Psychology Services
The choice to begin therapy is a courageous one. It takes great insight to know you will benefit from additional support. And it takes motivation to engage and follow through in addressing difficulties. Therapy honors these qualities and provides a safe and comfortable atmosphere for growth. The process begins with a thorough initial appointment encompassing learning about your background, strengths, and goals. The establishment of a strong rapport and working alliance with your psychologist facilitates personal empowerment. Therapy is your process and focused on your goals. Therapy is less about obtaining advice and more about tapping into your strengths and abilities and enhancing how these positive qualities lead to personal growth.
Services for Children
Toddlers through teens
Evaluation for developmental concerns may begin as early as one year of age. Dr. Ranttila works closely with pediatricians to assess developmental delays and concerns. Consultation and referrals with speech and occupational therapists are included in the evaluation process. Should you have any concerns about delays in meeting developmental milestones, such as talking, socializing, responding to name, and engaging in shared interactions, contact Dr. Ranttila to discuss further evaluation.
As children grow up, they may be faced with many challenges. Dr. Ranttila offers behaviorally based treatment for children, as well as parent support to navigate challenges. Parental support and consultation is an integral component of treatment. Contact Dr. Ranttila if you have concerns regarding anxiety, separation difficulties, sadness or depression, adjustment difficulties, behavioral struggles, or any issue impacting daily living. Therapy also provides invaluable support for children navigating changes such as divorce, changing schools, loss of loved ones, birth of new siblings, remarriage of parents, adjustment to stepsiblings. Dr. Ranttila often incorporates play therapy to help children communicate in a manner most familiar to them.
The teen years can be full of challenges. Often, teens enjoy therapy as an outlet for expressing feelings and obtaining support from a trusted individual. Emotional and behavioral difficulties may be addressed via a strengths-based approach involving the entire family. Goal-setting is an integral to the process.
Services for Families
A holistic family approach is central to any client’s success, no matter the age. Dr. Ranttila emphasizes treating and supporting the entire family throughout the therapeutic process. Therapy is a safe and effective way to build healthy and lifelong communication and problem-solving strategies. Family therapy may involve sessions with the entire family and/or “breakout” sessions with selected family members. A team approach is taken to strengthen and revitalize family relationships and restore positive communication skills and coping.
Services for Couples
Couples’ and marital therapy provides an outlet for a couple to explore difficulties and effectively manage tension and conflict. The marriage is the foundation and cornerstone of the family. If marital tensions exist, the entire family is affected. Couples’ therapy is also effective for engaged and committed couples seeking to solidify a stronger future together. Therapy involves exploration of issues that frequently arise in the context of a relationship, such as conflict over finances, sexual relationships, spiritual differences, time spent together, parenting, negotiating household responsibilities, and infidelity, among others. Goals are set by the couple and focus on strengthening each person’s ability to better understand themselves and each other. Conflict is a natural part of any relationship, and through the assistance of a trained therapist the couple can learn to communicate more openly, and as a result build a stronger partnership.
Services for Adults
As a holistic practitioner, Dr. Ranttila is able to address needs of clients of all ages. If you are struggling with adjustment difficulties, depression, anxiety, life changes, or relationship issues, support is available. Psychotherapy helps you tap into your own strengths to seek solutions. Each session is tailored to your concerns. Skills-based approaches to therapy are used to relieve symptoms and acute or immediate issues. Skills may be built via cognitive-behavioral therapy, building distress tolerance, and use of mindfulness techniques. Therapy is also effective in addressing chronic or long term issues to better understand the cause of pain and adapt new lifestyle patterns. A solid therapeutic approach helps clients balance short term relief with uncovering solutions for longstanding patterns.
Clinical Specialties
Mood Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Selective Mutism
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Adjustment Difficulties
Adoption and Family Life Cycle Changes
Behavioral Difficulties
Parenting Strategies
Play Therapy
Consultation with Parents, Teachers, Physicians, Health Care Providers
Assessment Specialties
IQ Testing (ages 2 to 18)
Gifted Testing
Assessment of Learning Disorders (e.g., dyslexia, language disorders)
ADHD Assessment (children and adults)
Developmental Assessment
Autism Spectrum Evaluation (children and adults)