We understand that scheduling an initial therapy or assessment appointment can often provoke anxiety for your child and family. At Wellness Psychological Services we do our best to reduce these stressors by providing you with a warm, supportive and predictable environment in which you and your child will feel safe.
Our child and adolescent psychologists have expertise in working with the families of children and adolescents with a variety of developmental, behavioral, and emotional difficulties and can guide you through the therapeutic process.
WHAT TO EXPECT
You can schedule an appointment online or with our intake coordinator but our psychologists are also available by phone if you have any questions or concerns that you wish to discuss before the initial session.
Our psychologists often recommend that the initial session is scheduled without your child present so that this time may be used to gather information, determine the structure of therapy and begin to set goals.
Regardless of the age of your child, we believe that parents or guardians should be actively involved in the therapeutic process. This is especially true with younger children, as parents are almost always present for the part or all of each session. The format of sessions with older children and adolescents will often consist of the child and parents meeting together with our psychologist. In some cases the child may then meet alone with the psychologist before the parents are again asked to join the session.
APPROACHES
Behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, family systems and mindfulness modalities are most commonly utilized in therapy sessions with children and adolescents. Parent training is also often utilized to help parents to identify and reinforce the strengths of their children.
SPECIALIZED THERAPY SERVICES
Behavioral Parent Training
CBT for anxiety disorders
ERP for OCD
Social Skills Training
Mindfulness Based CBT
Play Therapy
OUR CHILD PSYCHOLOGISTS
DR. JONATHAN HUFFMAN
Dr. Jonathan Huffman is a licensed psychologist, a board certified behavior analyst, and a certified therapist in parent child interaction therapy. While Dr. Huffman has been trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches, the majority of his work focuses on scientifically supported behavior-based interventions. He has extensive training using evidence-based treatments to manage symptoms associated with OCD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. He specializes in DBT for mood disorders, CBT for anxiety/depression, cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention (CBT with ERP) for OCD, prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD, parent child interaction therapy (PCIT) for ODD, and ABA for ASD. In addition, to individual therapy, he also has extensive training in the assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ASD, and specific learning disorders. Dr. Huffman believes in using integrative evidence-based practices and a supportive therapeutic relationship to assist clients in living a life worth living. Click here for more on Dr. Huffman’s specific areas of specialization and approach to therapy.
DR. AMY PARKS-URRUTIA
Dr. Parks –Urrutia is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in treating children and adolescents with a variety of developmental, behavioral, and emotional difficulties. Dr. Parks completed a predoctoral internship at the Emory Autism Center at Emory University School of Medicine where she received advanced training in the assessment and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Following internship, Dr. Parks completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of South Florida’s Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, where she specialized in using cognitive behavioral therapy to treat anxiety disorders and specifically emphasized treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) with Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). Dr. Parks main areas of specialization include the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, OCD, Selective Mutism, and anxiety disorders. With a background in behavioral and cognitive- behavioral therapies, Dr. Parks utilizes behavioral parent training strategies in working with families to optimize change. Check out her bio to learn more about Dr. Parks!
DR. LEA-MARTNELL-SMITH
Dr. Martinell-Smith (Dr. M) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in individual, family, and group counseling services for children and adolescents. Dr. Martinell-Smith has extensive experience providing counseling and assessment services in community mental health centers, school system and within crisis units, and private practice settings. Dr. Martinell-Smith uses a variety of evidence based treatment approaches to fit the individual needs of each client. She has extensive training and experience working with trauma, stress, self-harm, suicide, and emotion regulation. She often utilizes cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, as well as insight oriented therapeutic approaches. When working with children and families, Dr. Martinell-Smith uses a family systems approach in order to evaluate and assist the entire family. She has additional training and expertise in the utilization of play therapy. Check out her bio to learn more about Dr. Martinell-Smith.