How to Get Started
Request a Free Consultation
Begin with a free 20-minute phone call. This call allows you to find out whether I'm a good fit for you and your needs. I might ask you questions about what brings you to therapy and would answer any questions that you have for me. There is no commitment to continue.
Initial Intake Session
In this first 90-minute session, I gather detailed information about your tween's/teen's symptoms, history, and personal strengths. Parents are typically involved in the first part of the intake.
Collaborative Treatment Planning
After the intake, I share my clinical impressions and recommend an evidence-based treatment plan tailored to your tween's/teen's needs. Together, we discuss goals, frequency of sessions, and what meaningful progress could look like.
Ongoing Therapy
Weekly 50-minute sessions are typical to start, with frequency adjusted based on your tween's/teen's progress. I provide ongoing assessment throughout treatment, and we regularly review whether the work is helping.
Parent Involvement in Therapy
When your child is in therapy with me, you remain a critical part of their support system. For more parent information, see my blog.
The Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Teens (UP-C/A) include caregiver modules in which caregivers learn about the skills and behavior experiments that are an integral part of this treatment so that they can fully support their children at home. I include those modules in your tween's/teen's treatment plan and invite parents to actively participate in them. When I use CAMS with a teen, there is a special and crucial caregiver session on removing means.
Younger Tweens (ages 10–12)
UP-C caregiver psychoeducation sessions in addition to check-ins are a regular part of the schedule.
Older Teens & Young Adults (ages 13–20)
I follow Washington State law, which allows minors aged 13 and older to consent to certain mental health services independently. In my first UP-A or DBT sessions with teens, I ask them how comfortable they feel about including their caregivers in therapy. Unless there are safety issues, I follow my teen clients' lead in how much information to share with their caregivers.
Communication You Can Expect
In our first meeting, we will establish a communication plan that works for your family. You can expect me to reach out if:
- I have a clinical concern about your tween's/teen's safety.
- Treatment goals or recommendations need to change significantly.
- Coordinated care with other providers (psychiatrist, school counselor) is needed.
- Family work would meaningfully support your tween's/teen's progress.
If Your Tween/Teen Is in Crisis or Has a Life-Threatening Emergency
Please call 911 immediately and go to the nearest emergency room. This practice does not provide emergency or crisis services.
Caregiver Support
I offer coaching sessions to parents and caregivers who want focused support in navigating the challenges of raising a struggling child.
In my Caregiver Support sessions, I teach parents DBT skills for:
- Building and maintaining a collaborative relationship with their tween/teen
- Reinforcing behaviors that serve their tween's/teen's long-term well-being
- Collaboratively problem-solving with their tween/teen
I base my sessions with parents on Dr. Nancy Cohen and Tracy Kalloway's Your Parent Compass curriculum.