children
Deb provides assessment, treatment plans, clinical interventions and psycho-education with clients at most life stages. She loves to work with children of all ages! Her recommendations as to the level of parental involvement will be determined by the issues at hand, the child's stage of developmental and the tasks to be achieved. Deb has had extensive experience and training in working with clients from infancy through to adolescence.
Infancy
At this stage it’s the dyad- the primary caregiver and the infant- who are my “client”. Deb works to support the parent-child relationship in fostering moments of shared joy, co-regulation, and mutual engagement. Trust is developed by parental attunement to the non-verbal cues of the infant and these being met in a timely and sensitive manner. This is much easier said than done, especially if you are exhausted, depressed, or anxious. Trust and mutual engagement are the essential building blocks to every other stage of life! It’s why early intervention is so important and truly remarkable. This work helps the dyad evidence “brain magic” that comes from mutual engagement, right before their eyes! We have so much to learn from babies, if only we can learn how to listen.
Early childhood
This stage is when those all important seeds of self-esteem are sown as the child works to develop autonomy, now seeing themselves as “separate” from their parents. “Self can do it” marks this joyful yet challenging stage! Empowering parents with skills and engaging in play therapy is powerfully transforming for many families with whom she works.
Play age
Deb assists parents in navigating this stage when a child wants to and needs to begin to show real “initiative” and be appropriately acknowledged for it. This can be an anxiety provoking time for parents. By working to reduce parental anxiety and fears, they are more able to trust the growth process and be really emotionally accessible and present with the child.
School age
Children and parents face an adjustment at this time. Often the stress of expectations for the child to develop competencies in new areas, while central and essential to this stage, can become overwhelming.
Adolescence
The task at hand is to achieve identity development separate to that of their parents. If the task itself is triggering to parents, how much more is the teenager's process of exploration! This stage often places inordinate stress on the relationship between the adolescent and their parents. Structured yet flexible frameworks practiced in therapy work to de-stress the relationship and assist both parents and their teens to navigate this transitional period more successfully.
Therapy serves to navigate each stage of life to better achieve appropriate developmental milestones, all of which are necessary to progress well throughout the lifespan.
other therapy services
Infant Mental Health Specializations
Assessment of Birth-to-Five clients using the Infant Childhood, & Relationship Enrichment Initial Assessment (ICARE, developed by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health)
Diagnosing Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health & Developmental Disorders, using DC 0-3R Diagnostic Manual
Use of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) for assessment of age specific developmental milestones outcomes
Typical and Atypical Development in Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
Sensory Integration Disorder, Early Interventions
Brain Development and Implications for Attachment and Treatment of Young Children
The Impact of Trauma on the Developing Brain
Traumatic Grief and Loss in Children
Certified Triple P:
Level 4 Standard Triple P
Level 4 Standard Teen Triple P
Triple P ranked #1 on the United Nations' ranking of parenting programs based on the supporting research findings. The main goal is to increase the parents’ knowledge, skills, and confidence, reducing the prevalence of mental health, emotional, and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. Triple P takes the guesswork out of parenting. It is currently used in 27 countries with results that show it works for most families across many cultural contexts.