Services Provided

Services Provided

Types of Therapy

Psychological Testing

Psychological Testing is an evaluation that may be useful to clarify or provide additional information to diagnoses. Psychological Testing may be sought for a number of reasons.

Testing services include:



  • Giftedness / IQ / Cognitive Ability
  • Psychoeducational Testing
  • Attention-Deficit Disorder / ADHD
  • Pervasive Development Disorders / Autism Spectrum
  • Social & Emotional Well-being
  • Personality Testing
  • Ability to Parent
  • Career Readiness/Fit

Giftedness testing, or IQ testing, consists of a test of cognitive ability such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) or the Standford Binet Intelligence Test, Fifth Edition (SB-5). This type of testing may be used to determine if your child is eligible to receive advanced or gifted programing. Tests of cognitive ability reveal an individual's specific learning strengths and weaknesses, which may be useful in creating a learning program.


Psychoeducational testing is often recommended when a child is struggling to keep up with academic demands, has been retained, or appears to have unusual difficulty with a specific subject. Psychoeducational testing is used to diagnose learning disabilities and provide recommendations for educational planning and special testing accommodations. Psychoeducational testing generally consists of a test of cognitive ability, an achievement test, and an evaluation of emotional and behavioral functioning.



ADHD testing is useful when determining if a student's academic difficulties are the result of an attention problem, behavioral problem or underlying emotional issue. ADHD testing may include parent and teacher questionnaires, self-report measures, tests of attention, and personality inventories. This type of testing is often conducted in conjunction with some psychoeducational testing so that a more thorough and individually tailored academic plan can be recommended.


Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), also known as Autism Spectrum Disorders, are generally present from an early age and affect one's ability to relate to others and/or their environment normally. Testing for these disorders generally includes an in-depth interview with parents and teachers, a measure of adaptive functioning, standardized parent and teacher questionnaires, and often portions of the psychoeducational battery. Research demonstrates that early diagnosis and intervention with PDD results in better long term prognosis.


Social and emotional testing, as well as personality testing can be useful when making diagnoses, understanding underlying factors contributing to problems, and making appropriate treatment recommendations. Personality testing is also used by employers to determine appropriateness for certain type of jobs, and by courts when determining ability to parent and competency issues.

Have confidence that you will receive accurate test results conveyed in a meaningful fashion with appropriate recommendations. All testing is conducted with the most recent versions of tests available. Each test used meets the local school board requirements of an outside evaluator. Individuals may wish to have the evaluator discuss testing results with outside parties (e.g., schools, teachers, etc) in order to assist with academic planning.  Confidentiality is maintained except where provided by law and results will not be disseminated to outside parties without your express written permission or as required by law.

There are occasions when psychological testing may be court ordered or requested of you by a third party (e.g., school, employer, etc.).

Individual Therapy

Individual counseling is a personalized opportunity to receive support and experience growth during challenging times in life. Your therapist will work to establish your trust, gain an understanding of your background and values, and work with you collaboratively to reach your goals. Individual counseling can help people with many personal challenges in life such: anger, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, marriage and relationship challenges, parenting problems, school difficulties, career changes, etc.


Individual therapy allows individuals to identify core values, explore feelings, clarity and challenge unhelpful thoughts and adopt health promoting behaviors.  Psychotherapy is a place to work through challenging or influential memories, target areas growth, break old patterns, better understand themselves and others, set personal goals, and work toward your ideal self.

Couples Counseling

Couples therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which a therapist with clinical experience working with couples helps two people involved in a romantic relationship gain insight into their relationship, resolve conflict and improve relationship satisfaction utilizing a variety of therapeutic interventions. Couples therapy may be appropriate at any stage in a relationship including: premarital counseling, preparation for parenting, parenting support, following a breach in trust such as infidelity, during power struggles, moves, and other life changing events. Active participation on the part of the therapist in treating the relationship itself, rather than each individual separately.


Couples therapy can be effective at aiding in coping with:

• Anger

• Chronic Arguments

• Divorce

• Infidelity

• Blended families

• Cultural differences

• Role changes like retirement or unemployment

• Unmet expectations’

• Physical or mental conditions

• Same-sex relationship issues

• Sexual difficulties

• Finances

Family Therapy

Families can benefit from family counseling when they experience any stressful event that may strain family relationships, such as financial hardship, divorce, or the death of a loved one. Families often seek out the help of professionals during life transitions including marriage, divorce, additions and losses of family members, moves, illness and other life events.  The family therapist works to join the family and understand alliances and values within the family system.  The therapist maintains allegiance to the health of the family as a whole while supporting and encouraging each of the family members.


