We will start our work together by scheduling 1-2 intake sessions. Ahead of your first session, I will send you some intake paperwork and consent forms to review and complete online via a simple online client portal. I promise I do actually read those and will not make you repeat information you already provided! During your intake session, I will review the consent forms with you and answer any questions you may have. I will then follow up on some of the information you provided in your intake paperwork and collect additional diagnostic information through a structured interview format and the use of research-validated questionnaires. This will assist me in establishing diagnosis and severity. I then synthesize all of this information and discuss with you any diagnoses and treatment recommendations along with their pros and cons. If you are interested in beginning treatment, we will likely begin with 1-2 sessions per week. In some cases, bi-weekly sessions may be sufficient.

It is not really possible to provide specific timeframes for treatment completion as every person is different. Treatment duration is dependent on many factors including diagnostic complexity, ability to attend sessions regularly, and adherence to practice outside of session. Average number of treatment sessions needed for clinically significant reduction of symptoms is approximately 18-24. Families engaged in PCIT have often completed treatment in as few as 10-16 sessions. I understand that time and finances are typically important considerations for clients being able to obtain services. My approach to treatment is solution-focused and time-limited. My goal is to get you back to living your life as quickly as possible.

It depends. We will talk more specifically about what treatment will look like after the intake so that you can make an informed decision about what is right for you. You can expect that we will be working toward a specific, measurable goal that is identified by you. We will also identify a treatment blueprint together that we will consider a “living document”. This means that it can change as needed in response to your progress and life situation. Generally, you can expect that sessions will include monitoring symptoms, learning about how the brain works (especially the relationship between your thoughts, emotions, behaviors), and learning and practicing skills to change the way your brain functions. Treatment literally changes your brain! I strive to provide clients with treatment that is effective, engaging, and empowering.

Treatment is largely conducted with the caregiver(s). During this stage of development, caregivers are the most effective agents of change and treatment focuses on teaching parents to implement specialized skills to more effectively manage challenging behaviors and emotions. These skills are practiced one-on-one with the therapist, then with the child, and then independently at home. Caregivers have the opportunity to learn how to be a therapist for their child. 

At this age, caregivers remain a critical component of treatment. Parents learn information about their child’s condition and specific strategies to manage challenging behaviors and emotions. Younger adolescents often split session time with their caregiver. Often the child will learn a skill and will then have the opportunity to teach that skill to their parent in the second half of the session to help reinforce skill acquisition. Teens often have greater desire for autonomy and tend to experience increasing social and emotional complexity that necessitates more individual time in session. Treatment with older youth tends to be more effective when there is a greater right to privacy. This means that I will not generally disclose the content of sessions outside of any safety risks. Expectations regarding privacy and disclosure will be discussed during the intake session and established collaboratively, taking into account parent and child preferences to the extent possible. Parent sessions may occur separately or less frequently depending on the severity of the presenting concern and the child’s ability and willingness to participate meaningfully. Sessions for children are typically more playful and skills are learned in the context of games and “behavior experiments”. There is also a greater emphasis on earning rewards for practicing positive behaviors so that therapy feels empowering and fun!

• For clients who are residents of Georgia, I offer both in-person and virtual sessions.

• For clients who are residents of Missouri, Pennsylvania, or Florida, I offer virtual-only sessions. ​

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Virtual sessions offer the flexibility that is needed for many clients to be able to access therapy. However, it also requires access to a stable internet connection, a private space, and often additional considerations (particularly for youth) that will be discussed during intake. Research has demonstrated that virtual therapy is typically as effective as in-person therapy. However, this may not be the case for everyone, and many people prefer in-person sessions for a myriad of reasons. I am happy to discuss more to help you determine whether virtual therapy is a good fit for you or your child.