Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most basic emotions, and part of the normal human experience. When it disrupts quality of life or impedes functioning, it may be time to seek help.   Fortunately, anxiety disorders can be treated with short-term, effective methods of treatment.

We use a variety of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to help patients cope with anxiety. We specialize in using Exposure Therapy to teach people to cope with anxiety.

Disruptive Behavior Disorders

All children misbehave sometimes. When this misbehavior is excessive or causes problems at home or school, parents often seek treatment. Common symptoms occurring in children with these disorders include: defiance of authority figures, angry outbursts, and other antisocial behaviors such as lying and stealing. 

Treatments for disruptive behavior disorders include Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Parent Management Training (PMT).

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and PANS/ PAnDAS

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder characterized by a person getting caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions.  Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions or decrease his or her distress. Treatment for OCD typically includes Exposure and Response Prevention.

Parent training

Sometimes parents need more support and coaching than a book or manual can provide. This is partially because some children are tougher to manage, due to anxiety or disruptive behaviors, than others.

One parent driven treatment approach to anxiety provided is called SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions). While the child is the patient, this program seeks to help parents change their own behaviors in order to help their anxious children.

Trichotillomania, Tics and Skin Picking

Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations, and Body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) is a general term for a group of related disorders that includes hair pulling, skin picking, and nail biting.  These behaviors are complex disorders that cause people to touch and pull their bodies in a way that results in physical damage.  Both Tics and BFRBs can be treated using CBT techniques.