Child, Adolescent or Parenting Problems?

Are you experiencing parenting problems or concerns about a child, adolescent or young adult? Or are you a helping professional such as a lawyer or a physician or a mental health professional who is looking to assist a young person, and his worried parents.  Dr. O'Connor, a Toronto psychologist,  offers psychological  assessments and school neuropsychological evaluations to assist with child and adolescent concerns, and those that present in a young adult.

Dr. O'Connor works with children, adolescents and their families, as well as young adults. She takes referrals from various professionals, including mental health clinicians and organizations, lawyers (e.g., personal injury, family & immigration lawyers), and physicians. 

Are you Experiencing Parenting Problems?

Numerous young people present with a range of psychological issues and concerns that contribute to parenting problems and stress in a parent. These include learning and school difficulties. Some of these young persons show problems relating to peers and with other interpersonal/relationship issues, or various behavioral and emotional problems. These include mood swings or impulse control problems, such as problems with emotional or behavioral regulation, or trauma, non-compliance and aggression.

Still other young persons seem sad, withdrawn, anxious and/or depressed. Others may exhibit signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of a traumatic incident, or more complex, chronic forms of trauma. Some young people suffer from attachment issues and concerns.

Others show neurological issues, such as learning disabilities,  concussions and/or other acquired or traumatic brain injuries, or autism. Some may suffer from neurodevelopmental risk factors such as prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs, or prematurity and low birth weight?

Do you feel stressed out, pressed for time and/or unaware  of how to address concerns in a child, adolescent or young adult? You are not alone. In one recent study 70% of the respondents reported that their biggest worry is "whether they are raising their children properly."

Maybe you lack understanding of adolescent or child problems and wish you knew more. Are you unsure of whether the issues in a young person that worry you are just a normal stage of child development or a more serious concern? Do you wonder if professional support would help but are unsure of where to turn?

Do you want to intervene before the adolescent or child problems escalate and become more difficult to manage? Or are you spinning your wheels and hoping that the problems in the young person that worry you will disappear? Instead nothing changes and things are getting worse.And your parenting problems, and the related stress are only increasing.

Perhaps you find it difficult to balance your responsibilities at home and at work because of worries about a child, adolescent or young adult, and the parenting problems that result?

Or do you wonder if there really is a problem? Perhaps your parenting problems are just a normal part of raising a child or young person? Maybe in the end there is nothing to worry about. Perhaps it is just  a normal stage of development.

If any of these concerns apply to you, Dr. O'Connor's psychological assessments can help.

Are You a Helping Professional?

Are you a helping professional who works with children, adolescents or young adults?. Perhaps you are a personal injury lawyer, a rnental health clinician or physician, who is seeking neuropsychological testing to assist a young person who has suffered an acquired or traumatic brain injury.

What about a child, adolescent or young adult who has experienced an acute trauma, like a Motor Vehicle Accident, and  is showing signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? These young people can suffer from various psychological effects that can interfere with their ability to learn and perform to their academic potential at school, or to the best of their ability at work. Such trauma related issues can also contribute to emotional, behavioral and/or social concerns.

Or what about a young person who has experienced, or is experiencing chronic ongoing or complex trauma, like sexual, physical or emotional abuse,  or the witnessing of domestic abuse? Perhaps the young person is being bullied, or enduring some other form of maltreatment or chronic and ongoing stress. Do you wonder if this young person is showing symptoms of trauma and/or Post Traumatic  Stress Disorder?

Perhaps you are a family physician or pediatrician looking for a psychologist to assist the families, and the children, adolescents and young adults, you work with. Perhaps you are a lawyer searching for support to address the family/child or adolescent issues that intersect with your practice, or those that present in a young adult.  Are you a mental health or counseling professional who works with children and their families? Or are you looking for support to address the concerns that present in a young person who is showing psychological concerns as a result of family and/or parental stress. And who is looking for support to address the resultant parenting problems

Perhaps you work with parents who suffer from psychological concerns like addiction, depression and/or anxiety? Are your clients experiencing other concerns, like relationship issues or issues around divorce and separation or domestic abuse? Are you looking for support to help with the psychological distress the young person is showing  as a result?

If any of these concerns apply to you, Dr. O'Connor's psychological assessments can help.

Dr. O'Connor's Clients Show the Following Characteristics

• They are committed to promoting positive outcomes in young people. They want to intervene now and take preventative steps to help the young people they care about and work with before their problems escalate and become more difficult to address.
  
  
• They believe in the young person and their potential. They are committed to helping children  adolescents and young adults achieve their potential in all areas of development, including the social, academic, behavioral and emotional domains.
  
  
•  They believe they can make a difference in the lives of their children, or the children, adolescents and young adults they work with.
  
  
• They recognize the importance of applying effective interventions to address the young persons issues and concerns. They want to build on the young persons strengths and address  his or her  needs so that positive change can take place.
  
  
• They believe in the value of applying psychological knowledge and expertise to the concerns that plague the young person. They see themselves as partners who are willing to increase understanding of these psychological problems and how to address them.

• They believe in taking steps now to help prevent the intergenerational cycle of psychological  distress and upset from continuing unchecked to infect future generations of children. 
  

Find out how Dr. O’Connor's services can help with parenting problems, and the various psychological problems that all too frequently plague our young people.

Below is a list, by type, of the individuals, professionals and organizations that Dr. O’Connor works with.

• Children, Adolescents and Young Adults.  
• Parents and Other Concerned Family Members
• Legal Professionals (e,g., personal injury and family lawyers).
  
• Physicians and Other Health Care Providers.
• Mental Health Treatment Centres
• Student Assistant Programs, Guidance and School Counselors
• Addiction Treatment Centers
• Children's Aid Society Workers
• Family Service Organizations
• Parent Resource Centers
• School Boards, Teachers and Other School Based Professionals
• Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers and Other Counselors
• Employee Assistance Programs