My Approach to Helping
I'm very sensitive to the fact that many children and adolescents aren't interested in counseling and will try to avoid going, even when they themselves know they need help. (Please take a look at my article, "Why Teens Hate Therapy," in Psychotherapy Networker magazine, SeptOct 2012, to read more about this.) I believe, however, that by approaching kids with an updated model of therapy offering lively, thought-provoking conversation, genuine contact with a credible adult, and a ton of respect, we can get their attention, their engagement, and their willingness to examine things with a fresh eye. Also important is that the child or adolescent feel that what we're talking about is relevant to him or her - not just something that someone else (a parent or teacher) said we should be talking about. This is how I like to work with my young clients and their parents, and I've found it to be an especially effective way of helping kids who never really came out and asked for help in the first place.
Examples of the problems I treat: academic decline, moody or manipulative behavior, depression, withdrawal from family, anxiety, problems making or keeping friends, poor self-image or self-esteem, unexplained sadness, self-destructive choices, disrespect toward parents, avoiding responsibility, chronic conflict or tension or disagreements at home, emotional distancing from parents, poor conduct (aggressive, evasive, intimidating), among many other types of issues or conditions.
Call or write me. Let's see if I'm the right person to work with you and your family.
