CUSTOMIZED TREATMENTS FOR EACH STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT

Children

Children present with a variety of concerns, including, anxiety, depressed mood, attention difficulties, behavioral issues, and social difficulties.  In order to fully understand these concerns, I will meet with the parents in the initial session.  The second session will focus primarily on relationship building with the child in order to increase the child’s comfort level and facilitate assessment and treatment.  In a following session, I will work with parents to develop a treatment plan.  In order to meet treatment goals, children will be educated and taught strategies using a cognitive behavioral framework to enhance their individual coping while Parents will be given strategies to aid and reinforce their child’s progress.  Sessions utilize play, story, music, art, and drama to make it fun and relatable.

Adolescents

A key feature of adolescence is individuation and separation from parents.  This does not diminish the significant role that parents play in their development.  I work very hard to foster an adolescent’s budding independence while maintaining Parents involvement and support.  In order to do this, I will meet with the adolescent first to understand presenting concerns from his/her perspective.  This also services to develop the adolescent’s sense of responsibility for treatment.  Then I will meet with parents to fully understand the history of the concerns and development as well as the family environment.  Adolescents have confidentiality rights which do not allow me to share most aspects of their treatment with parents unless I receive their consent.  Subsequently, I encourage frequent family communication in which adolescents share their goals, what they have learned, and how parents may help support them.

Young Adults

Young Adulthood is focused on establishing academic or career goals and intimate relationships as well as one’s morals and values.  A recent term “emerging adult” has also been coined due to the increased responsibility yet not complete independence of many people in their 20’s.  This is a significant time for identity development and creating positive habits for self-care.  While young adults may choose individual therapy, they may also choose to have some family involvement which many include consultations or family sessions as needed.