Therapy
If you find yourself, your child, or your family struggling, the first thing you need is someone to listen and understand. Our psychologists and psychotherapists create an empathic environment to provide therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, including individual therapy, group therapy, parent coaching, couples therapy, and family therapy.
Our compassionate providers utilize a variety of evidence-based modalities, individualized for every patient. Supportive, personalized therapy is provided within the context of a carefully matched, strong therapeutic relationship with one of our highly trained clinicians.
Our providers collaborate not only with WBMA’s psychiatrists, but also with caregivers, other medical/mental health providers, and community members (e.g., teachers) to ensure comprehensive care and support (with consent, of course). We welcome those interested in care based on expressive therapies, such as art, drama, and music, as well. Telehealth services are available in some circumstances, including parent coaching.
Individual Therapy: Children (Ages 2-11)
We know one of the hardest difficulties caregivers face is worry for their children. We are here to help, and we want you to leave our office after the very first meeting feeling supported and understood. Therapy for children begins with a parent/caregiver intake. We will listen compassionately as you share concerns, and work together with you to create an initial treatment plan for your child. This collaborative plan will evolve as therapy progresses and goals change. Therapy with children is likely to involve play, talk, books, and art. The younger the child, the more we’ll engage in therapeutic play. We’ll want to know about your child’s interests so we can integrate them into sessions and utilize them to help build the therapeutic relationship. We’ll explore both strengths and vulnerabilities to aid progress. Since a child only spends about an hour each week with the psychotherapist, we will engage caregivers to aid progress outside of the therapy room. This will help your child generalize skills, and create consistency in using them. We may recommend simultaneous parent coaching or family therapy, or simply make a plan with you regarding how we can best communicate what’s happening in therapy so that you can follow through with similar techniques at home. This might include emails, phone calls, in-person or Telehealth parent sessions, inclusion in some sessions, or brief meetings during the final minutes of each session. One of our primary goals will always be supporting you, so that you can support your child. The length of therapy varies based on a variety of factors including your child’s needs, support system, and the school and home environment. Our psychotherapists will happily collaborate with other members of your support team whenever necessary. We’ll want to hear from you when therapy is going well, and if it is not, so we can re-think treatment planning if necessary.
Some reasons you might seek therapy for a child include:
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Anxiety, fearfulness, and/or worry
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Feelings of sadness and/or low self-esteem
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Struggles with peers and friendships
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Angry outbursts
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Changing moods
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Tantrums and Meltdowns (trouble managing ‘Big Feelings’)
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Disruptive and/or difficult acting out
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Sensory sensitivity
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Learning differences
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Unexplained physical complaints
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Vulnerabilities in coping or adaptive skills
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Developmental
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Neurodiversity affirmative support for neurodivergence (e.g., Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, etc.)
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Big changes, transitions, trauma, and/or losses
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Family difficulties, diagnoses, and/or conflicts (including sibling rivalry)
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A recent mental health and/or learning diagnosis
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Support surrounding gender and sexuality (we are LGBTQQIAA+ affirmative)
If you are not sure whether therapy is the answer for your child, please call us. We’ll meet for intake, or for a ‘next steps’ consultation based on our preliminary discussion, to help you determine the best way to support your child.
