Individual Adult Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis

Whether this is your first time in therapy or you’ve been to therapy before, the process can feel vulnerable. My approach to psychotherapy is dynamic and depth-oriented. I believe there are many complexities to our relational patterns and experiences. I primarily work with the following presenting issues:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Life Transitions/ Changes

  • Grief and Loss

  • Relational Difficulties

  • Emotional Difficulties

Child Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis

Much like talk therapy in adults, child therapy aims to address the emotional, social, behavioral, and psychological well-being of the person. Except, children do not often have the ability to articulate their experiences in the same way adults do. Part of the work I do involves play therapy for this purpose. Using a medium (e.g., play materials, games, artwork, etc.), allows proper space for the child to process material from their inner world in a way that meets them at their developmental level. Children who present with anger, aggression, social difficulties, separation anxiety, adoption, anxiety, and depression may benefit from these services.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluations

I have been conducting comprehensive evaluations for children presenting with neurodevelopmental concerns for the past seven years. I have seen the value in providing  specialized psychodiagnostic testing as it pertains to the question of autism to help clarify the nature of the individual’s presentation and fine tune the need for support. I evaluate children between 18 months and 12 years old who are presenting with autism-related symptoms. Autism has historically been a misunderstood diagnosis, which can often present differently amongst individuals. Many caregivers who seek an autism screening may do so after having been referred by a provider in the child’s life or due to their own concerns or family history.

The evaluation process includes a 60-90-minute parent interview, cognitive testing, and a play-based assessment using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). These are considered gold-standard when evaluating an individual for autism spectrum disorder. Part of the evaluation process may also include additional questionnaires for the caregiver and clinical consultation with other providers who are actively involved in the child’s life.

 

Group Psychotherapy

Process-oriented group psychotherapy is a powerful tool for growth and change. These groups typically consist of 5-8 people who meet to share their struggles and concerns with the facilitation of a clinician. The power of group therapy lies in the opportunity to receive feedback, support, and encouragement from the perspective of other individuals in the context of a safe and confidential environment. The group context may also help to point out troublesome interpersonal patterns by providing support and offering alternatives.