Therapy Services

Behavioral Health Dallas offers a range of general and specialty services aimed at improving the health and functioning of individuals, couples and families. We welcome you to contact us to learn what might be a good fit for your needs. Our psychologists and counselors are skilled with the following treatment options:

Individual Therapy • Couples Therapy • Women’s and Maternal Mental Health • Infertility • Coping with Medical Illness and Caregiver Support • Infant Mental Health • Child and Adolescent Services • Parenting Skills • Speaking and Education

Individual Therapy

The therapeutic relationship between a provider and an individual is one of the most important features of effective treatment. Our providers view therapy as an individualized and collaborative process. We value a supportive, empathic approach that allows for individuals to partner with us in creating and implementing a successful treatment plan. We are equipped to treat a variety of concerns from general issues (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma, grief) to those related to specific events or life stages (e.g., adolescents, life adjustment, perinatal issues, infertility, marriage, identity development, career changes, aging).

The techniques we use are evidence-based and include multiple approaches such as supportive, cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic psychotherapy. We tailor treatment to incorporate each individual’s needs and goals. Our providers value and respect diversity in our practice. We also offer consultation to parents and family members of individuals with psychological or behavioral concerns.

We provide general psychotherapy and counseling services to adolescents and adults for these concerns and many others:

Couple Therapy

Many couples find therapy to be helpful at different times in their relationship. There are a multitude of reasons why couples seek therapy to improve the quality and commitment in their relationship. Some individuals feel relationship change happens before or after a major event or role shift (e.g., preparing for marriage or parenthood, moving, change in employment status, loss, trauma, illness) and some may need additional support during a difficult time (e.g., parenting challenges, infidelity, divorce, death of a loved one). Couples can also use therapy as a place to gain increased understanding of themselves and their partners more generally. Some common goals of couple therapy in our practice include:  

• Increase understanding of relationship functioning

• Identify patterns in conflict and navigate conflict more effectively

• Improve communication through in-session practice exercises

• Discuss concerns, expectations, roles and commitment

• Increase emotional and physical intimacy and connectedness

• Learn to support a partner or spouse through a life transition or adjustment to medical illness, psychiatric illness, infertility or other loss

• Premarital counseling

Couples who visit our practice will be welcomed with an unbiased and non-judgmental therapist. Our providers always work collaboratively with each partner to increase comfort, identify goals for treatment and facilitate conversation in the therapeutic setting. Discretion and confidentiality are also key features of the therapeutic alliance.

Women’s and Maternal Mental Health

Perinatal Issues

For many women, the pregnancy and postpartum period comes with significant changes in roles, relationships, expectations for both individuals and families. Some women experience difficulties with mood, anxiety or other thoughts and concerns that can be uncomfortable and distressing. These feelings can occur at any point during pregnancy, not only in the postpartum period. However, these emotional difficulties sometimes go unnoticed or are associated with shameful feelings. Our goal is to support women during all phases of their pregnancy to provide symptom relief and address concerns in a non-judgmental environment and ease transitions for the entire family.  

Our providers have extensive training in maternal mental health, including certificates from Postpartum Support International. Both Drs. Sardone and Thomas have worked as consulting psychologists on the Ob-Gyn service at Baylor University Medical Center. We pride ourselves on providing pregnant and postpartum patients with comprehensive evaluation, supportive and evidence-informed treatment and education for individuals and families. We often collaborate (with permission) with a patient’s care team (e.g., Ob-Gyn, PCP or psychiatrist, if necessary) to provide the most comprehensive approach. We offer both individual and couples therapy and consultation with family members who may have concerns about these issues.

If you believe you or someone you know is struggling with issues during pregnancy or postpartum, we are happy to connect with you to discuss our treatment approach in more detail.

Miscarriage, Stillbirth & Infant Loss Support

Support for High-Risk Pregnancies and NICU Families

Having a high-risk pregnancy or a child in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a very stressful and isolating experience for a parent or family. Some families experience difficulties unique to having a premature child, parenting a child with special needs or a loss. Our practice is equipped with skills and training in working with families facing these challenges.  Individuals or families coping with issues related to these difficulties will find providers at Behavioral Health Dallas have expertise and experience with the following concerns:

• Adjustment to medical diagnoses and high-risk pregnancy

• Long-term hospitalizations and bed rest

• Support during a NICU stay and leaving the NICU

• Understanding and evaluating mood, anxiety and trauma symptoms

• Coping with grief and losses

• Improving coping skills and managing stress as a parent, couple and family

• Navigating difficult social situations during pregnancy and postpartum

• Parenting support for difficult decision-making and developmental concerns

• Supporting siblings and communicating with family, friends and others

We are equipped to support women at any phase of their medical treatment. We enjoy providing services for individuals, couples or family members of those undergoing these difficult experiences.

