Laura Compian Kauffman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist

I have extensive experience treating the following issues:

Problems with Mood (Depression, Temper Flare-Ups, Lack of Motivation)
Problems with Worry (General Anxiety, Phobias, Obsessive Thinking and Behaviors)
Problems with Eating (Body Image, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia)
Issues Involving Alcohol in the Family
Developmental Disabilities (Asperger Syndrome)
Behavior Issues
Adoption Issues

I provide individual therapy for school-age children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of modalities. I strive to use the best, evidence-based treatment for each individual's unique background and presenting issue. We have learned a lot about what works from research conducted over the past couple of decades, and I set goals with my clients that incorporate treatments proven to bring short-term relief with long-term results.

Sometimes family therapy is needed to tackle difficult issues that affect the entire family system. One form of family therapy that I specialize in, Family Based Treatment for eating disorders, was first developed by the Maudsley Hospital in London. The focus of this treatment is to restore the child to a healthy weight. This may involve intensive involvement by the child's parents to help the child make the "right" choices at meals. This is a suppotive process in which the child's parents align with the child to battle the eating disorder that has taken control of the child's decision making. The treatment then transitions to a point at which the child's parents may begin to slowly transfer responsibility for meals back to the child. Later phases of the treatment involve the exploration of autonomy and processing other important developmental issues that will help the child to be successful managing future challenges. 

It isn't always necessary to bring a child or adolescent into therapy. In some instances, presenting problems can be managed with meetings between myself and the child's parent(s). The goal of these meetings is to explore proven and effective strategies for managing parenting challenges.

Laura C. Kauffman, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist PSY23071
(650) 763-8583
drlaurakauffman at gmail.com

843 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025

Follow me on Twitter @ChildPsych