Cheryl Withka, Psy.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Services

Individual Therapy

Therapy can address an individual’s needs at different points in their development from early childhood through to adulthood. 

For young children, play therapy and skill based interventions can help a child work through anxieties and issues around mood, learn skills to move through daily tasks (e.g. trouble sleeping, picky eating, school refusal), minimize the impact of stuck thoughts, and manage sensory sensitivities. Therapy in the tween years may focus on developing friendships, managing peer drama, increasing self-advocacy, taking control of worries and becoming comfortable with developmental changes. Although teens need guardrails set by adults, they often need practice in decision making around healthy choices, support in defining who they are including their values, and encouragement in balancing screen-time with time for self-care and connection. For older teens and young adults, therapy can provide a neutral space for building coping skills, identifying one’s strengths and transitioning into adulthood.

In addition to individual therapy. I also work closely with parents and families and as needed, reach out to other professionals who are involved with clients such as school personnel and pediatricians.

Parent Support & Consultation

I am passionate about helping parents/guardians with parenting strategies and navigating the school process to secure appropriate educational support services needed for their child to be successful. Parenting can be challenging particularly balancing one’s own values as a parent with the pressure of outside influences such as electronics, social media and social expectations. Parents often seek consultation regarding behavioral challenges, improving communication with their children, managing symptoms of PANS/PANDAS, supporting their children during parental divorce, and encouraging their adult child through transitions. Therapy can help improve the parent-child relationship, inspire change, and support a calmer home environment.

Common Parent Concerns That I Often Hear:

  • “My child is on their device all of the time and becomes angry or aggressive when I try to limit screen time.”

  • “My child refuses to go to school or events that they used to love.”

  • “My child wants to play with children their age but is often left out of social events.”

  • “It seems that all we do is argue since my child has become a teenager.”

  • “Something has changed with my child. They sleep all of the time and do not do the things that they used to love.”

  • “My adult child is not sure what they want to do in the future”

Clinical Supervision

I offer clinical supervision and consultation to licensed providers in the state of NH.