Education and Learning Disabilities Therapists in Torrance, CA

If your child or teen is having trouble with learning, big emotions, making or keeping friends, or behavior, I'll help them understand their own brains & bodies, and build the skills they need for emotional growth, independence, and healthy relationships. If you have tried reading books, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and are STILL feeling frustrated or helpless, I will work with you to help discover why your child is struggling, collaborate on a plan, and guide and support you to make positive, concrete changes.

There is nothing more important to a parent than seeing their child succeed at school, make and keep friends, be happy, and achieve to their own capabilities. Our team at Attention, Learning, and Developmental Services have these simple goals: understand your child's unique profile within the context of their family and community, highlight their talents and strengths, identify any specific barriers to their success, and develop an effective intervention plan to support your child's current and future progress.

I'm Dr. Dean Leav, licensed psychologist and qualified medical evaluator (QME). I've been featured on ABC, NBC, KCAL, and other programs as an expert psychologist. I provide Evaluation Services, including (and not limited to): diagnostics (ADHD, Autism, Learning Dis.), cognitive/neuropsychological evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME), immigration-related evaluations, pre-adoption psychological evaluations, parenting/bonding assessments, drug & alcohol evaluations, pre-employment evaluations, and legal/forensics/criminal evaluations. These evaluations may be used to meet eligibility for certain services or accommodations.

I'm Dr. Dean Leav, licensed psychologist and qualified medical evaluator (QME). I've been featured on ABC, NBC, KCAL, and other programs as an expert psychologist. I provide Evaluation Services, including (and not limited to): diagnostics (ADHD, Autism, Learning Dis.), cognitive/neuropsychological evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME), immigration-related evaluations, pre-adoption psychological evaluations, parenting/bonding assessments, drug & alcohol evaluations, pre-employment evaluations, and legal/forensics/criminal evaluations. These evaluations may be used to meet eligibility for certain services or accommodations.

I'm Dr. Dean Leav, licensed psychologist and qualified medical evaluator (QME). I've been featured on ABC, NBC, KCAL, and other programs as an expert psychologist. I provide Evaluation Services, including (and not limited to): diagnostics (ADHD, Autism, Learning Dis.), cognitive/neuropsychological evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME), immigration-related evaluations, pre-adoption psychological evaluations, parenting/bonding assessments, drug & alcohol evaluations, pre-employment evaluations, and legal/forensics/criminal evaluations. These evaluations may be used to meet eligibility for certain services or accommodations.

I'm Dr. Dean Leav, licensed psychologist and qualified medical evaluator (QME). I've been featured on ABC, NBC, KCAL, and other programs as an expert psychologist. I provide Evaluation Services, including (and not limited to): diagnostics (ADHD, Autism, Learning Dis.), cognitive/neuropsychological evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME), immigration-related evaluations, pre-adoption psychological evaluations, parenting/bonding assessments, drug & alcohol evaluations, pre-employment evaluations, and legal/forensics/criminal evaluations. These evaluations may be used to meet eligibility for certain services or accommodations.

An accurate assessment of a child's learning profile, processing style and diagnostic status facilitates access to appropriate services within school systems. It provides parents and teachers with strategies that match the child's strengths to ensure a positive learning environment. Success breeds success. As your child discovers they can learn, they will become engaged with the process and ready to tackle educational challenges. Once identified, learning disabilities (dyslexia), autism, and ADHD can be approached with research based techniques that enable children to function with their peers in typical learning environments.

As a Licensed Educational Psychologist, I'm able to work with children, teenagers, and adults in different capacities. My focus is conducting psychological-educational evaluations and Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE) to provide parents, teachers, administrators, tutors, and students with an in-depth insight into the student's strengths and weaknesses in the areas of intelligence, processing, academics, and social-emotional/behavioral skills.

I work with children, adolescents, and families who are experiencing a wide variety of presenting problems. My approach to therapy is supportive, genuine, and collaborative, which allows children and adolescents to reach their fullest potential. I have worked with children and teens for over ten years across a number of settings, including community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, schools, and private practice.

