Mary Ruth Cross, LMFT

I am an experienced and dedicated clinician with a passion for helping children and their families cope with anxiety. depression, anger and a host of other issues using play therapy.

I am a compassionate and experienced Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has dedicated more than 30 years to serving children, families, and individuals in the mental health field. I am the Owner and CEO of Treehouse Family Counseling Services in San Ramon, California, where she leads a specialized team providing counseling grounded in play therapy, Sandtray, and expressive arts approaches. My collaborative treatment-team model reflects my commitment to supporting the entire family system and honoring the interconnected nature of healing and growth. Through the intentional use of play and creative expression, my practice helps children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families access emotional healing, resilience, and meaningful change. My staff and I create a safe and healing environment for change to occur. We are able to offer mental health services to the entire family.
I am co-author of the children’s therapeutic book Snug and Rug and the “No Good Very Bad Thing”: A Story of Coping, Calming & Courage for Children. I am also co-author and co-editor of Assessing and Treating Suicidal Thinking and Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: A Play Therapy Guide for Mental Health Practitioners. She is a contributing author to the forthcoming volume Play Therapy with Siblings: A Clinical Guide, where my chapter focuses on supporting children who have experienced the suicide death of a sibling.
My work reflects a deep commitment to helping children and families find safety, connection, and healing through developmentally responsive and relationship-centered care.