Addressing Emotional, Learning, and Developmental Concerns

Therapy and Consultation Services

Individual therapy

Depending on the particular needs, skillsets, and receptiveness to therapy, I utilize different therapeutic techniques to help my young clients. The methods and approaches I draw from are rooted in several evidence based treatments. I commonly use therapeutic interventions based on cognitive behavioral approaches, structural family therapy, and psychodynamic theory.

Play Therapy

Play is a child’s most natural way of communicating their life experience. My training in child-centered play therapy allows me to help children to express feelings they are unable to put into words through the use of toys, art, make believe and stories. Children use the powerful process of play to connect their thoughts and feelings and master critical developmental or emotional challenges. For most children, play therapy also helps facilitate learning personal boundaries, pro-social communication, and empathy.

Parent Consultation

Typically, parents and caregivers are an integral part of a child’s treatment. As such, it is often helpful to set aside time for "parent sessions" focused on discussing and problem-solving issues related to discipline, emotional support, communication, boundaries or connection.

Family Therapy

Family sessions, when appropriate, are aimed at helping family members connect and engage in collaborative problem solving. Family sessions can be a helpful way for parents and children to find common ground in goal setting and identifying what skills need to be practiced for growth and positive change.

1/1

Consultation

With the permission and informed consent of a patient's legal guardian, I consult with individuals pertinent to the child’s treatment team, such as teachers, guidance counselors and specialists. I am happy to participate in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings if you feel my feedback could be helpful to the IEP team. When a child is having difficulties in school, consulting and coordinating with educators is critical to the process of helping the child experience more success in school; academically, socially and behaviorally.

Diagnostic Evaluations, Psychoeducational, and Neuropsychological Testing for Children and Adolescents

Testing is conducted for many reasons. Testing can assist with clarifying the root of a child's emotional distress, learning or social skill challenges. Testing provides objective data and helpful treatment recommendations regarding the particular challenges a child is experiencing. Psychoeducational and neuropsychological testing evaluations are based on multiple tests, observations and input from key players in the child's environment (teachers, other caregivers, etc.) If I am able to help your child through testing, my aim will be to select an individually tailored battery designed to answer questions you have about your child's needs.

Psychoeducational Testing

Psychoeducational testing typically focuses on measuring a child’s general intellectual skills, as well as individual academic abilities (reading, writing, spelling, and math). Typically, the goal of a psychoeducational assessment is to determine whether a child has a specific learning disorder or intellectual disability that is impeding their academic success in school.

Neuropsychological Testing

Neuropsychological testing includes psychoeducational testing, but delves further into measuring brain functions such as sustaining attention, processing language, processing sensory input, executing motor skills, and memory.

Gifted Testing

Gifted testing evaluates a child’s intellectual functioning. In most schools, a child must have an intelligence quotient (IQ) of at least 130 to qualify for placement in a gifted classroom.

Diagnostic Evaluations

This consists of an interview with the patient, along with a mental status assessment. Feedback from parents, teachers, and/or caregivers is also critical to helping me understand a child's psychological challenges. I obtain a full history of the patient across major life domains and utilize standardized behavior rating scales and/or self-report personality measures to help determine if a mental health diagnosis is present. If appropriate, projective tests like drawings and story-telling measures may be incorporated to gain insight into a child’s emotional functioning. Sometimes, it is wise to begin with a diagnostic assessment to determine if more in-depth testing is needed. There are cases where comprehensive testing is not clinically necessary or feasible for a variety of reasons.

Forensic Evaluations

I do not work with the legal system to provide forensic testing of any kind, including child custody evaluations or individuals involved with the juvenile justice system.

Paying for Services

I accept many popular health insurance plans including Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Geisinger Health Plan, Optum Health, Aetna, and Community Care Behavioral Health Organization (Medical Assistance). I also participate in most Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans, including Blue Chip and Geisinger CHIP. If you wish to use insurance, ask your health insurance customer service representative about your behavioral health service coverage prior to our first scheduled appointment. If you have a deductible, you will be responsible for paying for services until your deductible is met. This means sessions are to be paid in full each time you come to meet with me. Co-pays are to be paid each session.

Special Considerations for Payment of Psychoeducational/Neuropsychological Testing Fees

Most health insurance plans only provide reimbursement for psychological or neuropsychological testing to rule out mental health conditions (i.e. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Depressive Disorders). If you are interested in pursuing testing for your child to determine if a learning disability is present, you may wish to contact your child's school district to inquire about testing. If certain threshold criteria have been met, school districts will evaluate any student who lives in the district free of charge with a parent's written request. Testing is typically completed by the district's school psychologist, and when necessary, other health specialists will also test the student (i.e. speech therapist, occupational therapist). Please contact your child's school district for more details about when/how testing may be offered. Dr. Egbert is able to provide testing for learning disabilities but families must be prepared to pay for this service privately.

Get in Touch

Brooke Egbert, Psy.D., LLC