Psychotherapy with John is relationship-based and focused on the individual challenges and strengths of the child and family. When working one-on-one with a child, he builds a connection based on trust and emotional safety, and joins the child in exploring their experiences, interests, concerns, and inner world. Through this approach, John helps the child gain a deeper self-awareness and self-understanding, which can lead to an expanded capacity to cope with anxiety, social difficulties, or life stresses. Working with parents, John engages in a collaborative process of gaining a comprehensive understanding of their child’s experience and their own experience as a parent. The insights gained about themselves and their child become the basis for a stronger parent-child relationship, which is crucial in supporting the child’s social-emotional growth and approaching challenging behaviors. Treatment can be conducted in the home or office setting, depending on the child and family’s specific needs.

John’s therapeutic approach with children with special needs is informed by the DIR-FCD Model (the theoretical foundation for Floortime therapy). Rather than focusing on symptoms of a particular diagnosis or building specific skills, John works to understand a child’s unique individual profile and strengthen the child’s developmental capacities. John supports parents in carrying out meaningful, reciprocal interactions with their child, which helps them feel more connected and engaged with one another. These interactions become the basis for the child’s increasing ability to think, communicate, and relate. 

John has experience and training in treating a wide range of emotional and developmental challenges, as well as in supporting families of children with special needs. Relationship-focused psychotherapy can be an effective intervention strategy for children with a range of diagnoses and challenges, including: 

  • Anxiety Disorders

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Challenging Behaviors

  • Developmental Delays

  • Down Syndrome

  • Mood Disorders

  • Reactive Attachment Disorder

  • Social-Emotional Difficulties

  • Traumatic Stress

Contact John for a free phone consultation to explore whether his therapeutic approach is the right fit for your child and family.