Therapies Offered

Types of psychotherapy offered at Razzino and Associates, PC

Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that involves therapeutic conversations and interactions between a therapist and a child or family. It can help children and families understand and resolve problems, modify behavior, and make positive changes in their lives. There are several types of psychotherapy that involve different approaches, techniques and interventions. At times, a combination of different psychotherapy approaches may be helpful. In some cases a combination of medication with psychotherapy may be more effective.

Some of the therapies offered at Razzino and Associates are:

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) helps improve a child's moods, anxiety and behavior by examining confused or distorted patterns of thinking. CBT therapists teach children that thoughts cause feelings and moods which can influence behavior. During CBT, a child learns to identify harmful thought patterns. The therapist then helps the child replace this thinking with thoughts that result in more appropriate feelings and behaviors. Research shows that CBT can be effective in treating a variety fo conditions, including depression and anxiety. Specialized forms of CBT have also been developed to help children coping with post traumatic stress disorder.

Family Therapy focuses on helping the family function in more positive and constructive ways by exploring patterns of communication and providing support and education. Family therapy sessions can include the child or adolescent along with parents, siblings, and grandparents.

Couples therapy is a specific type of family therapy that focuses on a couple's communication and interactions (e.g. parents having marital problems).

Group Therapy is a form of psychotherapy where there are multiple patients led by one or more therapists. It uses the power of group dynamics and peer interactions to increase understanding of mental illness and/or improve social skills. There are many different types of group therapy (e.g. psychodynamic, social skills, substance abuse, multi-family, parent support, etc.).

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is an information processing therapy which addresses the past experiences and learning that contribute to a wide range of difficulties. The integrative psychotherapy approach of EMDR has been extensively researched and proven effective for the a variety of difficulties including anxiety, depression, addictive behaviors and anger management.

Play Therapy involves the use of toys, blocks, dolls, puppets, drawings and games to help the child recognize, identify, and verbalize feelings. The psychotherapist observes how the child uses play materials and identifies themes or patterns to understand the child's problems. Through a combination of talk and play the child has an opportunity to better understand and manage their conflicts, feelings, and behavior.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy emphasizes understanding the issues that motivate and influence a child's behavior, thoughts, and feelings. It can help identify a child's typical behavior patterns, defenses, and responses to inner conflicts and struggles. Psychodynamic psychotherapies are based on the assumption that a child's behavior and feelings will improve once the inner struggles are brought to light.
Psychotherapy is not a quick fix or an easy answer. It is a complex and rich process that, over time,can reduce symptoms, provide insight, and improve a child or adolescent's functioning and quality of life.