The Children's and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety

3138 Butler Pike, Suite 200

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462



About Us:


The Children's and Adult Center for OCD & Anxiety was founded in 1998 to meet the growing need for effective treatments for children and families contending with OCD and anxiety. We are a group of 6 private practice psychologists with training and expertise in state of the art cognitive-behavior therapy for the full array of anxiety disorders, delivered in a warm, compassionate setting for children and teenagers, as well as for adults.


Our mission is to teach patients the skills they need to competently overcome the limitations that anxiety creates so that they can go on to lead happy, successful, and importantly, unburdened lives. Anxiety Disorders are among the most prevalent diagnoses in children and adults, but they are also among the most responsive to treatment. The prognosis is very good for those who are contending with an anxiety disorder, provided that they receive proper treatment. Each of the therapists at the Center specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders; our experience and additional specialties are described in our profiles below.

If you are looking for more detailed information about anxiety disorders and treatment, please visit our educational website: worrywisekids.org



We Offer Treatment for:

· Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
· PANDAS (strep-triggered OCD)
· Generalized Worry
· Fears and Phobias
· Separation Anxiety
· Panic Attacks
· Social Fears and Shyness
· Trichotillomania (Compulsive hair pulling)
· Trauma
· Tics
. Medical and health related worries

*Please note: The Children and Adult’s Center for OCD & Anxiety is not a group practice, but an office where individual private practice providers with specialized expertise in OCD and anxiety disorders across the lifespan practice. Please also note that for the health of all, we are a fragrance-free office.

Parent workshops in person- May-June 2019

Nurturing Courage and Competence:  Parenting Your Child with Anxiety

Dr. Lynne Siqueland of the  Children’s and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety, a group of private practice psychologists with a specialty in treatment of childhood anxiety and OCD, is proud to present a workshop for parents.  The goal is to help parents to understand the nature of anxiety and to help their children cope with it and flourish.  This is a 2 part series. 

In the first meeting, we will teach parents about the nature of anxiety in children; how it impacts thoughts, feelings and behaviors and how parents can use strategies to help their child cope with anxiety.  The second meeting focuses on how to apply these child and parent strategies to how to typical difficult times with children with anxiety (e.g., school mornings, stomachaches, homework, bedtime, trying new things).  Also we will address how parents can take care of themselves so they can take care of their children


Presenter: Lynne Siqueland, PhD

Dates: Wednesday mornings May 22nd and June 5th, 2019 from 10am- 12pm (this is a 2 part workshop)

Locationour office 3138 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting,PA 19462

Fees:  The fee (payable by paypal or in cash at the first session) for the 2 workshops is $100 for one participant, $150 for two participants from the same family (e.g., mom/dad, mom/grandparent).

An ongoing monthly support meeting is available after worskhop for interested parents

This workshop is repeated a number of times a year so contact if interested to add to mailing list if you cannot attend this one.  A Saturday program will be offered if sufficient registration.  


Email Lynne Siqueland at siqueland@pobox.com to express interest or for info.

Online Parent Workshop  NOW AVAILABLE

Due to many requests, if you cannot attend the local offering listed abovethere is now an online version of "Nurturing Courage and Competence:  Parenting Your Child with Anxiety."  This is a 2 part series.   Each video is 45 minutes long and contains voice lecture and power point slides.  This is a series you can download and watch on your own time.


Part 1: Understanding and addressing anxiety in kids and teens

Part 2: Tips and how to use strategies in times of difficulty for anxious children  e.g., mornings, new situations, bedtime or sleep issues, homework, and physical symptoms.

The cost for both videos is $25 and you can pay by PayPal or credit card on the PayPal site.  If you email Dr. Lynne Siqueland at siqueland@pobox.com, she will send a link for payment.  After payment is received, you will receive a file with the videos for viewing.  If you are interested after viewing in being part of an online webinar with questions and answers, please indicate in your email.

  •            What is normal and when to be concerned?
  •            What makes anxiety stick around?
  •            What kids, teens and parents can do to change it?


Online Parent-Training Program NOW AVAILABLE

Interested in getting started before your treatment sessions begin? We are excited to introduce you to a state-of-the-art online evidence-based parent-training program for parents of children struggling with anxiety.



Child Anxiety Tales is a 10-module evidence-based online parent-training program that empowers parents with tools and strategies to use to help their child manage anxiety and stress.  


