Specialization
Early Childhood Development & Behavior
Clarity and support when your young child’s emotions or behavior feel confusing.
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When a young child is struggling at home, in daycare, or in preschool, it can be hard to know what is developmentally typical and what may need additional support.
I help parents better understand their child’s developmental needs through consultation, practical strategies, and thoughtful guidance around whether evaluation or testing may be helpful.
✓ Telehealth in Virginia Beach, VA & PSYPACT states.
Who This Testing Is For
This service may be a good fit if you are a parent who:
Has concerns about your child's behavior at home, daycare, or preschool
Is receiving mixed or unclear feedback from caregivers or teachers
Wonders what is developmentally expected versus concerning
Wants guidance before pursuing therapy or testing
Is seeking evaluation for a very young child
A diagnosis is not required to seek support.
Common Concerns
Parents often seek consultation for concerns such as:
Separation anxiety and difficulty with transitions
Frequent or intense tantrums
Biting, aggression, or impulsive behavior
Emotional dysregulation
Sleep or toileting difficulties
Social or communication differences
Many of these behaviors can fall within typical development or overlap across conditions, making careful developmental interpretation especially important.
Developmentally informed, neurodiversity-affirming.
My Approach
I use a developmentally informed, neurodiversity-affirming approach focused on helping parents understand the meaning, context, and function of their child’s behavior.
In early childhood, meaningful support often begins with helping parents make informed, supportive changes in the child’s environment, routines, and interactions. I draw from leading evidence-based approaches for young children, including Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and tailor strategies to each child and family rather than using a one-size-fits-all model.
From the first consult to clear next steps.
What this service includes:
Clinical Training & Experience
I have advanced training in leading autism and early childhood clinical settings, with extensive experience evaluating young children with complex developmental presentations.
This includes work with children who have histories of:
Histories of extreme prematurity or birth complications
Medical complexity or early health complications
Developmental concerns identified in toddlerhood
Early emerging Autism or neurodevelopmental differences
Neglect, adoption, or early trauma exposure
This background allows for careful, developmentally sensitive support and evaluation, even in very young or diagnostically complex cases.
What Sessions Look Like
Sessions focus on parent consultation and may include:
Understanding your child’s developmental profile
Clarifying what is expected versus atypical development
Identifying areas that may benefit from monitoring or support
Practical, evidence-based strategies tailored to your family
Guidance around daycare or preschool concerns
Early Childhood Evaluation & Testing
When testing is appropriate, I offer specialized early childhood evaluations, with experience assessing children as young as 18 months.
Evaluations are developmentally sensitive, play-based when appropriate, and designed to provide meaningful clinical guidance rather than labels alone.
When indicated, I use standardized assessment tools, including the ADOS-2, or Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, and developmental testing as part of a comprehensive evaluation process to better understand social communication, behavior, and developmental differences.
Getting Started
A brief consultation is the first step to discuss your concerns and determine appropriate next steps, whether that involves reassurance, targeted support, or comprehensive evaluation.
Schedule a consultation to begin the process.