Sometimes adults or children need assessments to understand the presenting symptoms. The process is varied depending on the symptoms and history, but it usually ranges between 3 to 6 sessions. Once a diagnosis or understanding of the presenting symptoms is reached, the client can then decide if they want treatment and on a course of treatment.
I specialize in working with children who have behavioral or emotional problems and working with parents to provide a healthy parenting style to these children in order to create healthy parent-child relationships and promote change. I provide a safe, child-friendly, and nurturing environment so that every child can feel free to express themselves behaviorally or verbally without judgment. I teach children coping skills through play, art, and verbally to help improve whatever symptoms they are experiencing.
I work with parents alongside children in helping parents understand the function of the child’s behavior. Once parents have a better understanding of why the child is exhibiting a certain behavior, then a behavior support plan is created with the parent to promote positive change in the child and parent.
I have been able to utilize my experience as a school counselor and role as advocate in my current private practice. I frequently help parents whose children may have a mental health disorder (such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, sensory-integration disorder, etc.) or behavioral/emotional difficulties navigate the school system in order to advocate that the child obtain the modifications they are entitled to within the classroom.
I offer a collaborative and practical approach for parents to better understand and respond to a child's emotional and behavioral needs. My pragmatic parenting strategies are based on the developmental age of the child while considering any unique family circumstances. I particularly enjoy teaching parents the power of natural consequences, the important distinction between punishment and consequences, and how understanding this difference can foster a child's responsibility and lasting behavioral change. Together, we will develop simple, easy to follow behavior plans which build on successes. These tools build parents' confidence while reducing family conflict and eliminating empty threats to create a more emotionally connected family environment.
Anxiety Disorders are a cluster of disorders that have to do with heightened fears and emotional dysregulation. Some examples are Generalized Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Phobias. I use psycho-education to help the patient understand the physiological and biological factors behind the anxiety. Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Biofeedback, and EMDR are the appropriate treatment modalities to treat anxiety disorders. A comprehensive treatment plan will be determined in therapy depending on the diagnosis and symptom presentation.
The goal in therapy is to not only gain relief from the distress of the anxiety but also to learn how to manage potential future distress.
I am an EMDR Certified Therapist. EMDR is an effective treatment for PTSD and trauma symptoms. I treat both children and adults who are experiencing traumatic symptoms such as nightmares, fears, recurring memories of the trauma, avoidance behavior, hypervigilance, and dissociation. EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) address both the impact of the trauma and the negative patterns that may have developed. The results can be a renewed sense of safety, emotional regulation, less anxiety, improved daily functioning, improved sleep, and healthier relationships.
Family Systems Therapy focuses on understanding relationships within the family, communication patterns, and behaviors each person has to influence the family system. This approach helps to explore how interactions contribute to conflict, behaviors, and emotional distress. Therapy helps to develop healthy communication, improve relationships, and create meaningful changes or stability within the family and the individuals.