Children and adolescents are often misunderstood, even by those who care and support them the most. I have found in my experience that most of our young folks struggle to understand and communicate the difficulties they face. Whether the problem is behavioral, emotional or academic, they are often faced with the question of “why”: ‘Why are you doing that? Why can’t you stop? What is going on?’ And they have no answers.  

The brain of a young person is still growing and developing in ways that—for many—prohibit the outcomes they hope to achieve. The brain connections needed to form the algorithms that answer questions of who, what, where and when get lost or are unrecognizable, creating anxiety and depression around the problems they face. Many children and adolescents are struggling to keep up with the demands of their lives and to form resiliency with the social, academic and familial problems they face. 

Therapy is a space where children and adolescents can explore. This exploration might come in the form of talking, but often include techniques such as art, play therapy, music and stories to help the brain make those connections and form vocabulary to describe their feelings and progress. The skills and outcomes that children learn in therapy will give them the tools to be more mindful adults that can carry solution-focused techniques into their relationships and daily management throughout their lives.

I am experienced in the field of Executive Functioning and Neurological Deficits—specifically, dealing with children and adolescents diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. I have a deep interest in the growth and development of community, and I have developed parent education and socialization training groups. I collaborate with speech and language pathologists, special education teachers, and occupational therapists at public/private schools, as an important part of the team of support.