Connected Parenting · A CTG group · Now enrolling
A parenting support group for the years that ask the most.
Connected Parenting is a psychologist-led group in Vista for parents and caregivers of kids ages 4 to 8. Sit down weekly with other parents who get it, guided by a child development expert, and leave each session with tools you can use that night.
The group
What Connected Parenting is.
A weekly parenting support group at Coastal Therapy Group's Vista office, built around three things: community, practical tools, and real information you can actually use.
Parenting a young child can feel like living inside a beautiful contradiction. You get to witness someone you love become more themselves every day, and you also carry the weight of every hard moment, every worry, every time you weren't sure what to do next. If that sounds familiar, this group was designed with you in mind.
Connected Parenting is a confidential space where you can show up honestly. You'll talk through the hard parts of parenting alongside other caregivers who get it, guided by a child development expert who can help you make sense of what you're seeing and feeling.
A place to feel less alone.
Parenting can be isolating, especially when things aren't going well. This group gives you a space to share what's actually happening at home, hear what others are navigating, and feel supported by people who are in it with you.
Evidence-based strategies, tailored to your child.
There's no shortage of parenting advice online, but a lot of it is generic, contradictory, or hard to apply. This group cuts through the noise with practical, research-backed tools that you can adapt to your child's temperament and your family's needs.
Skills you build and keep.
Each session is semi-structured to give you a clear takeaway, not just an open conversation. You'll leave with strategies you can put to use right away.
The details
One morning a week.
One price per family.
The group meets weekly at our Vista office, just south of the Mar Vista exit: no stop lights after getting off the 78, and easy access if you are coming north on Melrose.
We would much rather have you here than have cost be a barrier. A sliding scale is available, so please don't hesitate to reach out if that would help.
What we work on
Topics the group covers.
Real strategies for real weeks: the tantrum in the parking lot, the bedtime standoff, the sibling war over one toy.
- Managing tantrums and difficult behavior
- Emotion regulation for kids (and parents)
- Discipline approaches and healthy limit-setting
- Building resilience and self-esteem
- Strengthening the parent-child connection
- Social skills development
- Empathy and compassion-building
- Managing sibling rivalry
- Screen time boundaries
- Navigating transitions and building routines
- Parent wellness and self-care
- Building consistency across caregivers
A fair question
Parenting class or therapy group?
Connected Parenting sits deliberately between the two. Like a parenting class, each session is semi-structured around a topic and sends you home with a concrete takeaway. Like a therapy group, it is small, confidential, and led by a licensed psychologist, with room to talk about what is actually happening at your house, not just what the curriculum says should be happening.
That combination is what a book, a podcast, or a one-off workshop can't give you: a live, responsive conversation where the strategies get tailored to your child and your family. If you want a feel for how we think about parenting, our podcast episode on raising hopeful children is a good place to start. And if your child needs their own support, child therapy at CTG is often the right companion to this group.
Who leads it
C. Julieta Aguilera Rice, PhD
Dr. Aguilera Rice is a licensed psychologist at Coastal Therapy Group's Vista office. She earned her PhD in School and Applied Child Psychology from McGill University and completed advanced training at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Children's Hospital Orange County. Her clinical work centers on children, families, and the relationships between them: helping parents and kids move through transitions, conflict, and disconnection toward something more resilient. She's trilingual (English, Spanish, and French) and brings a warm, culturally grounded approach to everything she does.
Meet Dr. Aguilera Rice →Getting started
Three steps, no pressure.
Request a free Group Fit Call
Fill out the form below or give us a call. This is simply a chance to ask questions, with no obligation.
See if it's a fit
We'll answer your questions, hear a little about your family, and make sure the group is right for you.
Join the group
If it feels right, we'll meet for an intake session ($95) and you'll take your seat the following Tuesday.
No pressure, just a conversation
Curious? Start with a fit call.
Feeling nervous before joining a group is completely normal. The fit call exists so you can ask anything: what sessions look like, whether your situation belongs here, what other parents in the group are working on.
Fill out the form and we'll reach out soon. Or call us directly.
(760) 334-6262Get started with a free Group Fit Call
If you're interested in the Connected Parenting Group, or you're not sure yet and would like help deciding, fill out the form below and our team will reach out soon.
Frequently asked
Questions parents ask before joining.
01 Is this group therapy or a parenting class?
It's both, in the best way. Connected Parenting blends the support of a therapy group with the practical structure of a skills-based class. You'll have room to process and share, and you'll also leave each session with concrete tools.
02 Do both parents need to attend?
Only one parent or caregiver needs to attend, though both are welcome. The cost is per family, regardless of how many caregivers join.
03 Does my child come to the group?
No. Connected Parenting is a group for the adults: you attend, your child stays home. The changes reach your child through you. If your child could use their own support, we also offer child therapy at all three of our offices.
04 My child is 4 (or 8). Is this still a good fit?
Yes. The group is designed for parents of children in the 4–8 age range, so the strategies and conversations will be relevant whether your child is just starting this phase or wrapping it up.
05 When and where does the group meet?
Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 am at our Vista office: 1800 Thibodo Road, Suite 110, Vista, CA 92081. The office is just south of the Mar Vista exit, so there are no stop lights after getting off the 78, and access is easy if you are coming north on Melrose.
06 How much does the parenting group cost?
Sessions are $95 per family. We would much rather have you here than have cost be a barrier, so a sliding scale is available: please reach out if that would help. Coastal Therapy Group is a private-pay practice; we are out-of-network with insurance but provide monthly superbills you can submit to your PPO. See our cost and insurance page for the full picture.
07 Who leads the group?
Dr. C. Julieta Aguilera Rice, PhD, a licensed psychologist at our Vista office. She earned her PhD in School and Applied Child Psychology from McGill University, trained at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Children's Hospital Orange County, and specializes in children, families, and the relationships between them.
08 How is this different from reading a parenting book?
The group gives you something a book can't: a live, responsive conversation with a clinician and other parents. You can ask questions specific to your situation, get real-time feedback, and feel less alone in the process.
09 Will I have to share right away?
No. Most people feel some hesitation before their first group, and that's completely normal. You can start by listening, share at your own pace, and let trust build gradually. Dr. Aguilera Rice guides the process and keeps the space respectful, and most people leave feeling relieved they came.
10 How do I join Connected Parenting?
Start by requesting a free Group Fit Call using the form on this page (or call us). We'll answer your questions and make sure the group is a good fit. If it feels right, we'll meet for an intake session ($95) and you're in.
Ready when you are
Parent in good company.
Tuesday mornings in Vista, a psychologist who knows kids, and a room of parents who get it. The first step is a free fit call.