Psychotherapy
It often helps to talk through your problems.
Psychotherapy offers a safe and supportive space to reflect on daily life and gain insight. During sessions, our clinicians talk with you or your child about a range of challenges, goals, and experiences. Together, we use evidence-based approaches to reduce distressing symptoms and help you or your child move toward meaningful goals.
Therapy can be helpful whether you or your child are facing a specific concern or simply seeking support during a challenging time.
Individualized Psychotherapy Sessions for Unique Individuals
At the Portsmouth Neuropsychology Center, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all treatment, so we keep a lot of options in our therapeutic toolkit. The treatment modalities we use include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as psychodynamic, solution-focused, and social coaching approaches.
We are passionate about helping clients and families navigate the challenges they face. Through the extensive training and experience of our clinicians, we focus on forming a strong therapeutic alliance and identifying meaningful goals. From there, we work collaboratively to develop a clear, practical plan and build the skills needed to move forward. We emphasize ongoing support, structure, and shared commitment while making progress feel achievable, supportive, and motivating
Why Participate in Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy services can support clients in reducing distressing emotional and behavioral concerns, gaining insight, improving relationships, and functioning more effectively in everyday life. Psychotherapy can help with:
Emotional problems
- persistent sadness or low mood
- excessive worry, fear, or panic
- feeling overwhelmed
- grief and loss
- trauma-related distress
- chronic stress or burnout
Behavioral problems
- avoidance of school, work, or social situations
- procrastination and difficulty following through
- disorganization or poor time management
- conflict with others
Mental or cognitive problems
- negative self-talk, low self-esteem or self-doubt, persistent rumination or overthinking
- difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- perfectionistic thinking
We provide evidence-based treatment to help clients reach their unique goals.
Psychotherapy is often helpful for individuals experiencing:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- ADHD/Executive Functioning Concerns
- Behavioral problems
- Social skill challenges
- Relationship difficulties
- Adjustment to divorce
- Stress-management challenges
- Grief/bereavement
- Trauma
We provide thoughtful, evidence-based psychological care that helps individuals better understand themselves, clarify their goals, and move forward with confidence.
Are you ready to start gaining insight and conquering challenges through psychotherapy?
Schedule an appointment.
Psychotherapy FAQs
Q: What concerns can psychotherapy help address?
ANSWER:
Psychotherapy at the Portsmouth Neuropsychology Center can help with a variety of conditions including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- ADHD/Executive Functioning Concerns
- Behavioral problems
- Social skill challenges
- Relationship difficulties
- Adjustment to divorce
- Stress-management challenges
- Grief/bereavement
- Trauma
Q: What therapy approaches do you offer?
ANSWER:
Our clinicians utilize a variety of psychotherapeutic treatment options, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Trauma-Focused ACT (TF-ACT), as well as Psychodynamic, Solution-Focused, and Social Coaching approaches.
Treatment approaches are selected based on the individual’s needs, developmental stage, and presenting concerns.
Q: What is CBT?
ANSWER:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior that influence emotions and daily functioning. CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected—and that changing how we think and act can meaningfully improve how we feel.
CBT often includes:
- Cognitive restructuring — identifying and challenging unhelpful or distorted thought patterns and replacing them with more accurate, balanced ones
- Behavioral strategies — increasing engagement in positive or meaningful activities, setting goals, and building healthier routines
- Exposure-based techniques — gradually and supportively facing feared situations to reduce anxiety and avoidance
- Skills training — developing coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and stress-management techniques
- Between-session practice — structured opportunities to apply skills in daily life
CBT is typically structured, collaborative, and goal-oriented. Treatment focuses on specific concerns and practical strategies, and is often time-limited, lasting from several weeks to several months depending on individual needs.
The overall goal of CBT is to help individuals develop skills they can continue to use long after therapy ends—supporting greater self-understanding, emotional regulation, and confidence in daily life.
