Adolescence is a developmental stage during which we accomplish to varying degrees and ways disengagement from our parents and families and the exploration of our sexual desires and identities. I offer a range of services, psychotherapy, groups, and parent guidance, to help adolescents and their families with emotional problems that affect their learning, peer relationships, and family life. And I am especially interested in exploring with adolescents and their parents the underlying causes of problems.
When parents seek help, I offer an assessment to determine the nature of the problems. My goal is to create a safe and confidential environment where parents and adolescents can express themselves fully to develop self-understanding and lasting changes.
Assessment begins with an evaluation with parents and adolescents. The goal is to define the nature, duration, and current understanding of the problem and develop an individualized approach to treatment.
Psychotherapy may help with crises as well as ongoing emotional and behavioral difficulties. Therapy sessions may occur once or twice weekly.
Psychoanalysis is a more frequent and intensive form of psychotherapy. It is uniquely able to address underlying conflicts rooted in early life experience. Psychoanalytic sessions are scheduled four or five times weekly and may include consultation with parents.
Developmental Guidance can be especially useful to parents, children and adolescents . The focus is on the development of reSponsive parenting.
Groups are often useful for adolescents to share ideas and experience.
Referral may be made to other resources and practitioners when the problem(s) is outside the scope of my practice.
Consultation: I have expertise in emotional development and mental health needs of children, adolescents, and families. I provide education and consultation to parents, public groups, and mental health professionals.
What to be concerned about:*

 • Feeling sad and hopeless and for no apparent reason; they do not go away.
• Feeling angry most of the time, crying a lot , or overreacting to things.
• Feeling worthless or guilty often.
• Feeling anxious or worried often.
• Feeling unable to get over a loss or death.
• Feeling extremely fearful or having unexplained fears.
• Feeling constantly concerned about physical problems or appearance.
• Feeling frightened that one's mind is controlled or is out of control.


• Showing declining performance in school.
• Losing interest in things once enjoyed.
• Experiencing unexplained changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
• Avoiding friends or family and wanting to be alone all the time.
• Daydreaming too much and not completing tasks.
• Feeling life is too hard to handle.
• Hearing voices that cannot be explained.
• Experiencing suicidal thoughts.

• Poor concentration, unable to think straight or make up one's mind.
• An inability to sit still or focus attention.
• Worry about being harmed, hurting others, or doing something "bad".
• A need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines many times
 to avoid an unsubstantiated danger.
 • Racing thoughts that are almost too fast to follow.
• Persistent nightmares.
 • Eating large amounts, then purging, abusing laxatives, to avoid weight gain.
 • Dieting and/or exercising obsessively.
• Violating the rights of others or constantly breaking the law without regard for others.
• Setting fires.
• Doing things that can be life threatening.
• Killing animals.
LINKS
The Developing Brain
PBS Frontline, Inside the Teenage Brain

Facts for Families

Youth Organizations

National Youth Advocacy Coalition

Research, Publications, Journals

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
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Society for Research on Adolescence

Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood

Child Development

Journal of Youth Studies

Young

Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society

Journal of Adolescent Research

Journal of Adolescence

Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psycopharmacology

Adolescent and Family Health
Important Links