Kelly Kleinman, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
THERAPEUTIC SEVICES
Areas of clinical speciality include:
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Generalized Worry
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Specific Phobias
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Separation Anxiety
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Panic Disorder
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Social Anxiety
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Selective Mutism
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is considered to be the "gold standard" treatment for a number of disorders, including anxiety and depression. CBT involves exploring the relationships between an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A CBT therapist actively works to uncover unhealthy thought patterns and evaluate how they may be associated with maladaptive behaviors and beliefs. The therapist then assists the patient with developing healthier thought patterns and adaptive behaviors and beliefs.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is a type of CBT for the treatment of OCD. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger significant distress. Compulsions are behaviors or rituals an individual feels driven to complete in an attempt to stop the obsessions and decrease distress. Under a therapist’s guidance, a careful exposure plan is created with the patient and family. During these exposures, the patient is exposed to the thought, image, object, and/or situations associated with his/her obsession. Response Prevention (i.e., not completing the compulsion associated with the obsession) is encouraged. Before exposures are conducted, the patients and families learn about OCD, practice identifying obsessions and compulsions, and develop and strengthen a number of skills to cope with the distress associated with OCD symptoms.
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
This treatment model, developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study center, focuses on changing parental behavior to improve their child's symptoms. Unlike most other treatments for childhood anxiety and OCD, SPACE is focused on working exclusively with parents.