We offer individual therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults. Our typical approach is to utilize the evidence-based strategies afforded by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) but with a family-systems overlay. What that means is that a person does not exist in isolation but is part of a family system that shapes and reshapes who they are on a daily basis. Therefore, parent input is critical in the creation of treatment goals and in monitoring progress for children and adolescents. In fact, parent participation is so important, one parent session per month is required for all children and adolescents in individual therapy at Compass Clinic. We value your feedback on changes you see as a parent in the home and school environments and want the opportunity to provide you guidance and skills related to your current challenges with your child.
CBT is the gold standard treatment approach for almost all childhood disorders and challenges. It has been thoroughly researched by leaders in the field of child psychology and Dr. Erika Rich has many peer-reviewed publications in this area. CBT is basically the interaction between a person’s emotions, thoughts, and behavior. The goal of CBT is to determine for each person how this cycle has become disrupted or problematic and the best point of intervention. For example, if a child with anxiety tends to have a number of negative automatic thoughts associated with feared situations, CBT suggests targeting these negative thoughts by challenging the evidence, flipping to a more positive viewpoint, or restricting the amount of reassurance-seeking in which they engage. However, how children react to basic CBT strategies depends on their diagnostic profile and personality. For example, in the above example, an autistic child is usually more emotionally sensitive and prone to experiencing shame, requiring the therapist to present the coping skills for combating negative thoughts in a manner sensitive to this profile. Compass Clinic therapists are well-versed in the thoughtful application of CBT principles so that your child and family receive a personalized, tailored treatment approach that is more likely to result in real change. Your child will be matched to a therapist at Compass Clinic who is best-equipped to work with your family in light of all relevant variables, including scheduling. We do have therapists who work weekends, as we know the school week gets very busy!
Session Content
Individual therapy could include:
strategies aimed at reducing impulsivity, including cognitive impulsivity
cognitive behavioral therapy addressing a wide variety of issues
individualized social skills training
emotion regulation and coping skills, fostering greater independence
Monthly parent sessions could include:
facilitating generalization of skills across settings and family problem-solving
