1. TALK THERAPY refers to traditional individual therapy, where discussion of feelings and personal concerns is the major focus. Clients (teens or adults) usually choose discussion topics and the therapist provides some structure to help the discussion process. Curative factors are usually personal insight, support, and tension reduction.
   
   
2. COGNITIVE THERAPY refers to more structured, task focused form of therapy. This could entail a therapist and client engaging in a therapeutic activity, either specially designed for the client or an activity available commercially. For example, specific cognitive therapy programs are available for anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, stress, self-esteem, and behavioral skills.
   
   
3. PLAY THERAPY is for children. A wide range of toys and games is available in the office for your child, including toy people, toy house, cars & trucks, toy railroad, stuffed animals, drawing materials, boardgames, puzzles, wood for construction, preschool materials, just to name some. Play therapy is typically nondirective which means the child chooses the play activity and therapist interacts and provides supervision. Like talk therapy for adults, children use play therapy to represent their personal concerns through the disguised format of play. The children also obtain personal support and have the opportunity to build a therapeutic relationship. Frequently, discussions of real - life personal matters spontaneously occur during the play therapy.
   
   
4. FAMILY THERAPY involves meetings with parent(s) and/or one or more children in the family. Usually, the family and therapist create a list of topics for discussion, for example, household rules and improving the quality of relationships. If indicated, grandparents or other significant relatives like an aunt or uncle may be invited to participate.
   
   
5. COUPLES THERAPY is a type of therapy which could be marriage counseling, premarital counseling, or remarital counseling. Also, couples who are living together, without plans for marriage, may also benefit from couples counseling. The focus of this therapy is the nature of relationship. Topics typically include negotiation, intimacy, anger management, fulfilling the dreams and wishes of each individual, behavioral contracting, and communication skills.
   
   
6. PARENT COUNSELING involves only parents. Sometimes parent counseling accompanies a child's individual or family therapy. In other instances the parent(s) may decide just to have meetings to discuss how they relate to their children, set behavioral limits and discipline their child, or how to talk about certain matters with their child.
   
   
7. PSYCHOLOGICAL & NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING for children, teens, and adults. Included are tests of intelligence, personality, projectives, neuropsychology. A report is prepared after the testing is completed. Usually, testing is conducted to answer diagnostic questions and for treatment planning purposes.
   
   
8. Another form of assessment is called RATING SCALE ASSESSMENT. These are tests or surveys administered in a checklist format. The person's answers are then compared to those in a standardized sample at the person's age group. I have available rating scales for attention deficit disorder, anxiety, depression, general behavior, coping skills, job and life stress, parenting stress, anger, self concept, & others.
   
   
9. The final domain service I offer is called CONSULTATION. After appropriate Releases of Information are signed, I will, WITH your permission, contact key individuals. This could include, but is not limited to, administrative school personnel, probation officers, previous therapists, lawyers, teachers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, work supervisors, and state or private agencies. In many cases Consultation is not necessary, and your therapeutic contact with me remains strictly confidential within the limits of the law and other exceptions noted when you register. In most cases I conduct phone consultations, but certain situations require my appearance at a meeting or proceeding.

This section was not intended to be an exhaustive and complete review of the nature of psychological services, but as an introduction to help prospective clients increase their familiarity with how I work and the kinds of services I provide. Additional information is available by telephone before the initial appointment or as services progress.