Hi, I’m Dr. Lindsay.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Specializing in Anxiety, ADHD & Emotional Regulation
Working with Children, Teens, Parents & Families
Parenting doesn’t come with a manual. If you’re here, something probably isn’t working the way you hoped.
Maybe:
Your child is anxious, melting down, or struggling emotionally
Your teen has shut down or feels hard to reach
Parenting feels more overwhelming than expected
You’re not sure how to help—and what you’ve tried isn’t working
👉 You’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything wrong.
Most families aren’t given the tools to understand what’s really going on underneath behavior - and that’s where I come in.
You don’t have to figure this out alone
My Approach
I’m a licensed Clinical Psychologist and my work focuses on helping children, teens, and families understand the patterns driving behavior - so that we can actually change them.
What often looks like:
“Defiance”
“Overreacting”
“Not listening”
When we understand the why, we can change the how
Is often actually:
Anxiety
Emotional overwhelm
ADHD
Difficulty regulating emotions
My Philosophy
Early relationships shape how we see ourselves, manage emotions, and connect with others. Yet most kids, teens, and adults are never taught how to understand their feelings or communicate their needs effectively.
I take a strengths-based approach, helping you or your child build on what’s already working while identifying patterns that may no longer be helpful. Many behaviors - like anxiety, shutdown, or reactivity - once served a purpose. Together, we work to understand them and develop healthier ways of coping and connecting.
My work is attachment-based and psychodynamic, meaning I focus on how past experiences influence the present. I believe meaningful change happens through safe, supportive relationships.
My goal is to create a space that feels comfortable, collaborative, and genuine
- where you and/or your child feel understood, supported, and empowered to grow.
Children
Anxiety and emotional sensitivity
Meltdowns and big reactions
Behavioral challenges
Difficulty with transitions
What I help with
I work with:
Teens
Anxiety, stress, and overwhelm
Shutdown, withdrawal, or irritability
Identity and self-esteem challenges
Social and relationship stress
Parents & Families
Parent-child conflict
Communication struggles
Feeling stuck or unsure how to help
Navigating ADHD, anxiety, or emotional regulation
Serving San Diego clients in person in Cardiff-By-The-Sea as well as those in California, Colorado, and Utah via telehealth.
How therapy works
Therapy with me is not just about talking
- it’s about understanding patterns and learning what to do differently.
Together, we:
Identify what’s actually driving behavior
Build emotional regulation skills
Improve communication and connection
Develop practical strategies that work in real life
👉 I also work closely with parents - because lasting change happens when the whole system is supported.
What I offer to help build rapport quickly:
Arlo:
Arlo is a 2.5 year old Bernedoodle and an instant ice breaker for kids and teens!
With parent approval, he can join in sessions as a therapy-dog-in-training.
Walk-and-Talk Sessions:
I’ve found that walking with kids and teens is incredibly helpful to make them feel comfortable opening up. My office is located next to the Cardiff “rail trail” and with parent permission, walk-and-talk sessions are a great tool in my tool belt.
What makes my work different
Many approaches focus only on behavior.
I focus on:
What’s underneath the behavior
Because when we address the root of what is underneath the surface:
Meltdowns decrease
Communication improves
Kids and teens feel more understood
Parents feel more confident
My background
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in working with children, teens, and families experiencing:
Anxiety
ADHD
Emotional regulation
Attachment and family dynamics
My work is grounded in research - but more importantly, it’s focused on what actually works in real life with real families.
For parents reading this
If you’re feeling:
Overwhelmed
Frustrated
Unsure what to do next
That makes sense.
Parenting a struggling child or teen is hard - especially when nothing seems to be working.
It can activate our own feelings of helplessness which can be hard to sit with and makes it difficult to think clearly at times as well.