How do I know if my child needs therapy?

Just like adults, children can get stressed, angry, worried, anxious, and sad. Sometimes these emotions last for a day or two, or they come and go in a manageable fashion. But if these feelings persist for weeks or months and get in the way of a child’s enjoyment in life, it is a sign that they may benefit from visiting a therapist.

You may notice a variety of symptoms or behaviors in your child that cause you concern, such as:

• Anger and overreaction to certain situations

• Worries, anxiousness, or fearfulness on a regular basis

• Difficulty adjusting to a recent change

• Preoccupation with physical illness

• Rigidity in routine or difficulty managing transitions

• Regression (i.e. soiling/wetting self when previously toilet trained)

• Low frustration tolerance

• Loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable

• Declining grades or school refusal

• Desire to be alone rather than with friends or family

• Low self-esteem or poor self-image

• Thoughts of suicide or self=harm

• Difficulty with concentration or focus

• Nightmares or difficulty sleeping

Whether you, a teacher, or somebody close to your child feels it is time to talk with a therapist, it’s never too early to ask for help. Even if your child doesn’t appear to be experiencing significant difficulty and you would simply like to gain insight or get ahead of an issue before it manifests into something bigger, there is no harm in reaching out. Sometimes even brief treatment, such as 4-12 sessions, is enough to address a stressful situation or problematic behavior and prevent more concerning symptoms & behaviors from presenting down the line.

What kind of issues can you help my child with?

I have had success in working with children experiencing a variety of circumstances, including:

• Aggression

• Anxiety

• Attachment issues

• Bullying

• Gender dysphoria

• Depression

• Situational mutism

• Sexual acting-out behaviors

• Social media preoccupation

• Divorce/blended families

• Child abuse & domestic violence

• Gifted/exceptional needs children

• Perfectionism

• Foster care

• Grief & loss

• Single, multiple, and complex trauma

Please note that I do NOT specialize in: severely disordered eating (ie anorexia, bulimia), chronic substance abuse, or psychosis. These concerns generally require more specialized treatment and a higher level of care than I provide. I’m happy to assist with referrals to more appropriate care if desired.

Do you do psychological assessments, make custody recommendations, or give psychiatric medications?

No, I do not. It is out of my scope of training and expertise to offer psychological assessments (for diagnoses such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder) as these are provided by a psychologist. Similarly, I am not able to recommend or prescribe psychiatric medication as I am not a psychiatrist. Lastly, I am not qualified to provide custody evaluations or court-ordered reunification therapy. If you desire any of the above, I am able to provide you with referrals to providers who do offer those services. However, I can collaborate and consult with psychologists or psychiatrists on your child’s behalf (with a signed release form) in order to coordinate care.

If I reach out to you, what can I expect?

I will connect with you within 1-2 business days to answer any brief questions you may have and schedule a free phone consult (or provide you with referrals to other providers if needed). At the end of the consult, we can schedule an initial intake appointment and I will email you the paperwork to complete ahead of time. My paperwork can be completed all electronically in 30-45 minutes and consists of office policies, consent forms, liability waivers, and a brief questionnaire. If your child is age 12 or older I will also ask that they sign their own consent forms and complete their own questionnaire so that they are actively participating in their mental health treatment from the beginning.

Why don’t you accept my health insurance?

Privacy: By not involving your insurance company, your child’s private personal information stays between you and me. I'm the only person who has access to it except under specific circumstances which are outlined in my intake consent forms and discussed in our first session. There are no third party billers or auditors.

Protection: ​Your insurance provider would require me to provide your child with a psychiatric diagnosis of record (i.e. major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, oppositional defiant disorder). If you wish to obtain private health or life insurance for your child in the future, this information is open to review and may result in your child being denied coverage. Future schools or employers may also inquire as to your child’s psychiatric diagnoses. Paying privately avoids this risk.

Control: Insurance companies will often only authorize a certain number of sessions and can arbitrarily limit or stop paying for services for a variety of reasons, which can interfere with your child’s care. Insurance also only covers services that they deem “medically necessary” - if your child doesn't have a significant enough impairment to meet their qualifications, services could be denied. Insurance companies may also only cover telehealth or outdoor community sessions temporarily during the COVID-19 crisis.

With private pay therapy, there is really no limit to the support your child receives - we can meet anywhere from twice a month in the office to twice a week in the local park! We will make all of your child’s treatment decisions together, taking their best interests into account without interference from the insurance company.