Child & Youth Therapy

We have spent thousands of hours collaborating and conducting peer-reviewed research with schools, universities, churches, parents, children, and families to gain a better understanding of how to effectively and successfully parent children, in this ever changing, fast-paced, tech-filled world. (And, the attachment based work we do with kids and families, has been in news outlets such as the Boston Herald, The Miami Herald, ABC, Wallstreet Select, and the Kansas City Star.)

Poor choice of peer groups, being on the phone too much, and getting bullied – these are the three most common concerns we hear from parents.

  1. Our children have the beauty of being connected globally, technologically, and socially, through a variety of different methods. From playgroups to school soccer teams, to being connected to friends through Snapchat, today’s children have greater access to everything.
  2. Access can mean a lot of different things, depending on the child and situation. It can mean access to libraries, community engagement, team sports, and friends, or it can mean access to excess toys and treats (leading to feelings of entitlement), drugs, alcohol, the internet, and making poor choices. When we find our children struggling – we wonder as parents what to do next, and when to step in and get professional care. We can help you answer that question; we offer a free child, youth, or family assessment so parents can get some answers and assistance with the struggles that brought you in today, without feeling any obligation or worrying about the cost.
  3. We help parents with children aged 3 and up, improve their relationships overall with each other while teaching children new coping skills for distress, emotional intelligence, and building up resiliency. Use a variety of treatment modalities that are specially adapted to meet your child’s specific needs.

The good news is, you’re not alone: all families go through periods of hardships and struggle. It’s normal. But, that doesn’t mean we couldn’t use a little help sometimes; especially when it comes to our children.

Fortunately, there are over 100 years of research in psychology and 40 years of attachment science to show us what works, what doesn’t, and what’s healthiest for the child and family.

It’s no mystery the research is there; some of which Dr. Norman and her staff, have conducted and published themselves – so let’s use it to our advantage!

That’s what we specialize in; using, customizing, and applying the latest research in child psychology in ways to help your child reach his or her fullest potential.

Today’s children are different.

Let’s look at how:

More children than ever are being raised by grandparents than generations prior to this. Research shows multi-generational homes greatly benefit children’s self-esteem and attachment to family.

  • By the age of 8, children spend 40 hours of time per week in front of the TV.
  • 90% of children have either witnesses, participated in, or been a victim of bullying, either online or in person. Children start using technology by 4 months of age. However, they also have access to the most cutting-edge, free, educational TV and Apps, never seen before in previous generations.
  • Seven out of 10 children growing up in the college-educated middle to high-income homes will experience trauma at some point in their childhood. That number is higher for homes with lower incomes or families living in communities with high rates of violence.
  • 66% of females will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. Children are the most susceptible to this type of trauma. 
  • Some of our communities and towns in Dupage County are plagued by a heroin epidemic that has, at some point, touched almost all of our childrens’ or families’ lives – either personally, or through you or your child.
  • Youth who are the millennials will be the most educated generation yet.

 

We help in the following areas:

ANGER

ANXIETY + DEPRESSION

ART
THERAPY

AUTISM

BLENDED
FAMILIES

CHRISTIAN COUNSELING

CONDUCT DISORDER

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

DISCIPLINE

EXPERIMENTING
WITH DRUGS
OR ALCOHOL

FAMILY
THERAPY

LOW/ NO MOTIVATION

OVERUSING TECHNOLOGY

OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT
DISORDER

PARENT ABANDONMENT

PLAY
THERAPY

POTTY TRAINING / SOILING ISSUES

ADOPTION COUNSELING + CONSULTATION

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

SAND
THERAPY

SCHOOL RELATED STRESS + ANXIETY

TEENAGE DEFIANCE

TRAUMA, ABUSE + NEGLECT