Individual Therapy: Adolescents & Teens (Ages 12-18)
The teenage world is complex and ever-changing, as is the teenage brain. Social success ebbs and flows, moods change frequently, and academic pressure is intense. Whether your teen asks for help, or whether you seek us out because of your own concern, we are here to help! As with children, we’ll start with a parent/caregiver intake. As we better understand your concerns, we’ll work with you to create an initial support plan. Your teen will be an active participant in planning as well. Therapy with teens is strongly driven by their needs and emotions. Therapy will likely involve talk, and maybe some gameplay and expressive therapies (like art). We’ll explore both strengths and vulnerabilities to aid progress. We will work with you on ways to support your teen at home, and offer parent coaching when appropriate, while also asking you to respect the confidentiality inherent in our sessions together. Rest assured, we’ll reach out if we’re concerned that your teen is in danger. Therapy with this age group involves balancing confidentiality to help create trust for the teen, and caregiver involvement to help reach both therapeutic and life goals. Of course, we’ll help you create plans for keeping your teen safe when venturing out with friends, managing scree time, balancing school and fun, etc. Our psychotherapists will happily collaborate with other members of your support team whenever necessary. We’ll want to hear from you when therapy is going well, and if it is not, so we can re-think the support plan, if necessary. The length of therapy varies based on a number of factors, including your teen’s needs, support system, and the school and home environment. Telehealth may sometimes be an option for teens.
Some reasons you might seek therapy for a teen include:
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Anxiety, fearfulness, and/or worry
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Feelings of sadness, depression, and/or low self-esteem
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Drop in grades, homework struggles, and/or concerns at school
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Loss of appetite, loss of interest in activities, and/or increased exhaustion
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Unexplained physical complaints
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Struggles with peers and friendships and/or loneliness or isolation
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Angry outbursts
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Changing moods and/or excessive irritability
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Low or decreased motivation
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Poor body image
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Self-harming thoughts, talk, and/or behaviors
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Disruptive and/or difficult behaviors
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Support surrounding gender and sexuality (we are LGBTQQIAA+ affirmative)
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Distress related to world events
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Neurodiversity affirmative support for neurodivergence (e.g., Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, etc.)
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Learning differences
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Poor coping and/or adaptive skills
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Big changes, transitions, trauma, and/or losses
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Failure to launch
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Family difficulties, diagnoses, and/or conflicts
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A recent mental health and/or learning diagnosis
If you are not sure whether therapy is the answer for your teen, please call us. We’ll meet for intake, or for a ‘next steps’ consultation based on our preliminary discussion, to help you determine the best way to support your teen.
Individual Therapy: Adults
We know it can be hard to ask for help. Our primary goal is to help you feel comfortable doing so. Our supportive, inclusive, compassionate therapists are trained in a variety of evidence-based modalities to support you and meet you ‘where you are’ in the moment. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mood symptoms, feeling stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, or unable to cope, dealing with a challenging life or relationship event or circumstance, or simply trying to manage the constant demands and fears within today’s high-pressure world, we are here to understand, guide, and support you. Our therapists are interactive and involved, while also non-judgmental and accepting. We will challenge you appropriately, but always based on the goals and needs we set together. Our therapists will work with you to create an always flexible support plan to help you meet your goals. We’ll choose techniques that match your needs and personality, and will explore both strengths and vulnerabilities to aid progress. We’ll want to hear from you when therapy is going well, and if it is not, so we can re-think your care. Our therapists will happily collaborate with other members of your support team whenever necessary. Telehealth may sometimes be an option for adults.
Some reasons you might seek therapy include:
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Anxiety, fearfulness, and/or worry
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Feelings of sadness, depression, and/or low self-esteem
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Drop in work performance and/or decreased motivation
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Loss of appetite, interest in activities, and/or increased exhaustion
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Unexplained physical complaints
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Struggles with friendships and/or loneliness/isolation
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Marital or romantic relationship stress and/or distress
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Pregnancy loss and/or difficulty conceiving
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Post-Partum distress (Anxiety, Depression, Attachment, etc.)
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Supporting work/life balance
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Developing positive parenting skills
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Angry outbursts
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Changing moods and/or excessive irritability
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Improving body image
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Self-harming thoughts, talk, and/or behaviors
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Support surrounding gender and sexuality (we are LGBTQQIAA+ affirmative)
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Neurodiversity affirmative support for neurodivergence (e.g., Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, etc.)
