About us

For your first session, you may be asked to come in a little early to fill out some forms if you have not already done so. It is normal to feel a little anxious in the first few sessions as you may not know what to expect. Trust us and we will help and guide you through ever step. Be assured that we will set the tone and get things started smoothly. We are a team of professionals who are trained to guide each session in effective ways to help you get closer to your goals.

The first session might seem like a game of 20 questions and will typically involve asking you a series of questions to find out pertinent history and background information. We will also orient you to the nature of our services (e.g., confidentiality issues, frequency of sessions, cost, etc.). If you feel that bringing a parent/spouse/relative/friend will help facilitate the process better, please feel free to bring him/her along with you! We want your experience to be a warm and welcoming one.

Once we have a full history, recommendations will be made for either an assessment, therapy or referral to another professional (who will be better suited to meet your individual needs). We will work together to create a treatment plan. This collaborative goal-setting is important, because both you and your psychologist need to be invested in achieving your goals. At the end of your first session, your psychologist may also have suggestions for immediate action.

Most of us face struggles at some point in our lives. These struggles may include stress in school or at work, difficulty with a peer, or problems with a family member. Alternatively, struggles may include emotional symptoms such as depression or anxiety, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms such as repetitive upsetting thoughts or uncontrolled worry. Sometimes, life’s struggles can be eased by taking better care of yourself, and perhaps talking about the issues with a supportive friend or family member. But there may be times when these steps do not resolve the issue. When this happens, it may be worthwhile to consider seeking the help of a qualified licensed psychologist.

Two general guidelines can be helpful when considering whether you or someone you love could benefit from therapy: Is the problem distressing? Is it interfering with some aspect of life?

The decision to enter into therapy is a very personal one. Individuals may feel nervous about trying it themselves. Overcoming that nervousness is worth it. Any time one’s quality of life is being impacted, psychotherapy will be worth the time and effort.

Numerous advances have been made in the treatment of psychological disorders in the past decade and many therapies have been shown scientifically to be helpful. Many psychological problems have been shown to be treatable using short-term therapy approaches. You do not need to continue to struggle with a problem that is upsetting and/or getting in the way of your life. Help is available.

There are ways that families can help set the stage for a more positive assessment experience for both child and parents. In reviewing the following points, we would ask that you fully consider the individual needs of your child in determining a preparation plan that will best support your child in producing a more optimal performance.

1. Preview

• Talk with your child about where you are going, whom you will be seeing, and what you will be doing during the assessment.
• For example, if your assessment will take place in our clinic, you can access our website and look at pictures of the team who will be involved in your child’s assessment.
• The words “testing” and “assessment” may be aversive or meaningless for many children – we recommend use of statements such as “you will be doing lots of different things together, kind of like puzzles and games.”
• Let your child know that the people will be friendly, the setting will be comfortable, and that s/he or she can take breaks if they need to while they are here.

2. Be physically and emotionally prepared

Avoid planning non-routine events on the evening prior to the assessment if possible.

On the day of the assessment:

• Ensure your child will be well-rested and physically well on the day of the evaluation.
• Make the assessment day a stress-free day for your child.
• Ensure your child has eaten.
• Your child may like to bring a snack and drink to the session.
• Allow your child to bring an object that may help increase their sense of safety and security. Try to choose an object that will not be too distracting for the child (e.g., a small stuffed animal).

3. Outline positive expectations

• It is easy to fall into the trap of outlining what we do not want from a child when preparing for an upcoming event, resulting in a list of anxiety-producing “don’ts” in the child’s mind.
• Restate a “don’t” into a “do”.
• Use vaguely-stated positive expectations such as “work as hard as you can”.

4. Relax and let the process unfold

• We know it is easier said than done.
• Many children are hyper-attuned to the emotional states of their parents and will show signs of anxiety if parents give out those signals.
• Try to let go of any desire or expectation of performance.