Empowering Your Child While Embracing Their Differences

Dr. Kessler's approach is rooted in helping you discover what makes your child unique. Blending compassion with evidence-based approaches, she assists children in discovering and embracing their individual qualities. Parent guidance in support of their child’s journey is seen as an essential dimension of the services Dr. Kessler provides. Through a warm therapeutic relationship, she fosters understanding, resilience, and growth, empowering clients to navigate life's challenges with confidence and clarity.

Dr. Kessler specializes in helping children with developmental and emotional challenges, and neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity acknowledges and celebrates the diverse ways in which a child’s brain works, advocating for acceptance and support tailored to their individual profile including:

  • Autism

  • ADD / ADHD

  • Dyslexia

  • Sensory processing disorders

  • Emotional challenges

  • Relation difficulties

  • Other developmental and learning challenges

What is Neurodiversity?

Small t trauma is the accumulated impact of overlooked repeated distressing experiences that have a negative impact on one’s mental health. Can be associated with the following diagnosis:

  • Adjustment Disorder

  • Attachment Disorder

  • Acute Stress Disorder

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Panic Disorder

  • Social Anxiety Disorder

  • Chronic stress

  • Dysthymia

  • Depression

  • Other anxiety or mood disorder

What is “Small t” trauma?

Supportive Therapies

Dr. Kessler offers a variety of services tailored to individual needs:

Developmental and Learning Issues: Addressing life challenges when not embraced by “mainstream” society, like Autism, ADD, ADHD and other learning disorders. Therapy focuses on fostering strengths and learning how to navigate obstacles through personalized approaches that are self-respecting, affirming and involving both the child and parents.

 

Attachment/Adoption: Tailored therapy addresses disrupted patterns of interaction, building bridges to connection and understanding while considering the individual's unique history and needs.

 

Anxiety/Regulatory Issues: Therapy helps individuals manage anxiety through understanding and self-soothing techniques, fostering comfort and support within relationships.

 

Mood Issues: Addressing mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder, therapy seeks to restore emotional balance and enjoyment in life through supportive relationships and insight-driven approaches and self-care strategies.

 

Failure to Launch & Life Transactions: Therapy supports the transition to “adulting” which requires the shift from dependency on the external structure and support at home to navigating and launching into independence with confidence and clarity. The focus of this work is to grow life skills, coping and problem-solving skills, as well as resolve issues related to past trauma and discover their self-identity.

Tailored Therapy:

Choosing the Best Approach for Your Child and Family

One-on-one Parent/s session – Collaborating directly with parents regarding their concerns, challenges and goals in raising their child. These sessions create a safe and private space to share concerns, assess their current situation, learn more about their child, and identify strategies for more effective parenting. Parents will gain insight and grow their capacity to improve their family dynamics to create a more empowered and nurturing home environment.

One-on-One Child session (in conjunction with parent sessions) – Working directly with the child to learn more about themselves while giving them a safe environment through which they can learn about, explore and communicate—inviting curiosity, free from judgement and worry about their parents’ reactions.

Parent-child / Family sessions – Working together with parents and their child to build greater understanding of who their child is, discovering new, more effective ways of connecting and interacting with each other. This constructive and interactive environment helps with unpacking issues and growing parenting skills to raise a self-directed, compassionate and confident adult who can better embrace life’s challenges.

Services Customized to Individual Needs


In-person or online sessions are offered depending on what will provide the most conducive environment for the child.

Therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes. Clients usually meet with Dr. Kessler once a week, on a standing appointment basis. Active parent participation in the child’s therapy program is essential.

To schedule an appointment with Dr, Kessler, visit the Contact Us page.