Psychological, emotional, behavioral, play time and academic issues are as individual and complex as each child, adolescent and family that come through our doors. Furthermore, children and adolescents are emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively different from adults and they need to be treated by professionals specially trained in working with these populations. That’s why Psychological Associates of North Jersey has created the Center For Child and Adolescent Development.

Through our Center For Child and Adolescent Development, we have assembled a professional staff of very experienced, highly trained child and adolescent specialists, including clinical psychologists, school psychologists, clinical social workers, testing specialists and educational consultants. Our staff is specially trained to understand, evaluate and treat the issues that can arise during these years. Having the right therapist or mental health specialist can make all the difference!

Our unique Center offers you the privacy and professionalism of individual and group treatment in a small private practice, as well as the collaborative efforts of our team of child, adolescent and family experts, when appropriate.

Is therapy right for my child or teen?

All families have ups and downs and many times problems that arise can be resolved without outside help. However, some difficulties may occur where special attention is warranted. For example:

• You suspect your child or teen has ADD or ADHD, or it has already been diagnosed. Your family may need help with the social, academic, behavioral or parenting issues that so often arise.
• Your child or adolescent acts disrespectfully, has trouble getting along with others, has trouble managing anger, has trouble with attention or impulsivity.
• Your child or adolescent seems more irritable than usual, either exhibiting explosive anger outbursts or seems to be withdrawn and sad.
• Your child or adolescent is having difficulty functioning in school and/or with others.
• Your child or adolescent is exhibiting signs of self-destructive behavior, such as self-cutting, suicidal gestures or disordered eating.
• Your family is breaking up due to divorce or separation and there is great upset felt by one or more family members.
• Your adolescent seems to be struggling with peer pressure, insecurities, body image issues, anxiety, poor self-esteem or experimentation with drugs or alcohol.
• Your child or adolescent seems compelled to be a ‘people pleaser’, is generally quiet and tries to not act out or misbehave. He/she may have a quiet anxiety disorder or underlying depression.
• As a parent you doubt yourself, your parenting skills or methods, you’re looking for answers, you feel frustrated and worn out.

Treatment Services

Our counseling services help children, adolescents and their families with a wide variety of developmental, behavioral, psychological, emotional and academic difficulties. Through our Center For Child and Adolescent Development, we provide individual and group therapy for children and teens, family therapy, parent training, social skills training and school consultations.

Some of the issues that our therapists commonly address include:

Group therapy can be a very important therapeutic tool for children and adolescents. At PANJ, we offer the following groups:

• SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS
• ANTI-BULLYING GROUPS

There are times when questions about the need for medication can arise. In the state of New Jersey, only psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and physicians are licensed to prescribe medication. When appropriate, our child and adolescent therapists will be happy to discuss medication issues with you, and refer you to either your child’s pediatrician or a child and adolescent psychiatrist for further medication evaluation.

Evaluation Services

Evaluation and assessment services for children and adolescents, provided through our Center For Child and Adolescent Development, include:

The right therapist makes all the difference in the world!

Contact us today.