Margaret Dodson, Ph.D.
Adult and Couples
Adolescent and Child Psychologist

SERVICES OFFERED:

» Individual Psychotherapy with Adults «
» Relationship & Marital Therapy «
Individual, Dyadic, and Family Therapy with Adolescents and Children
» Immigration/Legal Evaluations «

PSYCHOTHERAPY With Adolescents, Children and Families

Parenthood is one of the most challenging and often rewarding experiences for those of us who become parents. For all of us, child psychologists included, parenting has become increasingly complex and difficult in our era of advanced technology, divorce, single parenthood, and the pressure to become the so-called "perfect parent." Unlike most adults, children typically do no show that they are hurting by talking about their distress. They are more likely to complain of headaches, stomachaches, or feelings of boredom. Or they may become withdrawn, distracted, uncooperative, or aggressive at home and/or at school. These may be signs of stress, anxiety, depression, or attentional issues that the child is trying to cope with and convey to those around him/her. Teenagers may become increasingly unable or unwilling to communicate with their parents, who find it hard to figure out whether their teen is undergoing the normal strains that accompany developing into a young adult or something more serious. Many parents feel they should be able to figure out what is bothering their child and help them with their problems without consulting with a child psychologist. They may feel embarrassed or ashamed when turning to a child and adolescent psycholgist, if they feel they have tried everything without the desired results. These feelings are normal and very common. It is not easy for any of us to imagine that a child psychologist might understand our child better than we do. However, most parents are relieved and happy to have the opportunity to talk about their children, themselves, and their challenges as parents with an experienced and sympathetic child psychologist. In fact, meetings with the parent or parents alone are as important as the ones in which the child psychologist meets alone with the child. It is also common for the adolescent psychologist to meet with the teen and his or her parents and sometimes the entire family. Most commonly teenagers find it very helpful to meet alone with an adult outside his or her family, school, or friends. As a very experienced child and adolescent psychologist, I can help to improve your relationship with your child or children and with your partner and assist your child or adolescent to feel and cope better wih the demands of family, peer relations, and school. I work with individual children, parents, parts of or entire families, or combinations of these groupings, dependiing on the needs of your particular family. Call or email me today.

Margaret Dodson, Ph.D.
902 Carmel Ave. Suite 8
Albany, California 94706
(510) 526-0474
margaret@drmargaretdodson.com