Therapy

 Dr. Sandler works with children and families with a range of needs, including anxiety, ADHD, learning and behavioral issues, adjustment, loss, and divorce. She conceptualizes the issues in an integrative way, seeking to understand the dynamics among child, family, and school. Dr. Sandler utilizes a mix of play/talk therapy and cognitive behavioral interventions depending on the age and presenting problems.  Children come for therapy at least once a week, and parents at least once a month.  Parents are essential in creating behavior change. Much of the work centers on helping parents uncover triggers within family dynamics while offering concrete strategies for managing behavior.  

Parent Consultation

Often parents need a sounding board or require support during a transitional time such as an upcoming move, divorce, or family illness. Dr. Sandler is available to meet with parents to discuss how best to talk with children about the transition, taking into account the child's developmental stage and the particular issues in the family.  

School Consultation

Dr. Sandler is available to consult to administrative and teaching teams in schools.  On occasion, it is useful to have an external perspective to address issues in the classroom, such as developmental concerns about a student, classroom management, and goodness of fit between teachers and students. Dr. Sandler meets with school professionals and observes the classroom, then provides concrete feedback to the team. In some cases, this is an ongoing relationship over a certain time period or around a particular issue.