Psychological Assessment & Testing
Get the solutions
The underlying cause of a person's problems isn't always clear. For example, if an individual is having trouble in school:
Is he or she having a reading problem such as dyslexia?
Does he/she have attention problem such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Difficulty with impulse control?
What is the diagnosis? Bipolar? Personality Disorder?
Is my child Gifted?
Psychological tests and assessments help to understand the nature of the problem, and figure out the best way to go about addressing it. They also help rule out other factors that might be affecting an individual's functioning.
Dr. Alcalay incorporates a full battery of science-based psychological testing instruments to effectively provide a diagnosis, if applicable, and provides specific treatment recommendations.
Children & Adolescent Psychotherapy
Evidenced based treatment
Today’s teens are seen to be generally optimistic and happy; yet, they also tend to be less trusting, more sensitive, and more isolated from their families when compared to previous generations. Our youth is spending about 7 hours per day in front of a screen as the digital era is upon us. Both children and adolescents, have been showing signs of increasing mental health issues. They exhibit emotional difficulties quite differently and require a specialized focus in order to reach their true potential.
Dr. Alcalay has extensive clinical experience in providing scientifically-based treatments for children and adolescents. His advanced training at the Florida Psychoanalytic Center and his clinical research has excelled his treatment success. He utilizes child-centered play therapy for early childhood behavioral issues, and a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Developmental Psychology for adolescents.
Parenting Skills and Development
Increase cohesion in the family
We are not given a "handbook" on how to raise our children, therefore, knowing what to do or, better yet, what not to do is essential. Parents through proper interaction can prevent many emotional disorders and can build the independency that a child needs to grow into adulthood.
Dr. Alcalay has conducted research on the current and most updated parenting approaches to tackle issues children face in this modern age. His parenting techniques incorporate attachment building, social skills, self-esteem development, increasing initiative, and improving self-control.
Trauma Focused Psychotherapy
Get the solution you need
When in danger, it’s natural to feel afraid. This “fight-or-flight” response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this reaction is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they’re no longer in danger.
Dr. Alcalay specializes in Trauma and utilizes E.M.D.R. (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing). It has received a high level of recommendation by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association. EMDR allows the mind and body to heal effectively from trauma.
Child Play Therapy
A Happier, Healthier Child
Play therapy refers to a range of methods of capitalising on children's natural urge to explore and harnessing it to meet and respond to the developmental and later also their mental health needs. It is also used for forensic or psychological assessment purposes where the individual is too young or too traumatized to give a verbal account of adverse, abusive or potentially criminal circumstances in their life.
Play therapy is extensively acknowledged by specialists as an effective intervention in complementing children's personal and inter-personal development. Play and play therapy are generally employed with children aged six months through late adolescence and young adulthood. They provide a contained way for them to express their experiences and feelings through an imaginative self-expressive process in the context of a trusted relationship with the care giver or therapist. As children's and young people's experiences and knowledge are typically communicated through play, it is an essential vehicle for personality and social development.