Give your child a head start

 According to the CDC, “1 in 6 children aged 2-8 years has a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder, but only about 20% receive care from a specialized mental health provider”.

This online course focuses on what clients learn in the first few weeks of therapy. Your child’s time will not be wasted and in fact, their time will be much better spent because they will be able to dive right in.

As a parent of a son who was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD, I was overwhelmed, discouraged and often felt like a failure. My son was often combative, angry, unable to express his needs and wrought with frustration. I didn’t know how to help him, and it broke my heart!

Even though my son exploded several times a week, screaming with rage, launching obscenities at me, breaking things and refusing to work with me to find solutions, he really did not want to lose control of himself like that. He did not feel good about himself, but he didn’t have the skills to manage his emotions effectively. He struggled in school and had difficulty making and keeping friends.

I read stacks of parenting books, asked friends and family for advice, got him into therapy, and kept him busy with sports and other activities. When I returned to college and studied Counseling Psychology, ultimately earning a master’s degree, I finally learned the principles of behavior management. Applying the skills I learned made a difference so that he was able to express himself and regulate his emotions. Now, after 23 years of working with elementary school students and families, I have been able to add many more tools to my toolbox!

I have worked with children and families for over 25 years. My background includes social work, therapy, foster care, recovery counseling and school counseling. I know, firsthand, how heart wrenching it is to have a child who is hurting emotionally. I’ve worked with all kinds of families. Every parent wants the best for their children. They do not want them to suffer with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, emotional dysregulation, or anger. They just want relief for their child and for their family.  I have the utmost respect and admiration for parents. It truly is the hardest job on earth!

There is a lack of providers and many children who need psychological therapy are on waiting lists for 6 months up to a full year.

While your child is waiting for therapy, along with thousands of others, give them a head start with the lasting advantage of getting the most out of their limited time with a therapist.