How We Work

When you work with me you can expect a thorough assessment of your child and family’s needs.  My treatment approach is individualized, goal driven and solution focused.  Children and families who are motivated to make change in their lives can expect outcomes similar to these…

…homework coping strategies for getting it started, getting it done and getting it to school on time.

…behavior plans to support children who have dysregulated behaviors and moods.  We can work on morning and bedtime routines, how to cope with tantruming behavior, and discipline strategies that are calming and effective.

…organizational strategies for children and families who experience disorganization as a source of distress.

 …coping skills to manage anxiety and stress (for both kids and parents).

…development of appropriate language, so children can communicate their needs with words instead of unproductive behavior.

…a safe place and knowledgeable, empathic psychotherapist to talk to about all the strong feelings that come along with behavioral, emotional and social challenges.

 

We have a clearly defined philosophy that informs the work we do:

Acceptance of Difference – We accept all children and families “as you are,” with no judgment or set expectations of how people should be in the world.

Change is possible – We believe that with a partnership approach and practice of new skills, positive change in behavior, mood and overall functioning is possible.

Effective psychotherapy is based on specific goals – Our collaborative approach allows us to work together to develop specific goals for psychotherapy.  In all cases goals developed will focus on improvement of specific behavioral, emotional and/or social difficulties.

Your child’s and family’s needs are best served by a psychologist who specializes in working with you and your specific therapeutic needs – I only work with children and families, attend several trainings a year in working with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and stay informed on the latest research in child and family psychological treatment.

Effective psychotherapy is evidenced based – Evidenced-based psychotherapy is that which has been shown to be effective through research.  We only use techniques that research supports. 

Parents are important in child psychotherapy treatment- while your child may present with behavioral and/or emotional challenges, we believe effective child psychotherapy must involve parents in an integral way.

Our approach is child and family friendly:

• Late afternoon/evening and Saturday appointments
• Kid friendly furniture –comfortable and easy to clean :-)
• Flexible and understanding – we know that  some children need to move around the room, take off their shoes or play with things while talking and processing information. 
• Game play used to assess processing, social skills and to facilitate discussion- this is not play therapy.  We use a limited number of games in a structured way to inform our work together.
• A sense of humor, creativity, and optimistic outlook- while what we discuss and work on is serious and we are always thoughtful about how we work, there is laughter and fun as well.

 

Now that your have an idea about the way we work, our philosophy and values,  the results you can expect when you work with us, next go to Our Services page to learn about specific services and programs we offer.