Education and Learning Disabilities Therapists in Pleasanton, CA

Dr. DiFabio is a licensed clinical psychologist and owner of Merit Psychology Group, A Professional Psychology Corporation. Dr. DiFabio conducts psychological, psychoeducational and learning disorder assessments. More specifically she completes assessment of personality, ADHD, ASD, learning disorders, and cognitive issues in children, teens, and adults. Dr. DiFabio also provides second opinions related to previous diagnoses. And, Dr. DiFabio performs forensic assessment with medico-legal questions (ex. Competency, VAWA).

I am eager to treat diverse children, adolescents, and/or adults, as individuals, couples, families, or groups. My Specialization is in health psychology/behavioral medicine, i.e. eating disorders, stress management, chronic illness, chronic pain management, sport psychology, grief and loss - including of a pet, and I bring forth significant experience with developmental delays/learning disabilities, testing/assessment, adoption/foster care, mood/anxiety disorders, trauma, divorce, substance abuse, and other life transitions. Additionally, I am open to providing consultation for interns taking the licensing exam or tabulating hours. Seeing my clients start life with renewed vigor is incredibly rewarding.

I provide psychological, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological evaluations to children and adults in English, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Most clients seek evaluations due to inattention (ADHD), mood disorders, anxiety, learning difficulties, social communication differences (ASD), and challenges at work, school, or home. I emphasize the impact of sociocultural factors on the examinee's symptoms, experiences, and functioning. The goals of an evaluation are to clarify the diagnosis and offer recommendations to improve one's functioning. I also offer immigration-related (including N-648) and independent education evaluations (IEEs).

I am a licensed psychologist who specializes in the testing of children, adolescents and young adults. I offer Educational and Psychological evaluations to help determine what factors may be impacting a child's academic, social and emotional functioning. I use the results to make effective and individualized recommendations to support each child in their learning, social and home environments. For teens and young adults, testing can be helpful for additional specific situations such as: determining if they may qualify for accomdations for standardized testing and information to help with their transition to college.

My passion is working with children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, neuroimmune disorders, and sensory processing disorders within the field of Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and Animal-Assisted Therapy. I have 12 years of experience working with children and their families offering collaborative therapy. In conjunction to equine-facilitated psychotherapy, I work from an attachment-based model, blended with polyvagal theory, creative expressive art, and sensory integration therapy. Within my practice I focus on not only working with the child, but also their family to cultivate growth, change, and well-being.

I am a Licensed Educational Psychologist who strives to help all learners reach their potential. I meet individuals and families where they are at in the education process and work together as a partner to create a successful educational experience.

Are you concerned about your child's development? Is you child's behavior impacting their school performance? Does your child have difficulty making friends? Is your child struggling in school? The Healthy Minds team focuses on supporting young children, adolescents and their families. We offer a variety of services including individual therapy, parenting therapy, family therapy, speech therapy, and comprehensive assessments. Through custom assessments, we can provide information for you to better understand your child and connect you with appropriate resources and services.

Accessing hope, grounding, greater energy, and newfound peace are my specialities and passion, and I assist the patient to take charge in finding harmony and illuminating a vibrant life. Working creatively and eclectically, I emphasize psychophysiology and integrative modalities, the medical end of psychology in my practice, Lifetime Development in Pleasanton, California. Assessing carefully the unique strengths and needs of each child, adolescent, and adult who calls, my goal is to assist clients to become more masterful in their lives at every age. Using the lens of in-depth traditional psychotherapeutic knowledge, I aim for faster outcomes than those possible with "talk therapy" alone.

Specializing in clinical/developmental issues I can help families and children be successful. I prefer short term evidence-based treatments which means you can feel better quicker. I support people with anxiety, depression, and, underachievement. I am also a proponent of positive psychology to assist you in seeing the brighter side of life. My recent studies in successful ageing has given me new tools to work with the 65 and older crowd to help them enjoy the best years of their life.

