Home > Kids & Teens > Child & Adolescent Therapy
At PPG, we view every child's behavior as a window into their world — a reflection of their underlying challenges, stressors, and experiences. Our goal is to help children and adolescents develop adaptive skills for coping with emotions, interacting with others, and converting problem behaviors into effective communication.
Whether your child is navigating the growing pains of adolescence, struggling with a clinical diagnosis, or simply needing support through a family transition, we provide a strength-focused, non-judgmental space to help them find a healthier way forward.
Areas of Focus
Emotional & Internal Struggles
Managing internal distress and mood shifts across development.
Anxiety & Separation Anxiety | Depression & Mood Disorders | Low Self-Esteem & Social Isolation | Self-Harm & Impulse Control | Sleep, Bedwetting, & Eating Problems
Navigating the World & Relationships
External pressures, family dynamics, and growing independence.
School Performance & Academic Demands | Peer Conflict & Bullying | Parent-Child Problems & Oppositional Behavior | Sibling Rivalry & Aggression | Identity Formation & Gender/Sexual Orientation
Specialized Clinical Care
Targeted, evidence-based protocols for specific diagnoses.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | ADHD & Learning Disabilities | Autistic Spectrum Disorders | Eating Disorder Interventions
How We Work
Developmentally Tailored Tools
We recognize that what works for a preschooler is fundamentally different from what works for a teenager. For younger children, we use process-oriented play therapy to help them express feelings and resolve conflicts when they don't yet have the words. For older children and teens, we pivot to active cognitive and behavioral strategies to identify and shift negative thought patterns.
Balancing Adolescent Independence
Adolescence is a natural tug-of-war between seeking autonomy and needing support. We honor your teenager's need for privacy and clinical confidentiality so they feel safe opening up, while maintaining clear, healthy boundaries that allow for productive parental engagement and systemic feedback.
Interpersonal Skill-Building
Therapy isn't just about introspection; it's about real-world application. We actively work with youth to enhance their social skills, improve communication, and build healthier relationships with peers, teachers, and family members.
A Systemic, Integrated Approach
We do not treat children in a vacuum. A child's success depends entirely on the ecosystem around them.
Along with providing family communication support in our sessions, our clinicians actively engage with the other professionals in your child's life. We regularly coordinate with guidance counselors, school psychologists, special education teachers, educational consultants, and occupational therapists. This systemic approach allows us to thoroughly understand your child's daily world and ensures they are consistently and optimally supported across all environments.
Meet our specialists in this area
Eva Leighton, PhD
CFO, Training Director
As a clinical psychologist specializing in complex relational dynamics, Dr. Leighton utilizes a blend of psychodynamic psychotherapy, evidence-based behavioral tools, and Gottman frameworks to support individuals and couples navigating trauma, substance use, and chronic loneliness.
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Melissa Klay, PhD, LCAT, ATR-BC
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Director of Art Therapy Program
A dual-licensed psychologist, board-certified art therapist, and tenured professor utilizing 25+ years of mastery to treat complex trauma, childhood anxiety and behavioral challenges, eating disorders, and emotional dysregulation.
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Valerie Scelsa, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
As an anxiety and OCD specialist and family systems clinician, Dr. Scelsa integrates gold-standard ERP, CBT, and parent-led SPACE frameworks to guide youth, young adults, and parents through phobias, obsessive-compulsive loops, and behavioral challenges.
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Emily Mudge, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
As an integrative psychotherapist and parent coach, Emily Mudge combines child behavior therapy with structured parenting frameworks to help families master emotional resilience, break old patterns, and cultivate intentional connections.
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Gerard Micera, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
As a humanistic clinician and veteran performing arts educator, Dr. Micera integrates creative engagement strategies, structured CBT, and Gottman methods to guide youth, families, and couples through anxiety, life transitions, and communication barriers.
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Megan Sedita, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
As a compassionate trauma and relational clinician, Dr. Sedita utilizes evidence-based CBT, DBT, and Gottman frameworks to help individuals and couples safely process complex stress, regulate intense emotions, and restore intimacy.
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Lily Brown, PhD
Clinical Psychologist, Postdoctoral Resident
Combining evidence-based therapies with a collaborative, relational style, Dr. Brown supports individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and life’s transitions.
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Emily Bly, PhD
CEO, Clinical Director, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
As practice founder and clinical director, Dr. Bly integrates advanced psychodynamic insight, CBT, Gottman methods, and Collaborative Divorce coaching to guide individuals and couples through complex life transitions and family-building.
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Kate Testa, MA
Art Therapist in Residence
Utilizing creative art therapy to help children and adolescents process big emotions, build confidence, and safely navigate learning and behavioral differences.
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