CHILD/ ADOLESCENT THERAPY

Therapy with Children & Adolescents

Young children, adolescents, and teenagers often struggle with a variety of issues related to self-image, friendships/peer groups, insecurities and fears, mood, school, and family dynamics. Access to technology and social media has exacerbated these problems and now exposes our children to unprecedented influences, pressures, and choices. 

We treat behavioral disorders, depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders (including social anxiety, separation anxiety, obsessive compulsive behavior, panic, generalized anxiety, and specific fears), and children’s adjustment in response to divorce, abuse, illness, death, and other losses or life changes. We also provide counseling for children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and attention disorders (ADD, ADHD). We employ various behavioral strategies and/or talk-therapy as clinically indicated for each individual case.

Parent/child conflict is a frequent presenting problem in treatment. With parents’ involvement, we work to open effective lines of communication and resolve the conflict, while simultaneously respecting the child, affirming authority of the parent(s), and upholding the identified values of each family.

Collaboration with parents is our primary mode of treating children under four years of age. With school-age children, parents are included in treatment as either direct participants with their child in therapy sessions, or in separate consultations with their therapist during their child’s scheduled appointment. Treatment with younger children often incorporates activities such as games, reading, and directed play therapy. Parents of older teenagers may choose a more minimal role in their teenager’s treatment as dictated by their child’s maturity level and reason for therapy.


During the course of diagnosis and treatment we sometimes identify symptoms which require medical evaluation and treatment by a pediatric psychiatrist or other medical specialist. We do not administer formal testing batteries, and we do not prescribe medication.


Goals for Child/Adolescent Therapy Include:



1.     Accurate diagnosis of the child’s condition.

2.     Alleviate symptoms.

3.     Promote a trusting alliance between child and parent.

4.     Validate each child’s value and worth. 


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