Infertility

There are complex psychological challenges that face individuals and couples coping with infertility. Our providers have a multi-faceted understanding of the medical processes and emotions that are associated with fertility treatments, such as IUI, IVF or surrogacy. We offer a variety of specific treatment options for individuals and families to help manage the stress associated with infertility. Our practice offers individual, couple, and group support with the following goals:

• Share concerns in a supportive, non-judgmental and neutral environment

• Evaluate for anxiety and mood concerns

• Increase coping strategies

• Learn mindfulness and relaxation skills which may be used generally,or prior to a procedure or before injections

• Process grief and losses

• Increase social support and connect with others who have struggled with similar issues

• Understand impact on relationships (e.g., family, friendships, intimate)

• Better navigate social situations which may be triggering or difficult

• Improve communication and self-understanding

When appropriate, we can collaborate with fertility specialists (reproductive endocrinologists) to offer comprehensive and supportive care.

Coping with Medical Illness and Caregiver Support

As clinical health psychologists, we value the role of psychology services in supporting and aiding patients through difficult health issues. Many patients will experience challenges adjusting to a new diagnosis or after a major medical event. Other individuals may need emotional support as they witness the medical challenges of someone close to them - or if they have taken on a role as caregiver.

Clinical health psychologists have specialized professional training and experience working in a variety of health settings and with a wide range of patient populations. We understand the relationship between medical illness, injury and disability with overall well-being. Our goal is to help patients increase their sense of efficacy and understanding of these challenges. Some of the common issues we address in therapy include:

• Psychological adjustment to illness, injury and disability - including mood difficulties, health-related anxiety, trauma and grief

• Medical decision-making and consultation

• Pain management

• Adherence to medical treatment

• Patient advocacy

• Health behaviors (e.g., weight management, smoking cessation, exercise)

• Caregiver support

The providers at Behavioral Health Dallas have expertise working with patients with these health concerns and others:

• Women's Issues (e.g., endometriosis, PCOS, chronic pelvic pain)

• Cancer

• Autoimmune Disorders

• Thyroid Issues

• HIV

• GI Concerns - including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and irritable bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)

• Diabetes

• Chronic Pain

Psychologists at BHD have received doctoral level and advanced training specialized in inpatient and outpatient health settings. We have worked with patients who are healthy, those who have are at risk (e.g., genetic carrier), those who have complex or acute healthcare needs and patients with chronic illness. We are also comfortable working collaboratively with medical providers and other supportive services (with permission) as necessary to improve general outcomes of treatment.

Infant Mental Health

What is Infant Mental Health anyway? Did you know that even 2-month-old babies experience emotion? They experience contentment and distress, which continues to evolve into more complex emotions throughout their lives.  Even though young children don’t have the language to express themselves in the same way as adults, they still experience a range of emotional experiences and communicate them the best way they know how (often through behavior, like tantrums or withdrawing).  Infant mental health is best understood and addressed within the context of relationships.  Any treatment for children ages 0-5 includes the parent or caregiver. IMH treatment can help parents and caregivers learn how to understand and address your child’s cues in a way that boosts their socioemotional and cognitive development and allows the child to feel safe, secure, and loved. 

Common reasons to seek Infant Mental Health Support:

• Concerns within the parent-child relationship/attachment

• Impulsive or disruptive behaviors

• Concerns related to mood, fears, or worry

• Trauma

• Talking with children about difficult subjects in an age-appropriate way

• Positive and effective approaches toward discipline/behavior management

• Coping with an illness

Interventions offered:

• Child-Parent Psychotherapy

• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

• Circle of Security

• Preschool PTSD Treatment

• Nondirective play

Child and Adolescent Services

Our providers recognize the importance of child and adolescent care that prioritizes the social, emotional, developmental, and family needs of a child. That is why child and adolescent services are provided by clinicians with extensive training and expertise in child development, parenting and family dynamic issues as well as treatment of the individual child. Providers enjoy finding creative ways to tailor evidence-based treatments to your child’s interests to foster engagement and enhance outcomes. Parents are involved in interventions as appropriate and necessary. The frequency and nature of parent involvement will be discussed at the beginning of the therapy treatment so that all parties are on board. 

Common reasons to seek support:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Trauma

• Adjustment to life changes/stressors

• Impulsivity

• Anger

• Flexible thinking/cognitive flexibility

Interventions offered:

• CBT (including Coping Cat, ACTION, TF-CBT, etc.)

• DBT for adolescents

• Play Therapy techniques

Parenting Skills

Our providers offer parenting skills training and coaching in a relaxed and supportive environment. Parenting training may help address specific emotional and behavioral concerns, improve the parent-child relationship, and facilitate coping with family dynamic changes. Our philosophy on parenting education and training incorporates evidence-based parenting strategies, attachment literature, the latest neurocognitive child development research, and basic communication and motivational techniques to improve communication, connection and emotional regulation within the family unit.

Speaking and Education

BHD Providers enjoy speaking with members of the community through a variety of platforms (e.g., educational seminars, support groups, organization/team meetings, and academic or medical settings). Our providers can offer unique perspectives on popular topics that are top of mind for the public (e.g., maternal mental health, parenting, and mindfulness). Frequently requested topics include:

• Postpartum mood and coping

• Maternal “burnout”

• Mindfulness for mamas

• Building a positive attachment with your baby or young child

• Building marital resilience while pregnant or postpartum

Our providers welcome opportunities to collaborate on programming ideas for your events.