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Distress related to world events
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Poor coping and/or adaptive skills
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Big changes, transitions, trauma, or losses
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Confusion about your path in life
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Family difficulties, diagnoses, changes, and/or conflicts
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A recent mental health and/or learning diagnosis
If you are not sure whether therapy is the answer, please call us. We’ll meet for intake, or for a ‘next steps’ consultation based on our preliminary discussion, to help you determine the best way to support you.
Art Therapy
Art Therapy is a form of visual expressive communication which can circumvent the limitations of language. This visual and symbolic expression fosters self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivates emotional resilience, promotes insight, enhances social interactions, and empowers the individual to reduce and resolve conflicts and distress. It is also used to improve cognitive executive functioning and sensory-motor functions.
Art Therapy benefits children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. The type of art therapy is specific to the needs of the patient and can be used to help with emotional distress, adjustment issues, relief from trauma, self-awareness, recognizing and healing pain, and processing grief and loss. Through the creative process, patients express feelings and explore vulnerabilities. Each patient’s creative process is unique, and may include a variety of art making methods, like drawing, painting, collage, or sculpture. In Art Therapy, the emphasis is on the process of creating the art, and using it as a means of communication and exploration. Art Therapy does not require training, experience, or ‘skill.’ Art Therapy is facilitated by a master-level clinician trained and licensed in art therapy.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is sometimes more helpful than individual therapy for a child, or as an adjunct to a child’s therapy. It may also be helpful in a time of significant change, transition, or loss, or when sibling rivalry or general familial conflict is high. Family therapy builds attachment and communication. Our therapists will help each family member feel heard and understood. Goals will be based in meeting the collective needs of the family, as well as those of each family member. Strengths and vulnerabilities will be sought, explored, and utilized to help aid positive change within the family. Talk, games, and expressive therapies may be utilized based on each family’s interests and needs.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is available for couples of every background. Some couples seek out therapy when going through rough patches, while others seek therapy to ensure positive communication, even when they are doing well (e.g., pre-marital counseling). Our experienced therapists will help you navigate problems, small or large, and improve understanding, to foster connection. Therapy may focus on ensuring positive communication, increasing intimacy and trust, repairing a ‘breach,’ reconciling differences, reducing conflict, or even separating. Our therapists will work with each couple to understand and respond to their specific needs and goals for therapy.
Group Therapy
Group therapy helps to simulate ‘real world’ social interactions. It can be helpful for individuals of all ages as a primary therapy, or as an adjunct to individual therapy. Group therapy may involve talk, game play, and/or expressive therapies. In the group setting, individuals can practice techniques and social interactions, and get immediate feedback from not only the psychotherapist facilitating the group, but also other group members. Group therapy can help prevent and improve feelings of loneliness and isolation related to diagnoses or difficulties. Individuals so often feel alone in their struggles, and groups can help decrease such feelings. As in individual therapy, the psychotherapist facilitating each group will help members explore strengths and vulnerabilities to promote positive progress. If you are interested in group therapy and we do not currently have a group that meets your need, we are willing to build one around you – it may take some time so please be patient with us!
Parent Coaching
Parent/caregiver coaching is available for parents of children and teens seen at WBMA and within The SOAR Program, as well as to parents whose children are not currently receiving services. Depending on whether there is an ‘identified patient’, parent coaching may or may not be insurance reimbursable (though we are out of network, regardless). Parent coaching is available both in person and through Telehealth. Our Parent Coaching model utilizes gentle and positive parenting techniques. Our psychotherapists will work together will you to set goals and to identify the focus of parent coaching. Goals might include: increased positive interactions, improved communication and attachment, avoiding conflict, reducing yelling and fighting, managing day to day challenges, understanding logical consequences and incentives, creating structure and routine, managing transitions, navigating a child’s needs, differences, and/or diagnoses, and developing opportunities for positive one-on-one and family time. Parent coaching will help children experience felt safety and co-regulation, and help parents understand the ‘why’ beneath their children’s emotions and behaviors.