Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy the Right Choice for You?

• Your 6 – 12 year old has significant difficulty with anxiety
• You are looking for a skill-focused approach
• You are ready to guide your child through practice activities that will be time-consuming and emotionally challenging (I will teach you how to do this)

Perhaps you have read one of my books, or heard about me from a friend whose child I helped or a professional who knows your child. Thank you for visiting my website. Please be aware, however, that I have narrowed my therapy practice significantly.

I now treat anxiety exclusively. I see kids with OCD, Separation Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, Phobias, and other clearly defined anxiety disorders. I no longer treat children with Trichotillomania (hair pulling), Selective Mutism, and tic disorders.

When Specialized Training Is Needed

Working with families in conflict requires expertise I do not have. Therefore, I do not work with children whose parents are in the process of divorcing, or whose parents are not able to co-parent effectively. I do not treat children who are acting out aggressively, or children needing help with Executive Functioning Skills because these issues require specialized training I do not have.

Consider Parent Coaching

If you are seeking help for something other than anxiety, or if you are not able to get to my Exeter, NH office, please explore Parent Coaching. If Parent Coaching does not suit your needs, or if your child is older than age 12, please return to your child’s pediatrician or school counselor, or check with your insurance company for the name of another therapist. Please do not leave me a message as I am not able to provide referrals for children I have never seen.

Facing Fears Head-on

If your child meets the criteria I’ve described and you are interested in exploring CBT with me, please note that CBT for anxiety always involves facing fears head-on, which means doing scary things on purpose.

You and your child will need to practice new skills between sessions, and things might get harder before they get easier. You, as parent, will be involved every step of the way, learning alongside your child how to tolerate and manage fears in a whole new way.

The Intake Process: 4-Session Consultation

The first step is a 4-session consultation. Please read the Intake Process for complete details.

This consultation is not a guarantee of therapy. If I think your child would be better served by Parent Coaching, or by a different therapist, we will talk about that. If we are going to continue on into therapy, I will describe the process in the final consultation session, and talk about what you can do to set your child up for success.

Ready To Get Started?

First, please read, sign and return the Service Agreement. It contains additional details including fees. Second, please submit payment.