Welcome!

Deciding to seek help for your child or family can be a difficult decision. It can also be challenging to determine where to go to get the help you need. I am a clinical psychologist, licensed in CT. I completed my graduate work in developmental and educational psychology at Teachers College Columbia University. I then completed my clinical psychology degree with a specialization in child, adolescent , and family psychology at the University of Massachusetts—Amherst, and my post-doctoral clinical training at Yale University School of Medicine. I have specific training in child and adolescent anxiety and depression and work with children and teens both individually and in groups. I also frequently provide parenting workshops to help parents develop effective discipline and communication skills. These workshops emphasize reducing tantrums and annoying behaviors (your child's and your own!) with a goal towards having more positive time with your kids.

The individual and family evaluations and interventions I provide are generally directed by a cognitive behavioral framework. This emphasizes how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. Treatment addresses maladaptive thoughts and behaviors to improve functioning, reduce symptoms, and develop life long resiliency.

How Therapy Can Help

Children and adolescents can benefit from psychotherapy to address mood and anxiety issues. In fact, research indicates that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be at least as effective as medication in the treatment of these disorders. In therapy, children receive education regarding their symptoms, receive support for the challenges they face, learn how to effectively challenge automatic or distorted thoughts, and develop adaptive alternative behaviors. Therapy can reduce symptoms, ease family life, improve school attendance and performance, and help the child develop skills that have lifetime benefit.

Group therapy can be an appealing and effective option for children with anxiety or mood disorders. Groups can provide social support, teach skills, and provide the opportunity to practice techniques designed to challenge automatic thoughts and develop alternative behaviors. Groups consist of a minimum of 4 children or adolescents and are specific to the anxiety or depression issues confronting your child. Groups may be an addition to individual therapy or a child may participate in the group as his or her primary therapy. New groups are formed as clients express interest following the initial evaluation session, and clients can repeat their participation in a group at the end of the 8 week session.

Parents and children have changing relationships. Counseling can help build communication, improve discipline skills, and increase positive time spent together. Parents are also an integral part of any child's individual treatment. Parents and children can work together to monitor symptoms, practice skills, and progress in therapy. Parents are encouraged to play an active and engaged role in treatment, including attending portions of individual sessions and/or attending their own individual sessions to discuss their child.