapy is a research-supported, child-led approach that lets children communicate through the language they know best: play.

           Ages 4-11

PRIMARY APPROACH
Play Therapy — child-led, expressive

Adolescents

The teenage years are a time of enormous change — in identity, relationships, and the pressures young people face. I offer a space where teens can be honest, feel heard without judgment, and begin to understand themselves more clearly.

I adapt my style to the individual — some teens want to talk through things, others need a different kind of engagement. I follow their lead.

           Ages 12-17

PRIMARY APPROACH
Relational — tailored to each teen

Adults

The teenage Adult therapy with me is a collaborative, individualized process. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, grief, depression, or a sense that something isn't quite right, we'll work together in the way that fits you best.

For those drawn to deeper exploration, I bring a psychodynamic perspective — but we always go at your pace, in your direction.

          Age 18+

PRIMARY APPROACH
Individualized — collaborative

FOCUS AREAS

What brings people here

Children’s Behavioral &
Emotional Challenges

Big emotions, difficult behaviors, and struggles at home or school. Play therapy helps children express what they can't yet say in words.

Depression

Flatness, withdrawal, or a loss of meaning and motivation. Therapy offers a space to be honest about how you're feeling and to slowly find your way back to yourself.

Grief & Loss

Grief is not a problem to fix. It's an experience to be witnessed. I offer a steady, unhurried space to move through it in your own time.

Teen Identity & Stress

Navigating school pressure, friendships, family dynamics, and the question of who you are. A judgment-free space for teens to think out loud.

Anxiety & Stress

Persistent worry, overwhelm, and tension that make it hard to feel present or at ease. We'll work to understand what's driving it and find your way back to steadiness.

Life Transitions

Divorce, loss, career change, becoming a parent — transitions stir up more than we expect. Therapy helps you find your footing when the ground shifts.

SESSION OPTIONS

Flexible care, your way

In-Person Sessions

COSTA MESA, CA • 45 MINUTE SESSIONS

Come to my office for a quiet, private, and comfortable space. In-person sessions are especially well-suited for children's play therapy and for those who prefer face-to-face connection.

Telehealth Sessions

CA RESIDENTS • SECURE VIDEO PLATFORM

Available to individuals anywhere in California. Secure, confidential, and just as present — with the convenience of connecting from wherever you are. Available for teens and adults.

INVESTMENT & INSURANCE

Fees & Coverage

I am not currently paneled with insurance providers. However, I can provide a super bill after each session for you to submit directly to your insurer for potential reimbursement if you have out-of-network mental health benefits.

Complimentary

Consultation Call (15 min)


In-person Session (45 min)

$190

Telehealth Session (45 min)

$190

FAQ

Common questions

It's completely normal to have questions before reaching out. Here are the ones new clients ask most.

  • Play therapy is a research-supported approach for children that uses play — rather than talk — as the primary mode of expression and healing. Children naturally communicate through play, and the therapist creates a safe, structured space where they can explore their experiences and emotions in that way. It is child-led and does not require children to articulate what they're feeling.

  • Not at all — most people don't. I'll get to know you first, and we'll figure out together what kind of support fits. The approach always follows the person, not the other way around.

  • The first session is simply a conversation. We'll talk about what brings you here, a bit about your background, and what you're hoping for. There's no pressure to have it all figured out — it's the beginning of something, not a test.

  • That's exactly why play therapy exists. Children don't need to talk through their feelings to benefit from therapy. Play is their natural language — and in the playroom, children can express and work through experiences without ever needing to put them into words.

  • Yes — parent involvement is an important part of the work. I'll check in with you regularly to share how things are going and to offer tools to support your child between sessions, while still protecting your child's sense of privacy in the room.

  • Yes. Everything shared in therapy is protected by strict confidentiality. There are limited exceptions required by law — such as imminent safety concerns — which I'll explain clearly at the start of our work together.

  • I ask for at least 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations or no-shows may be subject to a fee. Life happens — please reach out as early as possible and we'll do our best to work with you.

CONTACT

Let’s connect

I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation — a relaxed, no-pressure chance to ask questions and see if we're a good fit. Fill out the form and I’ll reach out

 

“When someone really hears you without passing judgment on you… it feels damn good.

— Carl Rogers