Therapeutic Services

 

     Dr. Zelinger provides long and short term therapeutic services to children ages 3-11 and their parents. She also runs short term “friendship groups” at various points throughout the year in order to help children learn and practice developmentally appropriate social skills. Dr. Zelinger individualizes her approaches to each child, depending upon the particular presenting issues. Her formal training includes psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and play therapy techniques which she draws upon to help a child feel better, improve behavior, resolve conflicts and learn replacement behaviors.

 

   Dr. Zelinger works in a play room designed to encourage expression and safe release of feelings. She often uses a child centered approach, where she follows the lead of the child in order to facilitate the child’s ability to reveal and understand their needs, conflicts or their response to traumatic events. She infuses humor and warmth whenever possible and works to create a relationship where the child feels valued and understood. When short term goal focused treatment is indicated, Dr. Zelinger will work with the family to develop a behavior plan using a system of reinforcers intended to increase desired behaviors.  

     Dr. Zelinger has a strong background in special education, and works with students with disabilities and their Individual Education Plans on a daily basis. She is extremely knowledgeable about special education programs and issues and is an advocate for students with special needs.

     She is highly experienced in helping parents to present difficult information to their children, and in helping children adjust to parental separation and divorce as well as absence due to other means.  Dr. Zelinger has a particular interest in working with youngsters who experience anxiety, selective mutism or difficulty forming and maintaining friendships.  Pediatricians and surgeons have teamed up with her in preparing children who are about to undergo medical procedures.  

     Therapy sessions are 45 minutes.  Payment is requested at time of service.  Dr. Zelinger does not participate on any insurance panels, but will provide receipts that clients may submit to their insurance company for reimbursement if they have out-of-network coverage for the diagnosis and services provided. 

     What to tell your child before you come to the first play therapy session

     Since in all likelihood, you will have already met me at our intake appointment, you can say something to the following: 

“I met a lady whose job it is to play with children who (insert your child’s symptom i.e. worry a lot, get in trouble in school, whose moms and dads don’t live together, who are afraid of thunder storms, etc.) She has a playroom with all kinds of toys that I think you’ll like. She’s a mommy also and she was very nice. I want to go back so you can meet her too. Her name is Dr. Laurie but she’s not the kind of doctor that examines you or gives shots or throat cultures. She only has toys because she is a playing doctor. Let’s look at pictures of her office together on the computer, so you can think of questions you want to ask her when we go together.”