I have been most successful in treating children as young as the age of 11 years old (with a capacity for abstract reasoning), especially when there is a Conduct Disorder or other pre-antisocial behavior and tendencies that are contributory such as Attention Deficit Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. My particular expertise is gained from working extensively with adult offenders and beginning to at least partially understand in many ways, the workings of the criminal mind and its development.

What is most important for the parent and for the overall prognosis of their child is that these behaviors and tendencies start being treated as soon as they are recognized where possible. Some parents have a tendency to overlook and/or make excuses for their child and in the process, nullify any consequences that the child may need in order to develop in a healthy manner. It is important to remember that learning disorders left untreated can and do have grave consequences for many children.

Therapy proceeds in the general direction of creating and maintaining proper boundaries with the child as well as structuring a personalized treatment plan that will bring forth the desired target behaviors. The parent(s) and the child are generally enlisted as co-therapists to form a therapeutic alliance for change.

Sometimes EMDR can be utilized as a very helpful tool with children if there is identifiable childhood trauma or abuse which is no longer occurring.