Individual and Family Psychotherapy
Adults with intellectual disabilities (IDD) have extraordinary challenges coping with everyday concerns and longstanding problems. Therapy works by helping the adult look at his/her thoughts, feelings and behaviors in a supportive environment. I utilize several best practice approaches emphasizing self-determination, positivity and skill development including: anger and stress management, friendship building, assertiveness training, relaxation techniques. All therapy is adapted to match the individual’s level of understanding. The goal is to assist the adult with developing self-management skills, set their own goals and figure out their own lives.
Psychotherapy with an adult with IDD is enhanced when family members or residential staff are able to take part. An important aspect of therapy is learning new skills; in order for these new skills to take hold, they must be practiced and supported in the natural environment. Family members and/or caregiver staff are an essential part of the process and may be asked to help out with making sure the person gets the most out of treatment. It takes patience when teaching and learning new skills; sometimes things take longer or are more difficult while the person is learning.
Psychotherapy also extends to family members—parents, siblings and extended family. Having a child with a disability is like running a marathon. Families will face many issues throughout the lifetime of their child with IDD—issues with their child’s education, health, emotional and social well-being, to name a few. Families usually experience sadness and heightened anxiety as they anticipate a future for their child, while simultaneously doing their best to cope with daily crises. These painful feelings need a safe place to be processed and understood. Psychotherapy offers a place to sort out these feelings and come to terms with the job of managing day-to-day living as well as the challenges ahead. My focus in psychotherapy sessions is to help you create a balance between the challenges of raising a special needs child with the joy of parenting such an extraordinary individual.