Services/ Solutions

Family exploring forested path together

EVALUATION

The process of helping your child, teen, or young adult begins with up to four meetings to evaluate him/her/them in a variety of settings (alone and with family), involving talk, play, and learning tasks. The initial evaluation includes:
  • Obtaining information/history from both parents (including any non-custodial parent still involved with the child)
  • Meeting the child one time with the entire family
  • Meeting the child alone, includes a diagnostic interview and time for brief play (for children 11 and under) and/or screening for learning and developmental disabilities (if appropriate)
  • Checking information with referring pediatricians or family doctors, current school teachers and tutors, and any ongoing therapists
  • Reviewing any previous educational, psychological, or neuropsychological evaluations
  • Holding a Summary and Planning meeting with both parents, which will include the child

BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES

My commitment is to make certain that effective, evidence-based non-drug treatments (counseling and school interventions)  have been thoroughly employed or will be tried first before considering medication interventions.
  • Child-centered but parent-directed. I treat the family as a system, meaning that some sessions include both parents and the child, and other times when I meet with the parents alone.
  • Child check-in sessions. I meet with the child regularly to check in and offer suggestions and advice for addressing problems.
  • Techniques that work for the individual and family. I employ a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques, including behavior-modification approaches, cognitive-behavioral strategies, externalizing the problem, and other practices. When necessary, I can address marital and adult issues within the context of ongoing family therapy.
  • Solution-oriented therapies. Therapies tend to be brief and directed toward solutions. If treatment is ongoing, visits generally are every other week. On average, treatment for an initial problem is between 8 and 10 visits over three to six months. But I also have had relationships with families that have gone on for decades.
Two young children. Photo: Ashton Bingham
Light filtering through forest canopy. Photo: Ethan Dow

MEDICATION MANAGEMENT

Medications can make a huge difference. However, positive changes must be weighed against possible immediate and long-term adverse effects.
  • With more than forty year's experience in the use of psychiatric medications for children and adults, I remain committed to first employing non-drug interventions over weeks or two to three months to determine their overall value.
  • If problems continue, I will consider medications beginning with the safest versus their adverse effects.
  • I try to avoid using multiple psychiatric medications unless absolutely necessary.
  • I am available 24/7 for any emergencies or concerns regarding the use of psychiatric medications.

GET STARTED TODAY

CONTACT DR DILLER
2099 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite 208
Walnut Creek, CA 94596