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  For children under 8 years of age, we typically assist parents in learning how to manage their children’s behavior. We may do this by engaging in parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) or providing parent management strategies to facilitate growth in the child and parents. We believe in teaching the parents how to be the intervention agent, instead of us working with the child directly and them becoming reliant on the therapist. Therefore, we use a strength-based perspective and assist the parents in identifying behaviors that their child is doing well and how they are also responding in a way that is consistent with their values as a parent. We then learn adaptive techniques to ensure that the child and parents’ concerns are identified and being managed through a collaborative joint approach. The parents and therapist may also hold a meeting with the school to share treatment progress and strategies, which will ensure the success of the child in the classroom through support of the teacher and school staff’s behavior. 

For children between 8 years of age to 12 - 14 years of age, we typically assist both the child and parents in learning how to manage their behaviors through therapy . We may do this by working with the parents alone, the child alone, or the family together. Treatment typically involves a combination of these approaches as we believe having all parties involved is critical to obtaining well-being for the child, parent, and the relationships shared between all involved parties. We work to identify how all parties are trying their best to manage their current difficulties, work to identify areas for improvement, and implement effective research supported strategies to assist all parties in achieving well-being through the management of current symptoms. Finally, we may also work with the school system to ensure all provided strategies are implemented across settings, which will encourage greater application of skills and success in a variety of domains. 

For individuals around 14 to 18 years of age, we typically assist the teenager in the management of their symptoms. We start by teaching the basics of emotions, thoughts, and physiological reactions so that the teenager has a framework for expressing themselves to the therapist and their relevant stakeholders. Treatment is then tailored to the teenager's  unique presenting concerns and progress in treatment is consistently shared with the parent. The parents are involved in the therapy to the extent the patient, parent, and therapist believe it is necessary for the teenager's success. Often, teenagers benefit from having a relationship with the therapist separate from the family unit so that they may share their experiences in private, with the awareness that certain behaviors, which are agreed upon at the start of treatment, are non-negotiable and require parent involvement. The therapist typically encourages the teenager to develop self-advocacy skills within the school and work settings, by providing them the necessary skills to confront and manage any difficulties in these areas. 

For adults who are 18 years of age and older, we typically assist the individual in the management of their symptoms and will include relevant stake holders, such as partners, friends, and others to the extent relevant to the patient’s presenting concern and desire for support outside of the therapeutic relationship. The therapeutic treatment is based upon the individual’s presenting concerns and a rationale for the selected modality is presented to the patient to ensure that they understand how the selected therapy is scientifically supported through research to assist in the management of their symptoms. The treatment is then applied in a sequential and gradual manner, typically starting with an agreed understanding of thoughts, emotions, physiological responses, and behaviors. We believe it is important to use research to guide appropriate interventions in the management of the individuals presenting concern, while also providing adults with the opportunity to share about their recent activates, with an emphasis on both challenges and successes between appointments.