Treatment can take a variety of forms, one of which is individual therapy.  I primarily provide individual therapy services to children, adolescents, and young adults, although I also work with older adults who struggle with parenting concerns, anxiety, and/or depression.  Individual therapy includes education, guidance, support, direction, and instruction in order to overcome presenting difficulties. 

I utilize a largely cognitive-behavioral treatment approach (CBT), which is an empirically supported, evidence-based, and cost-effective psychotherapy for many mood, anxiety, and behavioral disorders. Elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), additional evidence-based therapies, are also utilized. For those who have experienced trauma, Trauma-Focused CBT (TFCBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are used.

Parents play an important role in the therapeutic process for their children, and parent participation is strongly encouraged.  Depending on the age of the client, therapeutic play-based strategies might be incorporated.    

While a child might be demonstrating significant challenges within the family, there are often educational opportunities and therapeutic approaches designed for parents that can be of significant benefit for both the child and the family as a whole. This approach can take place simultaneously with individual therapy for the child or be entirely separate; support is offered to assist parents in developing behavior expectations, proactive plans that recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the child, and patterns of responding to challenges in the home in a way that promotes better communication and stronger parent-child relationships.  This approach is ideal for families who have children with disruptive behaviors such as defiance, arguing, task refusal, aggression, overactivity, and impulsivity as well as for families that are newly blended through marriage, adoption, or foster care.  

Common problems faced by many parents include how to say no and not give in, task compliance, academic motivation, how to have respectful two-way conversations, homework completion, and sibling conflicts.  

While several specific types of evidence-based approaches are offered, a blend of approaches is often used to better meet the unique needs and honor the specific values within each family. For example, the collaborative problem-solving model is frequently used; this model was developed by Dr. Ross Greene, the author of the well-known book The Explosive Child. Collaborative problem-solving is built on the belief that children will behave well when they can; when children cannot behave well, it is a result of various skills deficits for the child. Elements of Parent Management Training (PMT) and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) are empirically supported treatments that are also used in therapy with parents and families.

Treatment might also take the form of a consultation with important persons in the client's life, including extended family and/or teachers.  This type of treatment is brief and highly solution-focused.  It is ideal for specific problems that have recently emerged or when communication between individuals is strained.