Therapy should be a place where a young person feels secure enough to express themselves freely. To achieve this goal, I proceed at a pace that is comfortable for each individual and invest significant energy in establishing a strong partnership with your child. I also invite each child and adolescent to take the lead in therapy, thereby helping them develop a personal investment in treatment. By prioritizing these two important elements, I have helped many young people who have not benefited from therapy in the past. My approach has also been highly effective for children and adolescents who are reluctant to express their feelings or who are initially opposed to the idea of therapy.
The therapeutic techniques I use are tailored to each individual, but are strongly grounded in both contemporary psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral theory. I also rely on play therapy and other expressive means (e.g., therapeutic art) to help children who have difficulty verbalizing their thoughts and feelings.