Thank you for visiting my practice. Many people seek psychotherapy for relief of emotional difficulties related to anxiety, depression, life transitions, as well as relationship and work difficulties. When practical solutions to psychological setbacks do not lead to emotional relief, there may be deeper issues to uncover to achieve better insight and self-understanding to better cope with life’s challenges. In my approach, I focus on facilitating a safe, honest, empathic environment for clients to understand themselves and their challenges in the service of creating enhanced personal growth and emotional relief.

Are you feeling low on energy and lacking the motivation to do anything? Do you feel tense or “on edge” throughout your day? Maybe you are feeling hopeless and sad but aren't sure exactly why. Do you feel disconnected in your relationships? These problems don’t have to follow you forever. I support my clients in developing improved relationships in their lives, positive mindsets, increased motivation and more. In my practice, I focus on treating the whole person- not just their symptoms.

If you are ready to move forward in your life and need someone who you can trust in their expertise and experience, I am the right provider for you. I specialize in treating trauma especially abuse, assaults, domestic violence and injuries. I can attend to the specific needs of police officers, first responders, veterans. I am a proud support of survivors of childhood abuse and sexual abuse/ exploitation, provider for California Victims of Crime Compensation.

Trained in family systems theory with an emphasis on the whole person, I will work with you to develop insight into all aspects of your life. I am certified in Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) where I provide parents with the tools to approach their children with love, empathy and kindness, resisting the tendency to be punitive. With over 15 years of experience working with adults, teens, children and families, I can help you make the needed changes in your life. Change is within your grasp and begins with us working together to shift your thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE BEFORE CONTACTING ME. I offer non-medication-based options such as neurofeedback to address issues of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism. I am a licensed psychologist with specializations in scientifically based assessments such as qEEG Brain Mapping and non-medication based solutions such as neurofeedback, tDCS, TMS, and Auditory Integration Training. I am part of a multidisciplinary group and we treat children, adolescents, and adults. Please visit our website https://brain123.com to better understand what we do before calling.

I am privileged that many individuals and families give me the opportunity to help them feel, behave and lead much healthier lives. I am currently working in Dublin at my private practice, as well as providing teleconference sessions since Covid-19. I pride myself on having a private practice for over 15 years. I specialize in adolescents and their families but see individuals as well. I am a highly professional therapist who's natural ability is to create a safe environment and accept my clients for who they are which has lead to most of my referrals coming from previous clients, friends and or colleagues.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unmotivated? Life can be challenging and navigating those stuck feelings can seem impossible. I aim to provide a compassionate, honest, and non-judgmental space to help navigate these roadblocks and grow through them. I work with adolescents, teens and adults with concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, life transitions, self-exploration and more. I love a "tough case" and look forward to helping to ease your burden and provide you with support to get through the hard times. Feel free to reach out for a free consultation to see if I am a good fit for you!

I provide a safe space for clients to discuss persistent thoughts and feelings. I work from an empathetic, nonjudgmental, and warm perspective, whereby clients leave their sessions feeling hopeful and empowered. As your therapist, I will stand beside you to support you on your life’s journey as you gather and discover your own inner strength and resiliency.

Accepting new patients! Just living in today’s world can be difficult and exhausting. Many of us feel as if we are just “getting by.” We all struggle with our mental health, from daily conflict with others, feeling frustrated or irritable, painful past experiences(trauma), struggles with work and family, and anxious thoughts. These issues can hinder our ability to heal and grow. We can all use help at times, even if we don’t know how to ask for it. I provide comprehensive support and direct feedback to help guide you through this difficult journey, to reach a path that leads to healing, understanding, acceptance, and resolution.

My approach blends the healing properties of an affirming therapeutic relationship with the use of practical skills to empower clients to manage life's challenges. I focus on building upon clients' inherent strengths while aligning with their goals and values. The therapy model I use involves a combination of creative and play-based interventions for children and collaborative conversations with caregivers to support growth and progress. I hope to be a part of your family's path to wellness.