Thank you for checking out my upcoming short-term LUNCH Group Parenting Skills Program.  The tools and strategies taught are based on our eight years of working with children and their parents in our social skills programs combined with my 20+ years in clinical practice.

Overview.  This is an "Intensive Treatment Program."  That means families will be expected to devote sufficient time in between meetings to practice new skills.  Our sessions are based on a "developmental-behavioral" model.  Each parent group is specifically designed to address the unique problems encountered by children in the following age groups:

• 4-6 years old;
• 7-11 years old;
• 12-17 years old.

This means that as part of understanding your child's (teen's) behavior, we will consider areas such as cognitive development, language skills, executive functioning skills, and socialization.  We will discuss the kinds of strategies, behavioral tools, and approaches that are most likely to result in more positive behavior and interactions. 

Beneficial Technology.  Additionally, all parents will be able to record their successes using our interactive data program, plus be able to communicate with other families and receive support in between sessions.

What will be addressed?  These are some of the typical problems the families I work with encounter:

• my child won't do what I ask
• getting to school on time each day is an unbelievable chore
• I can never get my child to bed on time
• my child always has to be reminded to do simple things
• everything turns into an argument
• my child is obsessed with certain toys and I cannot stop him/her from playing with them
• no one wants to be friends with my child
• all my child wants to do is to play on his/her computer
• when friends come over, my child bosses them around or acts very immature
• any time things do not go his/her way, my child has a tantrum

What kinds of diagnoses will the children of other parents likely have?  This program is primarily designed to help families who have children with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome and related impulse control and social interaction problems. (It is not appropriate for children primarily exhibiting classical signs of autism).

If I sign up who else will be attending?  Parents who sign up for the series will be grouped with other parents who have similarly aged children. 

Where will sessions occur?  All group sessions are held at Dr. Gale's Encino office (next door to Gelsons Market) in our spacious training/group room.

Interested?  Click below to learn more details about this time-limited program. 

Thanks for your interest.




Bruce M. Gale, PhD
Clinical Psychologist PSY10598