Evidence-Based Therapy for Children and Adolescents
Care that is backed by science and tailored to you.
Evidence-Based?
Evidence-based therapy uses approaches and techniques shown to be effective through research studies. I use them in my practice because I believe my patients deserve the best that clinical science has to offer.
The goal is to help you feel better, faster.
About Dr. Castro
I’m a licensed child and adolescent psychologist in private practice in NYC. I received my PhD in Clinical Child Psychology from DePaul University and completed both my predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Most recently, I was a staff psychologist at CUMC/NYP where I provided psychotherapy and assessment services to youth and families in an integrated pediatric primary care setting. I also taught third year medical students at Columbia University about ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders.
Learn more about me here.
My Specialties
I treat the following concerns in youth ages 3-19:
Mood
- Self-isolation
- Low motivation
- Crying spells
- Irritability
- Decreased socializing or other non-work activities
My Services
Individual Therapy
I provide psychotherapy to children and teens struggling with any of the concerns above. I integrate techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents (IPT-A), depending on a child’s needs, symptoms, and age.
Prior to starting therapy, I collaborate with families to establish treatment goals that are meaningful and achievable. For all patients, I include a focus on building self-confidence and self-awareness of behavioral and emotional patterns.
Parent-Child Therapy
The parent-child relationship is uniquely powerful in building a child’s resilience to adversity. In parent-child therapy, I support parents in strengthening their relationship with their child and teach parents techniques to help their child overcome challenges.
This work is done virtually via live coaching of parents and their child at home. The live coaching format is incredibly effective at increasing parent confidence and efficacy. Best of all, it happens in a natural setting to ensure that the techniques work in real life, not just in an office.
I offer Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to address tantrums, noncompliance, oppositionality, and ADHD symptoms, and offer PCIT-CALM to address anxiety in young children.
Parent Coaching
When children are struggling, their caregivers often feel helpless and confused.
For parents of children with tantrums, disobedience, and attention-seeking behaviors, I provide behavior management training (also known as parent management training) to teach caregivers effective strategies for managing and decreasing these behaviors.
Parent coaching is also effective for addressing child anxiety. Especially for younger children, working on how parents react to their child’s anxiety can be sufficient to decrease anxiety and its interference in a child’s life. For this work, I use SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) developed by Dr. Lebowitz at Yale.
My Approach
Collaborative
I work with the important adults and systems in the patient's life (e.g., pediatrician, school) to ensure they thrive holistically.
Culturally responsive
I integrate a patient's culture and values with my clinical expertise for treatment that is both effective and respectful of who they are.
Judgment-Free
Parents and youth often come to me feeling shame or guilt for their struggles. I'm here to help, not judge!
transparent
I strive to empower each patient as a consumer of mental health services by being open and transparent throughout the therapy process.
My Office
I see patients virtually and in-person. My office is located in Midtown Manhattan near Grand Central and Bryant Park, convenient to the Metro North, LIRR, 4, 5, 6, 7, and F trains.
Your Next Steps
If you’re interested in working with me, use the button below to request a free 15-minute video consultation.