In my practice, I see children, teens, and adults, and as you can imagine, the therapies for these three groups differs noticeably. Essentially, therapy is an opportunity to understand yourself in a way that can alleviate suffering, allow you to overcome difficult transitions or challenges, and experience a greater sense of freedom. Below I have outlined some of what you can expect from therapy for children, teens and adults….
For Children
Children experience the same kind of emotions as adults, but they have different means to express it, and so their therapy must be geared to their linguistic and developmental needs. Therapy for a child can help them cope with their changing environment without it impacting their academic, family, or social lives If you are pursuing treatment for your child, it is my goal to help you understand why your child is having a hard time, and that is why I work closely with parents to help them approach their child in a new way to help remove obstacles that have impeded their progress.
For Teens
Teenage years can be fraught with challenges, particularly with friends, siblings and parents. Relating to your adolescent son or daughter can be difficult; they speak a different language and are from another culture. Therapy for a teen can provide them with an opportunity to figure out what it is that they want, and how to achieve this, in a setting that is confidential, and more neutral. For parents of teens, consultation can be an effective way to gain understanding about what your child is trying to communicate.
For Adults
An initial consultation can provide an opportunity to take perspective, and see if it is a good fit. From there, I can offer a course of brief psychotherapy for issues that are more isolated or due to circumstance, like a breakup or professional transition. I also offer psychotherapy to address issues that you may have been coping with for longer periods of time, because they are harder to change. We will jointly agree on the focus and duration of treatment, and if you are not comfortable continuing, I am happy to offer you a referral.