Therapeutic Services
Court-Involved Therapy | Family Therapy | Individual Adult Therapy | Child and Adolescent Therapy | Co-Parenting Counseling
Court-Involved Therapy
Court-involved therapists may be defined as mental health professionals providing therapeutic services to families involved in the child custody or juvenile dependency Court system. These cases tend to be complex in that they include issues and dynamics requiring special consideration during treatment. Improper handling of Court-involved cases can increase family conflict and exacerbate trauma and distress in children, parents, and in the extended family, while proper treatment can greatly enhance overall family functioning and well-being.
I am committed to the collaborative process in treating Court-involved families, working closely with other professionals to fully support you (and your loved ones) throughout.
Family Therapy
Family therapy works with families and couples in close relationships to help promote change and healthy development. A central focus of family therapy is the belief that treating a family system as whole is of great benefit. In treating children, for example, I feel it is of critical importance to involve parents so that improvements made during the child’s therapy can be maintained in all areas of their lives.
Individual Adult Therapy
Individual counseling addresses a variety of problems including family conflict, separation/divorce, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, low self-esteem, career challenges, and life transitions. I have extensive training and experience in working with all forms of domestic violence, the child custody evaluation process, and PTSD.
Child and Adolescent Therapy
Individual therapy is often necessary for children experiencing emotional and/or behavioral problems. It is helpful for children to have a neutral person independent from their family to share their experiences with in confidence, build effective coping skills, and resolve past trauma. Play therapy is my treatment of choice, as research supports the effectiveness of play therapy in treating children. Using sand tray play, art, clay, and games, I create a safe environment allowing healing to occur on many levels following a child’s natural tendency towards health.
Sometimes it is necessary to repair a parent-child relationship. I can work with the whole family, or just a parent-child, to repair the relationship(s) and return a family to harmony.
Co-Parenting Counseling
Co-parenting counseling assists parents to effectively meet their children’s needs and keep the children out of the middle in “high-conflict” divorce. I help you and your co-parent improve communication skills and your ability to work together. I assist families before they have separated, typically in mediation crafting child-centered parenting plans, as well as post-separation/divorce.
Specialty Services
- Court-Ordered Child, Individual, and Family Therapy (including Court-ordered reconnection therapy)
- Child Custody Evaluations (including relocations, child physical/sexual abuse, and domestic violence)
- Brief Focused Assessments
- Emergency Screenings
- Mediation (including Recommending Mediation)
- Collaborative Divorce
- Co-parenting Counseling
- Parallel Parenting Education
- Trauma-informed Treatment
- Play and Art Therapy for Children
- Trial Support Consultation for Attorneys
- Consultation for Parents involved in Litigation
- Provide services referred by Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office Victims of Crime