ServicES

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

Our practice offers a full range of outpatient services, including individual psychotherapy, couples and family therapy, group psychotherapy, and medication management. PHA’s treatment philosophy is that each individual, couple, and family seeking help will receive the best services on an individualized basis, targeted to the specific goals of treatment. We pride ourselves on maintaining a family-practice orientation: we work with adults, children, parents, couples, and families.


Children and Adolescents

Children and Adolescents face unique challenges and have different cognitive abilities to cope with life stressors at each stage of their development. PHA therapists who see children and teens are trained to meet them where they are, and to help them and their families navigate the many challenges of school, home, and peer relationships.

Anxiety and Depression shows up differently in children depending on their stage of development. For example, a four-year-old may temporarily have issues with urinary accidents when processing anxiety, while a child of school age may “refuse” to go to school, yet both behaviors may be rooted in the child’s experience of anxiety. Your PHA therapist can help gain understanding into your child’s struggle and treat it effectively.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)is often first identified in childhood. This can cause problems with focusing and finishing a task, impulsive words and behaviors, and sometimes “hyper” high activity levels. These difficulties can in turn lead to problems in school and with peers, and eventually affecting the child’s self-esteem. Consult with our child therapists for an assessment and interventions.

Behavior Management: Sometimes kids just don’t “listen,” sometimes they seem out of control of their own behavior, and sometimes parents are at their wits' end about what to do to help and how to teach their children to behave.  It is OK to get some help, to work with a professional to “unpack” what is going on with the child and in the family, and to work together with the family to effectively change.

Social Anxiety and Social Skill Training: “My daughter is so shy she won’t play with others, “My son is being bullied,” “My child is having problems making friends,” and more. If you are concerned about your child’s ability to get along with others, therapy can help.

School Concerns: Whether your child is having problems academically, socially, or behaviorally at school, it is often more complicated than one simple intervention. Call us to schedule a consultation.

Substance Use (including vaping): Alcohol, Marijuana, Vaping, and other drug use is reaching epidemic proportions amongst children and teens. At this age these behaviors pose particular risks because they can affect brain development, interfere with the ability to regulate attention and learning, and create difficulties with impulse control. Our therapists are trained in the unique challenges that this age group face and work to teach strategies to discontinue their use and improve the quality of their life.