Therapy for Children

Are you seeking a child therapist to help care for your son or daughter?

Growing up is a difficult task riddled with various challenges. Living through a pandemic as your child navigates these stages may be causing them a great deal of additional pain and angst. It has for so many. We are here to support your family.

As a parent, you may not know if your elementary or middle-school-aged child is going through a normal stage of development or if something more serious is going on. Never ignore your parental intuition. You know your child best, and if you think there may be a problem, getting support and guidance from a professional is always best. Appropriate evaluations and assessments lead to diagnoses and treatment recommendations that guide you and, as appropriate, your child’s teachers, pediatrician, educational therapists, physical and occupational therapists, and psychotherapists. Counseling can help your child acquire practical life skills, know their emotions, and develop trust in caring adults.

Kentlands Psychotherapy is an excellent place to turn for understanding how to provide healthy support to your child as they continue along their paths. Our child psychologists and therapists are highly trained and have been trained and employed at some of the best DC area and Montgomery County institutions, such as Children’s National Medical Center and The Lourie Center. More information on younger children, preschoolers, and adolescents can be found by following these links.

Would you like to speak with someone today? Call us at (240) 252-3349 Ext. 807 to speak with Keirsten Lee or Petra Desmond. They’ll take the time necessary to learn about your child’s needs, discuss our staff and current resources, and see if we can find an ideal match for you.

Minimum* Age Accepted

Clinician

Preschoolers/Elementary/Middle & HS (2-16)Daniela Nogales, LCPC
Elementary and above (5+)Elsy Estrada, LMSW
Elementary (5-12)Jessica Stutzman, PhD
Elementary and Middle & HS (5-18)Jacy Perkins, PMH, CNS-BC
Elementary and above (6+) (Testing and Assessment)Megan Burleson, PhD
Elementary and above (6+) (Testing and Assessment)Julie Mudryj, PsyD
Elementary and above (10+)Jacqueline Flores, LCSW-C
Middle and High Schoolers (11+) (Psychotherapy & Executive Functioning Coaching)Megan Burleson, PhD
Middle Schoolers and above (12-30)Jess payne, LCSW-C
Middle Schoolers (for Medication Mgmt only)Russell Carr, MD
High Schoolers and above (for Medication Mgmt only)Brent Donmoyer, PMHNP
High Schoolers and above (14+)Nicole Beane, LCSW-C
Late High Schoolers and above (16+)Johanna Koenig, LCSW-C
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Frequently Asked Questions

I’m at my wit’s end with my daughter’s temper tantrums. What can a child counselor do to help us, . . . me?

young children psychotherapy

Do you have a highly emotional child? Areher meltdowns embarrass you in public? Do you feel judged by other mothers or your in-laws when they witness one of her emotional storms? Everyone’s been there, but maybe you feel like you are “there” more than most.  And perhaps you are. Maybe you have a more passionate, highly spirited, spunky kid. We feel for you. The early years with kids like this can be rough. But take comfort in the idea that someday, she may very likely be able to tap into her innate determination in ways that will serve her well in the future. I know you are probably thinking, “Great. But I need help now!” Right? Call us. Support from a qualified child therapist can help your child learn to “tame the dragon” of her emotions and channel that energy more productively.


How can I tell if my child’s behavior is a typical “high energy,” scattered daydreamer, or something more? When does “He’ll grow out of it” become “I better get on this?”

If you believe you are seeing, or if a teacher tells you they are seeing, symptoms of ADD or ADHD, it’s wise to have your child evaluated sooner rather than later. You and your child can use many compensatory skills at school and home that can help. While medication may be an appropriate option for an older child, many, if not most, younger children can do well with well-thought-out behavioral plans incorporating cooperation from the parents and the school. We can help with the assessment, plan development, and 504 or IEP advocacy with your Montgomery County, Maryland school. We understand how to navigate the system and can support you in vigorously advocating for your child in the public school system.

Learn more about ADHD diagnostic criteria in this video.

Video Credit: Osmosis.org


Do you work with children on the spectrum, formerly Asperger’s Disorder or other PDD?

If you are concerned that your child may have Asperger’s Disorder, now considered part of the Autistic Spectrum, we can help. We have extensive experience identifying the symptoms and making an accurate diagnosis. Often, if we suspect that your child has PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, which includes Autism and Asperger’s), we will help you to gather as much information as possible to make an accurate diagnosis. This would include parent feedback, teacher reports, and observing your child in different settings. Most likely, we’ll recommend neuropsychological testing to complete the process and rule out any other psychological condition.

We offer therapy to help children with PDD with the mood dysregulation and anxiety issues they may be experiencing. Moreover, we can also help with peer relationship problems, including bullying and making and keeping friends. Although we do not currently run social skills groups for children/teens with PDD, we can refer your child to a place that does. Finally, we offer parents behavioral strategies best to address their child’s unique needs and challenging behaviors.


Have you had concerns about Autism Spectrum symptoms? This video may help to answer some of your questions.

Video Credit: Osmosis.org

Now that my child is older, how can I transition them to their bed?