 Family therapy can facilitate positive parenting practices while building a more cohesive and communicative atmosphere in the home.  In addition, it can be effective in treating mental health concerns that impact the family as a whole, such as addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, chronic illness, depression, developmental disorders or everyday concerns, like communication problems, interpersonal conflict, or behavioral problems in children and adolescents.

Collaborative divorce

Is Collaborative Divorce right for you?

 

  • Have you decided to divorce?
  • Do you have children?
  • Do you want to reduce the chance of returning to court after your divorce?
  • Would you like to save money on the costs of litigation, mediation, and court fees?
  • Would you like the opportunity to have your needs and interests heard in a safe, considerate manner? 
  • Would you prefer to collaborate with your partner in making the decisions for the future of your family than have a judge decide?
  • Are you willing to be honest and participate in a good faith effort to help your family transition through the process from one house to two?


If you answered yes to any of the above questions, there is a good chance that a collaborative divorce will be a good fit for you and your family.

Group Therapy

Group psychotherapy or group therapy is a form of therapy in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group.  A typical group consists of 6-10 members who present with a variety of concerns and a goal of uncovering interpersonal patterns and gain insight into how they are perceived by others.  This is a highly effective method of addressing interpersonal issues.


Other topics may include anger management, mindfulness, relaxation training or social skills training. People who make good candidates for group therapy may have:



• Problems with trust and intimacy

• Social anxiety

• Frequently feeling angry

• Family or relationship problems

• Difficulties with interpersonal relationships

• Feeling misunderstood


Parental Planning

Divorce can be a particularly stressful period for families as each member learns the new rules and boundaries governing old relationships. Numerous studies demonstrate that parental cooperation versus parental conflict minimizes the negative effects of divorce on children. As a psychologist, with specialized training in Family Mediation, and more than a decade of experience working with children and families, I am able to facilitate all steps of a marital dissolution, particularly the factors related to co-parenting. In my experience, most parents love their children and wish to cause their children the least amount of harm as a result of divorce. Commitment to the needs of the children provides the common ground necessary in order to create a successful parenting plan.

Effective October 1, 2008, Florida statutes require that all parties filing for divorce complete a parenting plan. According to the statutes (Ch. 2008-61 section 13), "Parenting plan means a document created to govern the relationship between the parties relating to the decisions that must be made regarding the minor child and shall contain a time-sharing schedule for the parents and child. The issues concerning the minor child may include, but are not limited to, the child's education, health care, and physical, social, and emotional well-being. In creating the plan, all circumstances between the parties, including the parties' historic relationship, domestic violence, and other factors must be taken into consideration. The parenting plan shall be developed and agreed to by the parents and approved by the court or, if the parents can not agree, established by the court."

As a psychologist, I may make parenting plan recommendations; however, these recommendations are non-binding and must be agreed on by both parties and approved by a court of law. When making recommendations, the best interests of the child(ren) are my primary consideration. Remember, you know your children best. As a professional, it is my job to help you and your spouse find a mutually agreeable way to transition from a spousal relationship to a parenting partnership in a manner that best meets your children's specific needs.

Additional fee applied.

Bariatric Evaluations

As part of the preparation process for bariatric surgery, patients are usually required to complete a psychological evaluation. This assessment aims to identify psychosocial risk factors and make recommendations to both the client and surgical group that are aimed at facilitating the best possible outcome for the patient.


Patients are typically faced with initial dietary restrictions, permanent changes in eating and dietary habits, altered body sensations and experiences, shifting body image and self care behaviors, new cognitions and feelings, and an emerging and different lifestyle. In addition, they may realize sometimes unexpected and significant changes in relationships that may result in marked stress. Bariatric surgery is a highly effective procedure that not only reconfigures and/or restricts a patient’s stomach, but significantly affects their psyche as well. Generally patients will need a secure identity, sound psychological resources, resiliency, effective coping strategies, and willingness to access meaningful support from others.



When problematic pre-surgery psychosocial factors are identified, the clinician is able to alert the treatment team and the patient, and make appropriate recommendations. Recommendations may include pharmacological interventions, psycho-education, and psychotherapy. to address potential post surgery stumbling blocks, nutritional consultation, close aftercare monitoring, and/or bariatric surgery support group attendance.

Eating Disorder Evaluations

More than 11 million people suffer from eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders frequently appear during the teen years or young adulthood but may also develop during childhood or later in life. Sufferers often exhibit warning signs and symptoms such as obsessions with food, weight and appearance. These obsessions can be strong enough to disrupt an individual’s daily activities, relationships and physical health.

If you are concerned that you, a friend, or family member may have an eating disorder, you should consider scheduling a consultation with a mental health expert who can help you navigate symptoms and treatment.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Meet Aggie and Phil, who can join you in your journey toward wellness.

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