Click Here to Link to Child Anxiety Tales



The program includes:
  • Symptom Checker – a screener to help parents assess the nature and severity of their child’s anxiety.
  • What parents need to know about different types of anxiety and symptoms of anxiety.
  • Step-by-step guidelines for how to talk to their child or teen about anxiety and how to help them challenge their fears.
  • Tools and Strategies to teach kids so they can better manage anxiety day to day.
  • Tips from experts on how to maintain long-term progress and success.
Child Anxiety Tales can be found on the website, www.CopingCatParents.com  which has information, books, and referral network to help parents looking for resources to help support their child.  The program was developed by Dr. Philip Kendall and Dr. Muniya Khanna, researchers and experts in the treatment of anxiety, through a grant funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health.

Continuing Education Workshops

The Children's and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety is pleased to announce a professional training workshop for psychologists, educators and social workers



The Social Network

Navigating how today’s youth strive to find their self-identity and self-worth amidst the complicated web of social media, peer relationships and their desire for perfection.

Lynne Siqueland, PhD and Carrie Potoff, LCSW
The Children’s and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety

Friday, May 17th, 2019 9:30-4:30pm
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

This workshop will focus on the many complex factors influencing children’s and teen’s social lives that clinicians and educators are increasingly concerned about.  How can we guide children, teens and their families to create healthy peer relationships and live value driven social lives?

In this training we will address the impact of social media in relation to anxiety and depression.  We will explore ways to think holistically about social media use for its positive components, as well as educate children and families on the negative impacts.

We will discuss how to talk to children/teens about their friendships and social lives, so they become more mindful of their choices. 

Finally, we will review the nature of the treatment of social anxiety disorder when functioning and interaction can become extremely limited. We will present the CBT and other interventions that are specific to social anxiety. Implementation of exposure strategies and family involvement in meeting these goals will be reviewed. Lastly, we will go over recent work on preparing young adults for transition to college or post-graduation that include both independence and anxiety reduction goals

Cost: $199, student fee $50
PBTA members $149 for free CE credits
Contact Lynne Siqueland- at siqueland@pobox.com for more info and for brochure and registration

                                 


Billing and Fees for Therapy Services: 


Dr. Chansky, Dr. Siqueland, Dr. Ledley, Dr. Baxt, Dr. Khanna, and Carrie Potoff's clincal practices are all fee-for-service practices.  None of the therapists accept insurance or are currently on any insurance panels, but receipts are provided that can be submitted for reimbursement if you have out of network benefits.  The therapist with whom you are meeting will provide all of the necessary documentation to submit for insurance reimbursement.  All fees are due at time of service. All billing is coordinated by and payment is made to each individual therapist. Questions about fees for new patients can be directed to the individual therapist.

Scheduling:

Appointments are individually scheduled by each therapist. New patient appointments and evaluations and therapy sessions for children, adolescents, and adults must be arranged by contacting the therapist directly at the indicated phone numbers provided within the bios below.

If you are interested in setting up an appointment or getting more information, please contact one of the therapists at their extension listed below, or you can leave your information at our main mailbox if you are unsure of how to proceed.  Please note, if you leave a message in the mail mailbox, you may experience a longer wait-time than if leaving a message directly with a therapist.

Kindly take a moment to consider how you will remember your scheduled appointment day; you may wish to jot a reminder on your calendar.


*Please note, The Children and Adult’s Center for OCD & Anxiety is not a group practice, but an office where individual private practice providers provide specialized expertise in the treatment of OCD and anxiety disorders across the lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I schedule an appointment?
If you are interested in setting up an appointment or getting more information, please contact one of the therapists at their extension listed below, or you can leave your information at our main mailbox (no extension) if you are unsure of how to proceed.  Please note, if you leave a message in the mail mailbox, you may experience a longer wait-time than if leaving a message directly with a therapist.

What days are therapists available?
The therapists all have different schedules and also have varying levels of availability given their current caseload. Most appointments are offered during the 9-5pm hours with some therapists offering evening hours. It would be best to read the bios carefully to determine which therapist(s) would be a good fit for your current needs.  Contact the therapist directly at their extension and schedule directly. If the scheduling is difficult due to availability, the therapist will be able to help you proceed with other appropriate options.

