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does my child need therapy? 

therapeutic support for marin children and their families 

therapy for teens and young adults

and support for their families
​
does my teen or Young Adult need therapy?
 

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  • unusually sad, anxious, or irritable

  • self destructive behaviors

  • trauma, grief, or major loss

  • learning struggles

  • transition or adjustment difficulties

  • social challenges

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Services

how i can help

assess

  • complimentary phone consultation

  • initial information gathering (intake) session with parent(s) and child (age dependent)

  • input from the teacher, doctor, and any other relevant professionals.

  • specializations include:​

    • ADHD/ADD

    • anxiety/OCD

    • learning differences

    • stress management

    • adoption issues

    • fears and phobias

    • depression

    • behavior management

    • grief and loss

    • major life changes

    • anger management

    • social problems

    • eating issues

plan

The treatment plan will meet treatment goals using the following therapies:

play therapy (age dependent)

I use different forms of therapeutic play and art with children to help them recognize and verbalize feelings and resolve or prevent psychosocial challenges.

cognitive behavioral therapy/ERP

I teach children that thoughts can cause feelings that influence 

behavior. I help children replace harmful thought patterns with adaptive ones.

family systems therapy

I work with different members of the family, or the entire family, to promote healthy communication patterns, provide support,

and educate.

psychodynamic therapy

I teach that emotional distress leads to internal psychic conflict which results in challenging symptoms. Children use a combination of play and talk depending on the child's age.

mindfulness therapy

I teach children a variety of techniques including meditation, visualization, and guided imagery, to help manage feelings and behaviors.

treat

Individual teen or young adult sessions​

I work alone with the client to facilitate awareness of feelings and behavior and develop more adaptive ways of managing both.

Individual parent sessions

I may meet separately with the parents as necessary. (age dependent)

Combined child/parent sessions

I may involve the parents (age dependent) every few sessions to share what the child has learned and how best to support this development at home and school. I may assign homework as needed.

Group therapy

I offer group therapy to provide support for parents in many areas of treatment.

connect

I may refer families for additional support. This may include, and is not limited to:

  • medication evaluations 

  • psychoeducational evaluations

  • occupational therapists

  • learning and educational specialists

  • addiction counselors

  • psychiatric consultations

  • speech and language specialists

  • other therapists with specializations

  • individual or family therapy

ABOUT ME

I have strived to support children and families since 1993 when I began my MSW program. Interning at both the White House and the Child Welfare League of America, provided a unique national perspective on the struggles faced by children. As a clinical intern at Washington, DC's, Veteran's Hospital, 28-day inpatient substance abuse program, I witnessed firsthand how addiction scarred children and families.

 

After earning my MSW in 1995, I moved to California and received my LCSW in 2001. I worked for many years providing therapeutic support to children with special needs living with foster and adoptive families. I worked in bilingual and multicultural agencies, and agencies supporting LGBTQ adoptive families. I developed foster adoption programs in Northern and Southern California and served as Clinical Director for a child welfare agency. I provided parent trainings to support children with special needs. I provided therapeutic support to families and children impacted by the Santa Rosa fires. I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy.

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Equally important is my role as a mom of three. I love to be outside hiking, running, biking, and cross-country skiing, and spending as much time as possible with my family and my dog. I'm originally from the Northeast, and I enjoy time with family every summer on the East Coast.

professional affiliations include:

  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

  • Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) 

  • Association for Play Therapy

  • Violet Solomon Oaklander Foundation

  • Society for Social Work Research (SSWR)

Fees/2024

  • Free 30-minute initial phone consult

  • Initial 80-minute assessment session, $400

  • Individual 50-minute sessions, $250

  • School meetings or meetings with other professionals, one hour fee (plus drive time)

 

Cash, check, or credit card payment due each session, and online pay is available. While I do not accept insurance, many PPOs provide mental health coverage, and I will provide a monthly superbill, upon request, to submit to your insurance company.

About Me
Fees
Contact
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