Q: What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
ANSWER:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps individuals build psychological flexibility—the ability to experience difficult thoughts and feelings while still engaging in behaviors that align with personal values. Rather than focusing on eliminating uncomfortable internal experiences, ACT emphasizes changing the relationship people have with their thoughts and emotions so they no longer stand in the way of living a meaningful life.
ACT is grounded in the idea that emotional pain is a natural part of being human, and that struggling to avoid or control inner experiences can sometimes increase distress. ACT supports individuals in learning how to open up to their experiences, stay present, and take purposeful action.
ACT often includes:
- Acceptance – developing a more open and compassionate stance toward difficult thoughts and emotions rather than fighting or avoiding them
- Cognitive defusion – learning to step back from unhelpful thoughts and see them as mental events, not literal truths
- Mindfulness and present-moment awareness – building the ability to stay grounded and engaged in the here and now
- Values clarification – identifying what truly matters to guide meaningful life choices
- Committed action – setting goals and taking steps aligned with personal values, even in the presence of discomfort
ACT is typically collaborative, experiential, and values-driven. Treatment is individualized and focused on helping people live more fully and flexibly, rather than on symptom reduction alone.
The overall goal of ACT is to help individuals develop a richer, more meaningful life by increasing psychological flexibility, resilience, and the ability to move toward what matters most.
Q: What is Trauma-Focused ACT (TF-ACT)?
ANSWER:
Trauma-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (TF-ACT) is an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that applies ACT principles to support individuals who have experienced traumatic or highly distressing events. Trauma-focused ACT emphasizes building safety, present-moment awareness, and new ways of responding to internal experiences so that trauma no longer defines or restricts daily life.
Trauma-Focused ACT often includes:
- Stabilization and grounding – strengthening present-moment skills to support safety and emotional regulation
- Acceptance and cognitive defusion – learning to make space for trauma-related experiences and reduce their control
- Mindfulness and body awareness – increasing awareness of internal cues and nervous system responses
- Values clarification – reconnecting with identity, purpose, and what matters most beyond trauma
- Gradual, values-guided action – supporting safe, intentional movement toward previously avoided experiences and life goals
Trauma-focused ACT is typically collaborative, carefully paced, and individualized. It is used to support recovery from a wide range of traumatic experiences and may be integrated with other trauma-informed interventions as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
The overall goal of trauma-focused ACT is to help individuals build resilience, restore a sense of agency, and move forward in life with greater flexibility, meaning, and confidence.
Q: What is Psychodynamic Therapy?
ANSWER:
Psychodynamic therapy is a depth-oriented form of psychotherapy that focuses on understanding how past experiences, unconscious patterns, and relationships influence current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is based on the idea that greater self-awareness and insight into these patterns can lead to meaningful and lasting change.
Rather than focusing only on symptom relief, psychodynamic therapy helps individuals explore underlying emotional themes, relational dynamics, and internal conflicts that may be contributing to current difficulties. This process supports a deeper understanding of oneself and promotes healthier ways of relating, coping, and making choices.
Psychodynamic therapy often includes:
- Exploration of patterns — identifying recurring themes in emotions, relationships, and behaviors
- Insight development — increasing awareness of unconscious influences and internal conflicts
- Focus on relationships — examining early experiences and current relationships, including the therapeutic relationship itself
- Emotional processing — developing a fuller understanding of feelings that may be avoided, misunderstood, or difficult to express
- Meaning-making — connecting past experiences with present challenges to foster clarity and integration
Psychodynamic therapy is typically collaborative, reflective, and individualized. It may be brief or longer-term, depending on a person’s goals and needs, and is well suited for individuals seeking deeper self-understanding, improved relationships, and lasting emotional growth.
The overall goal of psychodynamic therapy is to help individuals develop greater insight, emotional flexibility, and a more coherent sense of self—supporting more satisfying relationships and more intentional life choices.
Q: What is Solution-Focused Psychotherapy?
ANSWER:
Solution-focused psychotherapy (often called Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, or SFBT) is a goal-directed, strengths-based approach that emphasizes identifying solutions rather than analyzing problems. It focuses on what clients want to change, what is already working, and how to build on existing abilities to create meaningful progress.