How do I know which therapist is right for my child?
We recommend carefully reviewing the bios (below) of all of the therapists and based on your current needs selecting the best fit. Call the therapist and leave a message at their individual extension listed on their bio. They will speak with you to discuss your needs and determine if they are the right fit. They will also be able to help you proceed if they feel another option would be more appropriate.

Do any therapists accept insurance?
None of the therapists accept insurance or are currently on any insurance panels. Dr. Chansky, Dr. Siqueland, Dr. Ledley, Dr. Baxt, Dr. Khanna and Carrie Potoff’s practices are all fee-for-service practices. However, all therapists provide receipts that can be submitted for reimbursement if you have out of network benefits. 

​For those looking to find in-network providers, please refer to your insurance company's referral list of in-network providers. 

Those not local to the Philadelphia/Western Suburbs area, you may contact your nearest university hospital for an appointment or for recommended providers or visit our partner website at www.CopingCatParents.com for a "Global Network" list of providers in CBT for anxiety and other helpful referral resources and tips on finding an evidence-based treatment provider. 


If you have questions about anxiety in youth, please visit our informational website: worrywisekids.org

Therapist Profiles:




Tamar Chansky, Ph.D. 

484.530.0778, extension 1 and 215.644.7744


Dr. Tamar Chansky founded the Children’s and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety in in 1998. Dr. Chansky earned her Masters in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and received her Doctoral Degree in the Temple University Clinical Psychology Program under the direction of Dr. Philip Kendall. Dr. Chansky has specialized in working with anxiety disorders throughout her career. She currently treats children and adults with anxiety disorders including: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias (such as bees, dogs, elevators, airplanes), trichotillomania, tics, and in some cases PTSD.

Dr. Chansky gives trainings to parents and professionals and frequently appears on radio and television. She is frequently interviewed by the media including: The New York Times, Health Magazine, Real Simple, O Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Cosmopolitan and Parents. Dr. Chansky is the author of the popular, Freeing Your Child series, including Freeing Your Child from OCDFreeing Your Child from AnxietyFreeing Your Child from Negative Thinking, and most recently, a book for adults suffering with excessive worry: Freeing Yourself from Anxiety. Dr. Chansky works with children as young as three years old and with adults of all ages. Dr. Chansky also provides parent consultation and also sees adults with anxiety disorders. In addition to having an office at the Center, Dr. Chansky sees patients in her home office in Chestnut Hill. 

Though availability may vary, typically Dr. Chansky can schedule new patients within 2-4 weeks. New patients usually begin with a daytime appointment until an after-school appointment becomes available. This may take 1-2 months, or sometimes less.  Typically appointments are scheduled every two weeks, unless a more or less frequent appointment is indicated.

You can learn more about Dr. Chansky at: www.tamarchansky.com


Lynne Siqueland, Ph.D.

484-530-0778 extension 3


Lynne Siqueland is a psychologist at the Children’s Center for OCD and Anxiety and has been specializing in treating anxiety disorders in children and adolescents for over 20 years. She has extensive experience working with children of all ages beginning in the preschool years with a focus on the transition from adolescence and young adulthood. She has a special interest in guiding parents and teens through the transition into young adulthood of maintaining connection and closeness while encouraging and building autonomy and competence.  She also treats adults.

Dr. Siqueland has expertise in the evaluation and cognitive-behavioral treatment of the following difficulties 
in children, adolescents, and adults. She also has experience working with co-occurring depression and behavioral issues when anxiety is the principal presenting problem :
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Generalized Anxiety and Stress
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Social Anxiety and Selective Mutism
  • Panic
  • Specific Phobias
  • Sleep problems
  • Perfectionism
  • Tic Disorders
Dr Siqueland is also glad to provide consultation to parents and families around peer, behavioral and parenting issues even if parents are not certain their child needs to be involved in treatment.

Dr. Siqueland received her Doctoral Degree in the Temple University Clinical Psychology Program under the direction of Dr. Philip Kendall.  At Temple, she was involved with Dr. Kendall and other graduate students in developing the first individual and family based treatment manuals for anxiety in children and participated in the first clinical trials about their effectiveness.  Dr. Siqueland was a full faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, and Center for Psychotherapy Research for 8 years before entering private practice full time.

Dr Siqueland's clinical work and research publications focus on integrating individual CBT approaches with family work. She works with children and adolescents to develop a sense of competence and mastery. Dr. Siqueland has published on the role of family interactional styles that can maintain anxiety and what promotes competence.  


