About Therapy
If your child is unhappy, so are you.
A parent can only do as well as their child.
You see that your child is suffering, at school or home or both. You lay awake, worrying about how to help. You talk with friends, teachers, your pediatrician, anyone who could have good input.
Yet, you feel stuck and uncertain.
As a parent, its often hard to decide how to react.
Both of my young sons, who at the time were one and three years old, lay on the floor crying. Uncertain why or what to do, I lay on the floor and pretended to cry and kicked my legs like them.
They both looked at me in surprise, then started giggling. I giggled too!
It often helps to be creative in your parenting. I can help you be creative too!
It’s time to do something to help your child.
Therapy starts with a free phone consultation where you share your concerns, and a bit about your family, to make sure I am the right therapist for your needs.
If I feel I can help your child and family, we’ll schedule an initial evaluation session.
Each child, family, and challenge is unique.
In the initial evaluation session, I’ll meet with your child and you, to learn why you’re seeking therapy and your concerns. I will explain confidentiality and its limits for children and teens.
After speaking with the you and your child during the initial session, I will talk with your child to build rapport and further understand her feelings. Your child will be given the choice of speaking with me alone or with you in the office. Within the first one to two sessions, I try to ascertain what’s happening and why.
Next, I develop a practical treatment plan.
Some situations, like setting a parenting plan for toilet training or dealing with the death of a pet, can be addressed quickly in two to four sessions. Other situations, like childhood anxiety or depression, are more complicated requiring therapy for several weeks or months.
I am passionate about helping each child and family thrive!
About Dr. Wendy
I have over thirty years of experience treating adolescents, children, and families. My training includes graduating cum laud from Emory University, then attaining my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova University. My professional training was completed doing an internship at Brown University Medical School.
My first job was at Peachtree Re-Entry Program where I worked with individuals recovering from head injuries. I enjoyed the challenges of working with injured clients, but I missed working with adolescents and children, so I started a private practice in Atlanta. I had a practice there for 29 years. My practice included consultation at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where I was the psychologist for the Meningomyelocele and Cystic Fibrosis Clinics.
In 2013, seeing a need in the Atlanta community, I started the Sensory Friendly Foundation, which provides fun concerts for individuals with sensory sensitivities. In 2017, these services were extended to include the Bradenton-Sarasota community. To date, hundreds of children have been able to experience the joy of music.
To fulfill my dream of living near the beach, my husband and I moved to Anna Maria, Florida in 2016. I joined Children’s Therapy Solutions to continue helping children and families become happier and have more fun!
In my spare time, I serve as a regional problem captain and judge for the Odyssey of the Mind, an international creative problem-solving program. I also my volunteer as a Mental Health supervisor for Red Cross. For fun, I love to walk on the beach, play bridge, travel, and read.
On a personal note, I am the mother of three sons, two of whom have multiple exceptionalities. All three of my sons inherited my talent for spilling!