Sharing a family bed is a common way to encourage bonding between parents and their children. We find many Montgomery County families are doing it. You’re not alone or out of the norm. The other thing we often hear from our Gaithersburg/Potomac parents is that what starts nightly as 10 minutes of snuggling in the child’s bed with them, more than half the time, leads to co-sleeping because the overworked and sleep-deprived parent falls asleep and fails to make it back to their bed. Also common is the often-traveling professional parent whose absence creates an opportunity for a “treat” night of sleeping with mom or dad because of the available space.

Co-sleeping that is thoughtfully chosen based on a commitment to the values of attachment parenting can be a beautiful thing that smoothly transitions to separate sleeping at an age-appropriate point in your child’s development.

Unfortunately, it does not always work this way.

co-sleeping extractionWhat we have heard from our Kentlands families is that in many cases, what started as a lovely bonding experience devolves into a fraught custom that carries with it the baggage of poor sleep for some (usually a parent), resentment from a spouse (often displaced to a couch or guest room or weary of the impact on their marital relationship), or a nightly battle of wills over the grown-ups ‘ insistence that the kid returns to their room.  If the parents don’t agree with each other on the family bed “policy,” it can take a toll on the marriage.

Sometimes, the child’s insistence on staying in the parent’s room (in their bed or on a cot or sleeping bag on the floor) can be driven by a more significant anxiety issue or recent trauma that needs to be addressed. Counseling with a child or adolescent therapist is critical in these cases.

In more routine cases, for the transition to be successful, the young child should be involved in the planning process – from picking out new bedding to rearranging the furniture in their bedroom to helping to paint the walls. When a child feels like their space is their own, it will be a significant step in the right direction. If these and other online suggestions do not prove adequate, working with a child therapist to develop an appropriate reward system specific to your family’s unique circumstances will help make the transition a permanent one.


My kid’s preschool teacher keeps raising concerns about my child’s development; when should I take their situation seriously?

kids psychotherapy md

As parents, we believe that we know our children best. And we do! There is a solid basis for a parent’s intuition. When your child enters pre-school, they are now being exposed to different academic and social environments that a parent is not present for. The preschool teacher may have needed insight into how your child functions during these newly acquired skill sets – making friends, following directions, trusting an adult who is not a family member, and more.
Additionally, your son or daughter’s teacher sees your child’s behavior as it compares to a reasonable size sample of his age-matched peers. Listen to what your teacher has to say and compare it to your own experience, discuss it with your pediatrician, and consider seeing a child psychologist or other developmental specialist if you’re still concerned. Resources like Montgomery County’s Child Find can be a good starting place. If a formal assessment identifies a deficit or delay, specific recommendations will guide you in your next steps.


How can I tell if my kid is shy or having social difficulties?

Children go through definite periods of social anxiety attributed to separation anxiety. This can be developmentally appropriate at early developmental stages. The main difference between shyness and social difficulties is the ability of the child to overcome nervousness. If your child seems persistently uncomfortable around others, this could be a sign of social difficulties or early symptoms of social anxiety rather than the more benign period of childhood “shyness” or what might eventually develop into an adult introverted personality style. Counseling with a child therapist can be tremendously helpful in giving your child the support and specific skills needed to overcome their nervousness around others. We have done quite a bit of this sort of work. We have many strategists to offer that will help.


How do I help my child deal with all the bad “stuff” in the news?

Great questions. Media is such an integral part of our lives it’s nearly impossible for most families to shelter their kids from the traumatic events that go on in the world. Here is an article from a former Kentlands Psychotherapy clinician with 5 Tips for Parents on dealing with bad things in the news. If your child appears particularly troubled by events they have been exposed to on the news, and it does not seem to be “passing,” speaking with a child psychologist is appropriate to nip whatever appears to be developing in the bud.


bullying concernsIs the teasing my daughter tells me about at school “bullying?”

If your child is troubled by teasing, peer criticism, pranks, shunning/rejection/isolation, you are right to be concerned. If you’re wondering if something “counts” as bullying, read further here. It’s our job as parents to be our kids’ primary advocates. Often, the question is, “Should I advise my child on how to deal with the issue, or should I take action directly with another parent, school administrator, or team coach?”

Our philosophy is to coach your child first (unless the bullying requires immediate attention) and intervene second. By following this order, you show your child that you have faith in their ability to handle problems with other kids and in life in general. You also avoid possible embarrassment, additional harassment, and social rejection that can come from a parent swooping in prematurely. When more than the behind-the-scenes approach is needed, counseling is an excellent resource for you and your child in a few ways.

  • First, your child has another adult with whom they feel heard, supported, and validated.
  • Second, a skilled child therapist is a pro at coaching your child on navigating peer relationships, including bullies.
  • Third, child psychotherapists can advise the parents on when to intervene directly (and how to diplomatically and effectively intervene with other adults) versus when to hold off and pull back.

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It's not an easy time to be a kid. Perhaps it never is, but now it's especially true. Let us help you understand and support your child's needs.

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