Infant & Early Childhood Treatment
Building happier families through play.
Genevieve Skale, PSYD
My Approach
Are you having difficulties getting out of the house with your toddler or preschooler as they have a meltdown over putting on their shoes? Have you ever felt the eyes of strangers watching you as you manage your child’s anger outbursts in the grocery store? Do you ever feel consumed by guilt, worry, or frustration related to raising your child? These challenges can feel debilitating, embarrassing even, but things can get better with the right kind of supports in place.
I believe that parents are trying their very best to meet the ever changing needs of their children. For various reasons, child-rearing can be especially challenging. With that in mind, I approach my work with each family with curiosity and humility in order to individualize treatment to include one’s family and cultural values. I strive to partner with parents as we develop a plan that fits with each family’s needs. Lastly, through our work together, I hope that your child builds their self-confidence and strengthens their relationships in all places where they spend time. As such, I make it a priority to collaborate with other individuals important to the family, such as their child’s pediatrician or school teacher, and help parents advocate for their child when need be.
My goal is to help your child learn new ways of managing big emotions and build your confidence in handling challenging behaviors whenever and wherever they arise. Ultimately, my hope is that after treatment, you and your child will be able to enjoy and delight in one another, laying the foundation for a strong, secure life-long relationship.
Qualifications & Training
Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) - Pepperdine University (APA-Accredited)
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (M.A.) - Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Integrated Educational Studies (B.A.) - Chapman University
Education
Two-Year Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles – Early Childhood Mental Health specialty (APA-accredited)
California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (CA-LEND) Fellow
Predoctoral Internship: University of Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (APA-accredited)
Training
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) – certified therapist
Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) – rostered therapist
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Second Edition (ADOS-2) – clinical certification
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Incredible Years
Coping Cat
Evidence-Based Practices & Certifications
Specialty Areas of Practice
Behavioral Problems
While all children struggle with the occasional emotional outburst, some children display intense behavioral problems like hitting, kicking, or running away. As a parent, these behaviors can be so challenging to manage, especially when they happen in the presence of others in the daycare parking lot, grocery store, or park. As frustrating as these behaviors may be, I believe that behavior is communication. In the initial stages of our work together, I will collaborate with you to identify “the why” behind behaviors (e.g., anxiety, trauma and stress, depression, neurodevelopmental disabilities) in order to develop the best plan for how to respond to your child (Siegel & Payne, 2011). My goals is that after our work together, you will feel confident helping your child calm down while setting appropriate limits—no matter where you are.
Parent Coaching
Finding your stride as a parent is a taller order than many realize and can be wrought with strong emotions like guilt, worry, and frustration. I strive to help you integrate a positive parenting approach into your daily life to promote your child’s healthy emotional development within the context of your family and cultural values. Specific parenting behaviors, such as celebrating your child’s individual strengths, setting consistent and developmentally appropriate limits, and recognizing your own emotions before responding to your child, will help to promote a safe and secure parent-child relationship (Kinsner, MacLaughlin, & Parlakian, 2018).
Childhood Trauma & Attachment
Significant life stressors are challenging at any age. When these events occur in the first five years of life, the brains and bodies of young children are greatly impacted, as they do not yet have the language or life experience to make sense of what has happened or work through it on their own. Traumatized children often exhibit sleep problems, new and persistent fears, and/or behavioral outbursts when they are reminded of the scary experience. Some kids even withdraw into their own world since they do not know what else to do. In our work together, we will develop a plan for how to explain what has happen to your child, reassure them that you are able to protect and keep them safe, and help them learn ways to calm down when fear arises. At the end of treatment, it is my hope that both you and your child will feel safe in the world once again (Lieberman, Ippen, & Van Horn, 2015).
Childhood Anxiety
Growing up as a young child amid a global pandemic can naturally cause or intensify feelings of worry and anxiety. Your child’s difficulties coping with big emotions may emerge as separation anxiety, emotional outbursts, and school refusal, to name a few. Children with anxiety also may have nightmares, difficulties falling and staying asleep, or requiring your presence in order to fall asleep. This can cause a great deal of stress on your child, as well as the rest of your family. I will teach your little one to identify his or her feelings, understand the worrisome thoughts that distract them throughout the day, and learn age-appropriate coping skills (O'Neil et al., 2012).
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
The fear that your child may have a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as Autsim or ADHD can be crippling and terribly confusing. Knowing about, let alone navigating, the various services systems is a huge undertaking for any parent. With my expertise in neurodevelopmental disabilities, I will strive to help you understand the ins and outs of your child’s diagnosis and access the community and school-based services available to you. I will also teach you strategies for promoting your child’s social-emotional development so that they are able to manage big emotions, make friends, and be successful.
Feeding & Sleeping Problems
The feeling of dread when you think about how challenging the day will be after your child’s poor night of sleep or mentally preparing for the battle at the dining table during breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your picky eater can be unbearable. Children who have difficulties with feeding and/or sleeping often appear irritable or fussy throughout the day, making other times of the day that much harder. With my specialized training in working with infants and young children, I incorporate attention to feeding and sleeping into your treatment to ensure you feel confident applying therapeutic parenting strategies throughout the day. My goal is to reduce stress on the entire family unit and increase the enjoyment you feel with your child (Nasir & Nasir, 2015).
The Ideal Place for your Child to Play
Given the needs of young children, my office was thoughtfully designed to deliver evidence-based treatment approaches while promoting your little one’s comfort and safety. The therapeutic playroom is warm and inviting—a special place where you and your child can play, connect, and bond. My office has a one-way mirror and state-of-the-art audio-visual system that allows me to provide the scientifically-backed treatment, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), in its purest form.
The safety of your child is my top priority. As such, my space has been thoroughly child-proofed so that you can place your full focus on your child and the therapeutic work we are doing together. Finally, additional safety procedures have been put in place since the emergence of COVID-19 including sanitation of all toys used and frequently touched services in between each session, air purification, and masking for all individuals older than 2-years of age while together in the playroom.