Pediatric Behavioral Interventions

Evidence-based Interventions

The use of evidence-based interventions (EBI's) is important in helping you and your child reach the positive behavior goals you have established. EBI's have a history of successfully helping children improve their behavior and enhance their overall health and well-being, while also decreasing parental stress. An advantage of working with a pediatric focused doctor of psychology is that your child's behavioral and mental health wellness will be improved utilizing a plan that includes all three aspects of the bio-psycho-social factors that affect health outcomes. I primarily uses the following therapies and interventions:

PCIT (Parent Child Interaction Therapy) *Plus*
- In addition to traditional PCIT and numerous variations of it (toddler, young child, older child, modifications for anxiety & autism), I provide what I call PCIT *Plus* because families who benefit from PCIT typically benefit from integrative health strategies as well. We go through the steps of PCIT while also addressing sleep, gut health, and other overall health needs.
- Key aspects of PCIT include:
  - Coaching model program with 40 years of research to support effectiveness to address challenging behaviors
  - Includes 2 phases (CDI, PDI): Most families need 16-24 sessions to complete both phases
  - For more information on PCIT, please click here: PCIT
CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy)
- Including cognitive restructuring, problem-solving, and exposure therapy/ERP
- Key aspects include:
  - Modeling, coaching, and supporting clients to learn & utilize various cognitive & behavioral strategies to address anxiety, worry, stress, mood, self-esteem and other challenges
  - Children/adolescents & parents/caregivers learn these strategies together so that families can support generalization of skills outside of the session
HOT DOCS (Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children's Skills)
- Key aspects of HOT DOCS include:
  - Utilizes a problem-solving model to determine the function of behavior and implement developmentally appropriate interventions that address the function
  - Can be taught to individual families or as a class to groups of parents, caregivers, and early intervention providers
Strategies to improve physical health concerns as part of improving mental & behavioral health
- Environmental, behavioral, and qualitative sleep strategies
- Education & support to improve gut health & adaptive energy

Given that every child is unique, my more than 20 years of experience helping children and families will be integrated into your family's intervention plan in order to best meet the individual needs of your child. Other evidence-based interventions from across cognitive-behavior, behavioral, positive behavior, and pediatrics research and practice may be utilized.