We work with children, adolescents, and their parents using a collaborative, individualized approach to treatment. Research suggests that parent involvement is an essential component of a young person’s therapy. The degree of parental involvement is determined together in the early stages of treatment and is dependent on the child’s or adolescent’s age and needs.

Parents often ask, “Is this challenge part of normal child development or is it something we need to treat?” Although many areas of struggle are not uncommon, we focus on whether a young person’s ways of thinking and acting are creating distress or dysfunction. Learning more helpful responses to challenges can reduce suffering and help the child thrive. Our work with young people is aimed at promoting independence, resilience, and value-based choices as well as creating an environment at home and school that cultivates these. We focus on mindful parenting — which helps parents respond from their values instead of reacting automatically. Positive parent-child relationships arise out of enhanced understanding and moment-to-moment awareness. In some cases, parents may choose to consult with us independently without their child’s participation in therapy.

TRAUMA-INFORMED TREATMENTS

When working with very young children who have experienced stressful and traumatic events, Child-Parent Psychotherapy seeks to help children heal, feel safe, and make meaning out of what has occurred while supporting and strengthening the child-caregiver relationship. When working with older children, our therapists are trained in Trauma-Focused CBT. TF-CBT was developed to help children and adolescents who have experienced single or multiple traumas and includes parents and caregivers in the process. Children and adolescents receive targeted care for trauma-related challenges by utilizing specifically designed interventions.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

PCIT is an evidence-based, short-term treatment designed to help young children with highly disruptive behavior learn to control their frustration. We work with each parent to strengthen their relationship with their child and build their confidence and ability to effectively guide and direct their child’s behavior, set limits, calmly discipline, and restore positive feelings to their interactions. PCIT treats the parent, the child, and, most importantly, their interactions.

In a room separate from the psychologist, the parent is coached in real-time using the “bug-in-ear” approach. This keeps the interactions more “real,” as it is just you and your child engaging in developmentally-appropriate activities.

In internet or telehealth PCIT, we work with you remotely to do the same treatment. Using headphones, we discreetly coach you through the structured sessions.