Parental Consultation around separation
and divorce, and post divorce
The experience of divorce is traumatic to all members of a family. There are, in fact, some general principles to be applied by divorcing parents with regard to their children’s best interests and their own best interests. Simultaneously each individual family presents its’ own unique patterns of challenges and issues. Before meeting with the divorcing parties, Dr. Spotts will thoroughly review all available material. Through meetings with the divorcing parties, or if is post divorce, the parents, and, if necessary the children, a plan will be developed and executed. The focus is on children’s best interests, which very often mesh well with each adult’s long term best interests. The divorce process, in and of itself, need not lead to emotional damage for the children and/or the parents. It is Dr. Spotts’ view that emotional trauma form divorce can be minimized.
Speaker and Workshop leader
Dr. Spotts is available as a speaker or presenter to groups of parents or teachers. He has reviewed current and classic books on Child Development and Parenting. Examples include: The Price of Privilege, by Madeline Levine, The Power of Play, by David Elkind, and The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, by Wendy Mogul. In addition, he has presented seminars on child development, and interferences in that process, the readiness aspect of children in the learning process, the parenting partnership between divorced parents and the like. He is available to schools and to parent groups. Dr. Spotts brings his years of psychotherapy practice with children and adolescents, plus his extensive school consultation experience to bear as he prepares and delivers his presentations.
Psychotherapy Practice
Referrals for psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults come from diverse sources, such as: medical professionals, educators, other mental health professionals, specialized practicioners in occupational therapy, language therapy, music therapy, and lastly from other satisfied patients. Dr. Spotts is committed to a thorough review of any existing diagnostic material as he formulates an individual psychotherapy treatment plan for each patient. Joint work with other professionals is undertaken as appropriate, i.e., psychiatric consultation if medication is a consideration as a part of the psychotherapy treatment plan, school communication as relevant and the like.
The theoretical underpinning of the psychotherapy process is humanistic and client-centered. There is a strong adherence to child, adolescent and adult developmental stages in the formulation of a treatment plan and in its’execution. There is an emphasis on the client understanding his/her feelings, being able to label them, and to develop effective ways to cope with and express those feelings. Minimizing the resonating effects of old feelings and experiences as influential factors driving present behavior is a focal point of the psychotherapy. Functional and behavioral change is a desired goal, with a commitment to the principle that appropriate process does lead to appropriate product.
One area of specialization which should be mentioned is psychotherapy work with children and families where food allergies of some significance exist within the child or children. This can often present reality problems for the child and the family, and have significant psychological/emotional ramifications for the child’s development. All of the same principles are relevant to this work, with the additional large consideration which must be accorded to the presence of food allergies.