Robyn Gothelf, LMSW

Hi, my name is Robyn Gothelf (pronounced "Got-helf"), and I am a Behavioral Health Specialist and Psychotherapist. I am licensed in Social Work and hold a Master's Degree in Infant Developmental Psychology and Early Childhood Special Education. I specialize in Children and Families. I am certified in TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ADHD. I am an ADHD-CCSP(Certified Clinical Services Provider). I am able to diagnose and treat ADHD.

I also provide Autism and ADHD assessments, as I have an M.Ed. There is an additional fee for any written evaluations, and you will send that fee directly to me, the Clinician.

I do not have a Ph.D. and do not provide neuropsychological testing/evaluations, which are often required for formal SSI evaluations. However, if I determine it is needed, I will point you in the right direction. Please ask whoever told you to get an assessment whether they need an evaluation from a PhD. (They are much more expensive and have a longer waiting list. Also, ask yourself why you need this before you make any appointments. My assessments and my work with your child will give you a diagnosis and help answer your questions: Is my child Autistic? Do they have ADHD? I will lead you on the right path to a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, and/or an MD so you can get what your child needs and I can help you with the IEP for school.

Typically, unless it is for SSI benefits, a neuropsychological evaluation with a PhD is not needed; Typically, you will need treatment and a diagnosis, which is what I will provide.

Typically, when parents come to me with concerns about their child's behavior at school or at home, developmental delays or family challenges are usually involved, which typically manifest as behavioral problems, which are often the only way young children can communicate with us. These challenges can lead to emotional escalations and dysregulation that disrupt the entire family.

However, none of these issues are the parents' or the Child's fault. Everyone is doing their best.

I am here to help everyone understand one another by improving communication, increasing education on secure attachment, and behavior modification. My goal is to help you understand their child's behavior through these methods so you can manage it more effectively.

I ask that parents actively participate. My Philosophy has never been that children are deviant or oppositional. I do know that children do what works, just as adults do. Do you ever speed on Southfield Highway? My point, exactly. The police are absent or just inconsistent on that highway, which confuses us and leads to us breaking the rules, just as adults confuse kids when they don't follow through on rules or are inconsistent. I will tell you that resisting authority is something that children/adults with ADHD do naturally until their ADHD is under control. However, if you believe that your child, by nature, is negative or defiant and you don't want to explore your involvement in your child's behaviors, I am not the therapist for you. Only two percent of the many children I have seen over 20 years have had a real psychological problem, there is usually a minor change that parents can make to help the child feel more secure and know what to expect.

If you know your child is doing their best but are having a hard time. Perfect. If you know you want to figure this out with me, and you also know you have some learning to do to work on your parenting skills, I am the therapist for you. Parenting is complex, and life is difficult, especially when the hand you were dealt is not the one you expected.

I want to help them understand the rules, boundaries, structure, and schedule so your consequences match your actions consistently to eliminate confusion and inconsistency, which usually eliminates most problems.

Does this describe your situation? Is your child in crisis? Are you unsure how to handle him/her/them? Are you seeing sensory issues or socialization issues and just feel like something is "off"? If so, listen to yourself and seek help. As a parent, you know your child best. Let me help you figure out what is causing the disturbance, which may just be fixed with some assistance with your behavior management. Either way, any therapy involves you and your child.