Because the path to supporting your child shouldn't be a solitary one.

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Understanding that no two children are the same, Educational Insights and Counseling employs a customized approach to therapy. Whether your child is navigating anxiety, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorders,  interventions are designed to meet the individual needs of your unique child.

Meet Meredith Alt,
Ed.S., NCSP, LEP #4428 

I am a licensed educational psychologist (LEP) working in Studio City. I bring nearly 20 years of experience as a nationally certified school psychologist in California, Florida, and Washington State. I earned my educational specialist degree (Ed.S.) from Seattle University, am certified as a Clinical ADHD professional (ADHD-CCSP) and Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCTAP), and have extensive experience providing mental health services to populations of all ages and needs.
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My career has equipped me with a strong background in providing support to children with autism, ADHD, and anxiety, and I have deep knowledge of the education system and educational supports, including assessments, IEPs, and 504 plans. I’m passionate about the impact of mental health services and the power of psychoeducation for both students and parents.

I have an 11-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, who attend Studio City schools. In my free time, I enjoy physical exercise, cooking, reading, and tending to our family’s two feisty pitbull-terrier mixes.

My Approach to Anxiety

While all children worry occasionally - especially about events beyond their control - children with anxiety worry excessively. They frequently stress over future events to the point where their anxiety interferes with day-to-day activities.

Anxiety impacts children in different ways

A child with generalized anxiety disorder tends to worry about a number of situations and has difficulty controlling their anxiety to the point where it interferes with daily activities.
Children with separation anxiety disorder experience significant distress when apart from their parents or caregivers, often imagining that something “bad” will happen to you during separation, and therefore, create situations where they are likely to remain with you.
A child with social anxiety disorder finds it difficult to talk to or interact with other children in social settings.
I tailor my treatment to your child’s specific type and symptoms of anxiety and its myriad presentations. Evidence suggests that avoidance of anxiety-producing or distressing situations actually increases anxiety in many children.
I use a multifaceted approach rooted in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), a proven method that recognizes how the cycle of situations, thoughts, and behaviors interact. This therapeutic approach includes psychoeducation, teaching children about symptoms and how to recognize them. It also uses CBT techniques, such as catastrophizing, which help children learn to cope with anxiety-producing thoughts or perceptions. In addition, it arms children with behavioral techniques, such as mindfulness and progressive relaxation, that address the physical symptoms of anxiety, and it can employ graduated exposure therapy, which equips children to navigate otherwise anxiety-producing situations confidently.

My Approach to ADHD

A brain-based disorder, ADHD is often categorized into three types based on behavioral impacts
Number 1
Inattentive
Number 2
Hyperactive
Number 3
Combined
Children with inattentive ADHD have difficulties completing tasks, remaining focused, and planning and organizing.

Kids with hyperactive ADHD are excessively restless and often move around a lot, and they have difficulty thinking before acting.

Those with combined ADHD exhibit behaviors associated with both inattention and hyperactivity. ADHD affects children in at least two settings—most commonly school and home—and can also impact them in additional settings (eg. sports or other extracurricular activities).

Children with ADHD have deficits in executive functions, eleven separate skills that help us plan and organize, start and complete tasks, stay focused, and maintain control or flexibility. As a therapist, I use a threefold approach for children with ADHD.
EDUCATION
Understanding how ADHD is impacting your child at home and school and providing education to you and your child about how ADHD and executive functioning deficits affect the brain and performance.
HOME/SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS
Consistent communication between the child’s support network at home and at school often has the biggest impact. We monitor progress and adjust interventions to ensure continued success.
REWARDS & PRIVILEGES
Specifically designed strategies to effectively motivate and reinforce positive behaviors and achievements with your child, improving focus, task completion, and self-regulation.

My Approach to Autism

Autism is a spectrum of neurological disorders that affect three main areas of functioning
Number 1
Communication
Number 2
Social skills
Number 3
Repetitive or restrictive patterns of behavior
As a spectrum of disorders, autism affects children in different ways. Higher-functioning kids with autism (a condition formerly called Asperger’s syndrome) are almost always verbal. Still, they may misunderstand the nuances of language and may interpret some verbal language (such as irony or sarcasm) in a more literal manner.

Many high-functioning kids with autism desire social relationships and friendships, but they can have problems understanding social cues, initiating and maintaining social interaction, and understanding social “rules” and norms.

Children with autism tend to engage in repetitive or restrictive patterns of behavior. Your child may focus on routines, have very specific interests, and engage in repetitive movements. I enjoy working with these children, whose unique characteristics I first experienced as a graduate student working at the University of Washington autism clinic.

As a therapist, I employ various evidence-based treatment practices for children with autism. My approach is driven by your and your child’s goals, along with a focus on supporting your child at school.
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Find solutions in customized therapy with a Licensed Educational Psychologist dedicated to your child’s positive academic, social, and emotional outcomes.
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