“We cannot do the hard work of change alone…”

Effectively managing our own distress and our conflict with others is essential for a life that is successful, happy, connected, and resilient.  What we know, and what science continues to teach us, is that we can’t do it alone.  I focus my work on helping adolescents, families, and couples improve their ability to cope with the stresses in their lives primarily through a family therapy model.  I believe that therapy becomes a more powerful tool for change when it can transcend the weekly session and become a collaborative process of family engagement.  Typically, when children enter therapy, everyone in the family is feeling worried, powerless and hopeless.  Working within the entire family system allows everyone in the family to become a part of the growth and healing process.

My unusual career path informed my clinical practice in important ways.  After receiving my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Vermont, I completed my internship at Children’s Memorial Hospital (now Lurie’s Children’s Hospital) in 1995.  Because of my belief in a system’s power to help people change, I began working in therapeutic schools as a school psychologist while maintaining a small private practice.  I then spent 14 years as principal of North Shore Academy, a school for students with significant emotional and behavioral issues in Highland Park. 

Partnering with students, parents, and staff to navigate intense challenges further reinforced my belief in the power of a child’s home and school communities to create opportunities for healthy development and positive change.

After leaving North Shore Academy, I feel lucky to have landed with Formative Psychological Services, a thoughtful, compassionate and visionary practice.  In addition to my private practice, I consult with schools and provide professional development to educators focused on helping schools create resilience-enhancing communities for all students.  The thread that runs through all of my work is that we cannot do the hard work of change alone and, that when we form healthy and active partnerships, we all become stronger and more connected.

If you are interested in learning more about my practice or my work with schools, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dbolton@fpschicago.com. I look forward to the opportunity to work together.