Why choose Cook Children’s Developmental Psychology?
At Cook Children's, we want every child to achieve their highest potential. Early diagnosis and treatment can make all the difference for children with developmental delays.
Our developmental psychologists perform comprehensive testing to pinpoint differences in children's development and academic functioning. The evaluation process includes diagnostic interview with the parent/guardian, in-depth review of the child's medical and educational records, behavioral observations during testing, formal, standardized test measures and behavioral ratings from parents and teachers. Therapeutic interventions may include individual therapy as well as parent training. Psychologists provide expert diagnosis for children ages 2 through 21 years of age with developmental differences.
What you can expect
When you come to us for care, you'll find:
Our team features Ph.D.-level clinicians who are specialized in child clinical and school psychology. Each of our providers has undergone advanced training in a children’s hospital setting, bringing a deep understanding of how physical health and well-being influences a child’s development.
We work closely with Cook Children's Developmental Pediatrics and Child Study Center, collaborate with many other specialties and clinics, and believe families and caregivers are essential members of the team. These partnerships ensure you and your child receive high-quality, evidence-based evaluation and treatment.
Our developmental psychologists care deeply about your child and family. We strive to improve the well-being of every child and family in our care through kindness, safety, respect, generosity, imagination and collaboration.
Your specialized care team
Our team includes specialists, researchers, case workers and more.
- Margaret T. Dempsey, Ph.D.
- Tracy L. Harrington, Ph.D.
- Amanda Moen, Ph.D.
- Haley Brown, Ph.D.
Advancing Developmental Psychology
Your child's growth and development depend on many factors. We rely on the latest research and evidence-based practices to guide our care and help kids reach their full potential.
Treatments and services we offer
Families across the region turn to us for our expertise, patience and understanding. Services include:
Developmental assessments are comprehensive psychological evaluations tailored to your child's age, developmental level, medical and educational history and difficulties. The process typically includes:
- In-depth review of medical and school records
- Diagnostic interview with parent/guardian
- Behavioral observations during testing
- Formal, standardized testing of skills, development, functioning, and symptoms (e.g., intellectual or IQ testing, academic, language, attention, visual-motor integration, social)
- Behavioral/emotional/developmental rating scales from caregivers and teachers
Our psychologists perform developmental assessments at the request of doctors, schools and parents. For new patients, our goal is to evaluate and identify any areas that may be causing problems for your child. Getting an accurate diagnosis can help you access needed services.
We also provide parents age equivalent scores to help them understand the age at which their child is actually functioning. Developmental doctors typically assess a child every few years to track their development over time.
Our psychologists provide evidence-based therapies proven to help children and families with a range of conditions, including disruptive behaviors (e.g., tantrums, aggression, noncompliance, defiance), ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep problems, and more. Caregivers play an important role in both individual-based and parent-based therapy models.
Individual-based therapies include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - teaches children to understand the link between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, helping them replace negative patterns with healthy, productive ones. Therapists use age-appropriate techniques like role-playing, problem-solving, and relaxation to help kids manage symptoms, learn new coping skills, and reframe negative or unhelpful beliefs.
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) - a treatment for children and adolescents (ages 3–18) experiencing emotional or behavioral issues following traumatic experiences. It incorporates cognitive-behavioral techniques to reduce trauma-related symptoms, anxiety, and depression, process trauma, change distorted beliefs, and handle future stressors.
Parent-based therapies include:
- Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) - a treatment for caregivers and children ages 2–7 designed to reduce disruptive behaviors (e.g., aggression, defiance, tantrums), teach caregivers how to respond to misbehaviors calmly and confidently, and strengthen the parent-child relationship.
- Parent Management Training (PMT) or Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) - teaches caregivers techniques such as positive reinforcement, boundary setting, communication skills, consistent discipline, and clear rules to reduce disruptive behaviors/symptoms, ultimately strengthening the parent-child relationship.
Moments of magic
Hope and healing happen every day at Cook Children's. Discover some of our highlights.
