What to expect in therapy

If you are worried about starting therapy, then you are not alone. Many people don’t know what to expect when they begin and what they hear can be confusing and contradictory. In working with you or your child, I have two priorities: making sure treatment is effective, and making sure it is enjoyable. These priorities are not mutually exclusive, quite the opposite. For you to make the most of therapy, it’s essential that it be an enjoyable process, so that you’re motivated and approach each session with enthusiasm and willingness to change.

Therapy with children and adolescents

In the first session with your son or daughter, I devote a lot of time to listening and giving him or her space to explain what they like and what they struggle with. For a child who has learning difficulties, ADHD, or developmental delays, who is used to failure and running into obstacles, just the opportunity to explain how they feel about themselves is an important first step.

After that, I will introduce your child to hands-on, stimulating activities that are designed to improve working memory, visualization, processing and organizing skills. After a few sessions, we will hit our stride, and find the right mix of activities that are targeted towards developing the necessary parts of the brain and also interest your son or daughter. Parents often tell me that their child looks forward to our sessions for the whole week.

Many young people are trapped in a vicious cycle in which learning difficulties generate anxiety, which in turn make it even harder for them to focus and pick up new skills. In therapy, I do everything to create a safe and supportive environment, in which the child or adolescent starts to feel confident as he or she learns to do things that previously seemed impossible.

Therapy with adults

When you start therapy, the first priority is to slow things down. Anxiety, depression, and other symptoms don’t just make you feel bad, they make it hard to think straight. In therapy, we will work together to get to the bottom of your issues. The first step is getting to know each other so that you know you have an ally and I can understand where you are coming from. Then we will take an honest and direct approach to uncover what is going on behind surface emotions. When you understand the triggers for negative thoughts, you are halfway to being able to counteract them. I will teach you evidence-based techniques to respond to and manage negative emotions so that you can regain control over your life.

Neurofeedback

One treatment option I offer to my clients is Neurofeedback. In this form of therapy, I apply electrodes to your scalp and you will be able to see on a screen how your brain is working when you feel different emotions. Neurofeedback sounds a bit intimidating at first, but it’s actually quite enjoyable, especially for young people. It’s also a very empowering way of training your own mind to respond and function more effectively.

In therapy, I use Neurofeedback and talk therapy either on their own or together, depending on the needs and interests of each client.

Get in touch

For more information about how I can help you, please give me a call or fill out the contact form. I see clients in North Hollywood, Corona, and central Los Angeles.