Rather than spending extensive time exploring the origins of difficulties, solution-focused therapy helps individuals clarify their goals, recognize personal resources, and take practical steps toward improvement. The approach is grounded in the belief that people already possess many of the skills needed to resolve challenges and that small, intentional changes can lead to significant results.
Solution-focused psychotherapy often includes:
- Goal clarification — defining clear, realistic, and meaningful outcomes
- Strengths and resource identification – highlighting existing skills, successes, and coping strategies
- Exploring exceptions — identifying times when problems are less severe or absent, and what is different in those moments
- Future-oriented conversations — envisioning preferred outcomes and pathways forward
- Action-focused steps — developing small, achievable steps that support momentum and confidence
Solution-focused psychotherapy is typically collaborative, practical, and time-efficient. It is often brief in nature and well suited for individuals seeking targeted support, skill-building, and forward movement around specific concerns.
The overall goal of solution-focused psychotherapy is to help individuals recognize their strengths, increase hope and motivation, and build sustainable solutions that support ongoing growth and well-being.
Q: What is Social Coaching?
ANSWER:
Social coaching is a supportive, skills-based therapeutic approach that helps individuals develop and strengthen social, communication, and relationship skills. It is especially helpful for individuals who experience difficulty navigating social situations, forming or maintaining relationships, interpreting social cues, or building confidence in interpersonal settings.
This approach blends elements of psychotherapy with structured coaching strategies. Sessions may focus both on understanding the emotional and cognitive factors that affect social functioning and on actively practicing skills that support more effective and satisfying interactions.
Social coaching psychotherapy often includes:
- Social skills development — building skills related to conversation, perspective-taking, emotional expression, and interpersonal boundaries
- Communication coaching — improving clarity, assertiveness, and responsiveness in social and professional interactions
- Emotional awareness and regulation — understanding internal reactions that impact social behavior, such as anxiety, frustration, or self-doubt
- Real-world application — practicing and applying skills to everyday social, academic, or workplace situations
- Confidence and self-concept building — strengthening self-understanding and self-advocacy
Social coaching psychotherapy is typically structured, individualized, and highly practical. It is often used with children, adolescents, and adults who experience social challenges related to anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum differences, learning differences, or life transitions.
The overall goal of social coaching psychotherapy is to help individuals build effective social tools, increase confidence, and develop more successful and meaningful relationships across settings.
Q: If my child is in psychotherapy do I need to be seen as well?
ANSWER:
At times, the clinician will want to talk with parents to better understand their child’s functioning in the home and school setting. Such conversations may occur at the beginning or end of a child’s appointment or a separate parent appointment can be made depending on the clinical need.
Q: Are remote sessions available?
ANSWER:
We offer the option of tele-health appointments for clients depending on their clinical needs.
Q: Are sessions confidential?
ANSWER:
Yes. Protecting client confidentiality is a fundamental part of psychological care. In general, sessions with our clinicians are confidential for both adults and minors.
For children and adolescents, confidentiality is especially important in helping them build trust and engage meaningfully in therapy. Clinicians work to create a safe space where young people can speak openly, while also maintaining appropriate involvement of parents or guardians.
There are specific, legally and ethically defined situations in which confidentiality must be broken. These typically include concerns about a client’s safety, the safety of others, or suspected abuse or neglect, as well as circumstances required by law.
Clinicians review confidentiality and its limits at the start of treatment and are always available to answer questions about how information is handled.
Q: Do you take insurance?
ANSWER:
The Portsmouth Neuropsychology Center is a private-pay practice. Our clinicians are considered out-of-network providers, which means they are not part of any insurance panels. We do not directly bill insurance, but we can assist clients with the process of submitting claims to their insurance company. We can provide you with receipts (or super bills) that contain the necessary information for insurance companies to process out-of-network benefits. You should contact your insurance provider to understand your out-of-network benefits and find out if you can be reimbursed for the cost of treatment.