I bring simple communication skills to the table for couples or families stuck in angry stances. I help each person feel heard, listened to and understood, helping them learn how to come alongside each other with empathy and insight instead of competing and blaming. Taking responsibility and learning when they are projecting their own feelings onto others instead of owning their own emotions. I also work with individual adults and children to help them deal with the trauma and drama of their past before they can effectively maintain healthy relationships in the present.

With over 20 years of clinical experience, I work with individuals, couples and families struggling with a variety of issues at all stages of development. Stress, anxiety, depression, and grief can be difficult to manage for anyone, and can be exacerbated by life circumstances. Relationship issues and family stressors can also be precipitants for increased difficulties for individuals. Personalities and abilities differ-from athletes to artists- having unique needs. Parents dealing with children with ADHD, twice gifted, learning disorders, or autism face very specific interactional challenges, impacting all areas of their life.

My experience includes working individually with others as well as in groups, consulting with clients, families and fellow colleagues on best ways to support those individuals.

I ask questions that guide your self discovery process. Whether you are going through a divorce, feeling stuck in your life or just wanting to improve the level of personal fulfillment, I will build your skills so you can reach your goals if you choose.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who provides neuropsychological assessments (ages 2:6 years through adult), counseling (ages 12 through adult), and psychotherapy (ages 12 through adult) to children, teens, families, couples, and adults. Those I work with are often experiencing problems academically, behavioral, socially; and/or experiencing anxiety or depression. Testing is often utilized to provide diagnostic information to guide treatment and services. I have extensive experience working with individuals who are gifted or 2e, am a Certified Autism Specialist through IBCCES, as well as certified PDA Level 3.

Relief from anxiety, depression, fears or angers gives you room to live your life fully. Self-improvement (your mind, body, self-esteem, capacity for satisfying/exciting relationships and powerful career advances) can move you leaps and bounds toward a richer, lively life. Eliminating habits (smoking, over-eating, lack of exercise, substances, etc) frees you to be you. Creating new paths after divorce, death, traumatic disruptions, leads toward a self-directed future. Through many different therapeutic approaches--well researched and tested-- you can attain your goals & dreams for your fuller, peaceful life. www.drcarolfrancis.com or call 310-543-1824.

With 32 years of working with individuals and families, I specialize in helping people make changes/progress with depression, anxiety, marital discord, parenting, and other life challenges. As a therapist, I take a nonjudgemental approach in helping people take control of their lives. Some things to ask yourself: Are you dealing with anxiety, depression, or another life challenge? Does your child/adolescent need assistance in expressing feelings? Does your child/adolescent push the limits? Have you and your spouse grown apart? Becoming stronger as an individual/family and strengthening boundaries and roles are my number one goals.

I have provided therapy to children, adolescents, individuals and families for the last 7 years and in the last 4 years I have primarily focused on working with children, adolescents and families. In the years since I have been practicing I have been able to work with clients who have presented with various diagnosis and issues some of which include Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Emotion-Regulation, Social Skills difficulties, Peer and Self-Esteem Issues. I work collaboratively with individuals to ensure that treatment is tailored to address the specific needs of every individual client I see.

Life can be full of challenges, loss, and anxiety. I strive to provide a safe and supportive environment where healing can occur, and you and your loved ones can become your best selves. I work with children, adolescents, and adults struggling with anxiety, OCD, perfectionism, depression, assertiveness, social skills, ADHD, selective mutism, academic problems, grief and loss, divorce, and relationship issues.

We are an organization of mental health professionals with a common goal of providing excellent and expert services in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego counties. We are committed to providing the highest level of professional expertise and human compassion for issues and concerns that arise in the course of our lives. Crossroads Institute offers psychotherapy services for all ages, psychiatry, clinical, educational, and neuropsychological assessment, and brain training services, including qEEG based Neurofeedback and Biofeedback services.