Parenting & Family Issues
We all want the best for our families. Getting there can be…complicated. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to confront parenting and family difficulties alone. In fact, you probably shouldn’t confront those challenges alone.
For assistance with behavioral management or parenting, we invite you to schedule a session with one of our experts. We will help you to develop specific tools and strategies designed for your individual child and your unique family. These sessions are scheduled on an as-needed basis, and often in conjunction with other types of services, such as therapy/counseling, or evaluations.
In addition, we are proud to offer a one-of-a-kind parenting support and education class for parents of bright kids who are diagnosed with mild autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We are passionate that you are your child’s best teacher, advocate, and support person. Our program provides the education and support you need to have the information and energy to be your best self and bring out the strengths of your child—so they aren’t known merely by their diagnosis. Watch our Parenting Video today to learn more about your bright child with ASD and find out why parent education and knowledge is the key to your child’s long-term success.
Individual and Couples Therapy
Most of the issues that can impact a child or a teen can also impact an adult. In fact, many adults only receive diagnoses and proper professional assistance in adulthood for issues that began much earlier in their lives. San Diego Therapy First is prepared to help with expert, experienced therapy and support for:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ADHD
- Mood & Emotional Disorders
- Anxiety
- Eating Disorders
- Trauma (including EMDR therapy)
- Relationship Issues
What Others Say About Us
I am a general pediatrician with a special interest in ADHD, spending about 20% of my clinical time caring for ADHD patients. I have known Dr Pontillo since 2005 and have an enormous respect for her clinical skills and insights. She is my “go to” psychologist for more complicated developmental issues and for diagnosis of subtle high functioning disabilities. Dr. Pontillo’s interest in her patients and her ability to clearly delineate developmental problems allows parents to move forward with establishing a treatment plan. She is an invaluable resource to the San Diego Pediatric community.
Dr. Pontillo is an exceptional, and one-of-a-kind child psychologist. I have referred many children of my patients to Dr. Pontillo and she has always given them the best care and attention. Referring a patient to another professional is a big responsibility. I always look for a colleague who is efficient, professional, experienced and one who is able to come up with a clear diagnosis. I keep referring to Dr. Pontillo because of her expertise, efficiency and especially her warm and caring personality that is extremely necessary when dealing with children. I very highly recommend Deborah Pontillo, Ph.D as a child diagnostician, developmental and behavioral specialist, and therapist.
I’ve been referring my patients to Dr. Pontillo for the past several years with the utmost confidence that she will care and understand their developmental needs. Dr. Pontillo always provided them with a balanced and age appropriate intervention to help not only the child but the family as a whole.