As a clinical psychologist double-specialized in child and adult psychotherapy, and as a mother of two, I am well aware how much our children’s problems affect our day-to-day lives. In my private practice I work with children of all ages (0-18) and conduct both psychotherapy and psychological assessments from a wide range of perspectives.
Here are the answers to some questions frequently asked by caregivers who are looking into working with me:
What is the location of services?
I offer both online and face-to-face sessions based on families’ preferences.
How do I work with children?
I provide a combination of interventions based on your child’s needs including but not limited to psychodynamic psychotherapy, CBT, DBT, family therapy, and play therapy. I am also well-versed in EMDR, which is an effective treatment modality for trauma. My office has many different types of toys in it (e.g., clay, blocks, cardboard games, balls, magnetic tiles, pretend play items such as a house, human figures, animals, cars, food etc.), but they are initially hidden from sight. A typical ice-breaker/assessment tool that I like using with young children is the following: “I have lots of toys hidden in this room. Would you like to look for them and see if you like any?”
Some children express their thoughts and feelings through play, and we work on those using play as a “medium”. Some others feel comfortable expressing themselves verbally as they engage in sculpturing, building or drawing; and then I use these toys as a “mediator”. And some others prefer to sit down and converse with me. The modality will depend on your child’s age, preferences and proclivities. I make sure that there is a channel of communication for every single kid that I work with.
How often do I meet with parents?
When I work with your child, I find it very important to meet with you on zoom or in-person at regular intervals. In my experience, a complete improvement in your child’s behaviors and feelings can come about only when we cooperate and act in synchrony. Therefore, I typically conduct regular “parent meetings” in which we discuss the changes, challenges and improvements in your child’s daily life, and I also incorporate the session material in it (please see below for the topic of “your child’s confidentiality”). We will decide on the frequency of these meetings together during our initial intake session, based on our conversation and your preferences. Sometimes I also conduct family meetings with you and your child, instead of individual sessions with your child. This is again, something that we will decide on together during the course of treatment.
Does my child have confidentiality?
Yes, your child is entitled to certain amount of confidentiality that typically increases with age. I usually explain to children and caregivers that I will not repeat or quote children’s words in parent sessions, while at the same time communicate my thoughts and observations to the parents. Having said that, I am legally required to communicate with parents if I believe that your child or another identifiable child is at serious risk. I explain these more in detail during our intake session.
How do we start?
After our phone or zoom consultation, I conduct the first session only with parents. Then I meet with your child one-on-one. The third session is determined based on our agreement, your child’s age and presenting problems. In most cases, we do individual or family sessions with your child, and schedule parent sessions with you.
What is my background in child clinical psychology?
My training: I was trained in major child mental health clinics in Manhattan, including the Multicultural Child and Family Outpatient Services of Beth Israel Hospital, Child Outpatient Services of Lenox Hill Hospital, and the Child Development Center of The Jewish Board. I wrote my dissertation on the links between parent-child communication and children’s psychopathology, and then continued to publish on child psychotherapy over the past decade (please also see here). I completed my postdoctoral training on child-parent psychotherapy and trauma treatment in families using attachment-based interventions and play therapy.
I also worked as a supervising psychologist for children’s treatment at Lenox Hill Hospital’s Outpatient Mental Health Department between 2016 and 2018. I still provide education and training on child psychotherapy to psychology trainees at Lenox Hill Hospital and several other training clinics in Manhattan several times a year as an invited speaker.
The most common problems that I see in my practice in the past decade are the following:
- Anxiety
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Depression
- Effects of divorce on children
- Loss of a caregiver
- Oppositional or disruptive behaviors, aggression (e.g., fighting with peers or adults)
- Parent-child bonding and attachment issues
- Separation anxiety
- School problems
- Sibling Rivalry
- Trauma
If your child is experiencing behavioral or emotional problems, please do not hesitate to take the first step to consult with me. While sometimes children “grow out of problems”, other times problems tend to grow with age. Divorce, traumatic incidents, or severe parental conflicts are some other areas where I could provide preventative help even when there are no apparent behavioral problems.
Dr. Ozlem Bekar 