Therapy for Children

Your child or teen has not been the same recently, and no one knows their child better than you.  They may have experienced a stressful event, or are having trouble coping with uncomfortable emotions.  Lately they have been more withdrawal, distracted or irritable - something has changed. Perhaps they have stopped doing the things that bring them joy, or they are having more difficulty at school than usual. Despite your many thoughtful and caring attempts to help and support them, you feel in your heart that they need additional support during this challenging time. You want them to get the help they need, so they can get back to being child you know and love.

Here are a few areas and conditions that I specialize in treating:

  • Problematic behavior

  • Traumatic/Stressful Life Event

  • Hyperactivity

  • Anxiety

  • Loss of a Parent or Loved One

  • Difficulty Separating from a Parent

  • Worry

  • Anger problems

  • Depression

  • Academic difficulties

  • Conflicts with siblings or peers

  • School refusal

  • Social anxiety

  • Inattention

I place a lot of value on the first few sessions with you and your child, as this will provide the foundation for you and your child’s care. A comprehensive assessment will be completed to determine the appropriate level of care to best match your child’s needs. First and foremost, this includes creating an environment where you and your child feel safe and comfortable. Therapy with children will vary depending on the needs of each child and family. Some of the available treatment options include individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT) and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT).

During treatment, I actively work on balancing three equally important roles as a psychologist working with children: therapist, teacher and coach. As a therapist, my goal is to validate a child’s experiences and feelings, with the goal of providing an environment where they feel safe and understood. As a teacher, I work to provide them with appropriate coping skills they can use to help themselves to feel better. Finally, as a coach encourage them to practice and develop habits that will contribute to their overall sense of well-being.

I also rely on information from parents/guardians throughout the course of treatment. Parents/guardians provide invaluable information about their child’s mood and behavior at home, including interactions with family members, and how they spend their free time. In addition, parents/guardians often provide crucial information that may be missing from a child’s self-report.