Dr Siqueland also is involved in developing and conducting training workshops and individual consultation to professionals on the treatment of anxiety and OCD locally, nationally, and internationally.  She and her colleagues really enjoy working with parents and have also been providing parent workshops around these same topics at the clinic and in the community.. 




Chiara Baxt, Ph.D. 

(215) 809-2899, extension 6


Dr. Chiara Baxt is a pediatric psychologist at the Children’s Center for OCD and Anxiety, specializing in treating children and adolescents with medical conditions and childhood anxiety disorders. She has had extensive experience in helping children with many different types of medical conditions such as abdominal disorders, asthma/ allergies, eczema, pain, problems with eating, life-threatening illness, severe injuries, and organ transplantation. Dr. Baxt’s treatment philosophy is to apply psychological and behavioral principles to maximize each child’s health and overall well-being. She provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to children with adjunctive family therapy as needed. Dr. Baxt works collaboratively with other healthcare providers and provides parent consultation.


Dr. Baxt attained her PhD at Fordham University, completed internship training at Geisinger Medical Center, and fulfilled post-doctoral training at the Center for Pediatric Traumatic Stress at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Baxt remained on staff at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia providing treatment to hospitalized and chronically ill children and their parents and conducting research on traumatic impact of illness and injury in children and their parents. She also provides trainings on anxiety and its treatment for healthcare professionals, parents, and other therapists. 





Deborah Roth Ledley, Ph.D.

610-737-8940, extension 7

 

Dr. Roth Ledley is a psychologist at the Children's Center for OCD and Anxiety, specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. She completed her PhD at the University of Toronto and did post-doctoral training at the Adult Anxiety Clinic of Temple University. Prior to joining the Children’s Center, she was a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania where she worked at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.

Dr. Ledley has done extensive research on the nature and treatment of anxiety, publishing over 40 scientific papers and book chapters, as well as three academic books. Her book, Making Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Work, now in its second edition, has sold almost 20,000 copies.  It is used as a textbook in many clinical psychology training programs throughout North America and has been translated into numerous foreign languages. Dr. Ledley also coaches expectant and new mothers, basing her work on her book, Becoming a Calm Mom: How to Manage Stress and Enjoy the First Year of Motherhood

Dr. Ledley sees patients at the Center, and at an additional office in Wynnewood, PA.  She has expertise in the evaluation and cognitive-behavioral treatment of:
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Specific Phobias
  • Perfectionism
  • Social Anxiety and shyness
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Panic Disorder
  • Generalized Anxiety and Worry
  • Anxiety in expectant and new parents
  • In addition, Dr. Ledley enjoys doing parent coaching



Muniya Khanna, Ph.D.             

email: muniya@muniyakhannaphd.com

website: www.ocdandanxietyinstitute.com


Dr. Khanna is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of childhood anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as OC-spectrum disorders including Tic Disorders and Trichotillomania. She provides weekly and more intensive (2 days per week) therapy, depending on the needs of the child, and works very closely with parents and other caregivers in the child’s life (including school staff, psychiatrists and other providers) whenever warranted to ensure the best outcomes. 


Dr. Khanna has expertise in the evaluation and cognitive-behavioral treatment of:
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Generalized Anxiety and Stress
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Social Anxiety
  • Panic
  • Specific Phobias
  • Sleep problems
  • Tic Disorders
  • Trichotillomania
Dr. Khanna is also currently a Research Investigator at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where she is conducting trials dedicated to disseminating evidence-based treatments to youth in urban public schools.  Prior to her coming to the Children and Adult's Center, she was Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychiatry and served as Clinical Director of the Child and Adolescent OCD, Tic, Trich, and Anxiety Group (the “COTTAGe”). She continues to provide training and supervision for interns, residents, and fellows at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). 

Dr. Khanna has been involved in some of the most important research in the field of child anxiety and OCD in the last 15 years, including the Child and Adolescent Multimodal Study (CAMS; Walkup et al., 2008), Pediatric OCD Treatment Study (POTS II; Franklin et al. 2011), and Family-based Treatment of Early Childhood OCD (POTS Jr.; Freeman et al., 2014) trials.  She is author of numerous research articles and chapters, and co-author with Dr. Philip Kendall of, The CAT Project, a therapist manual for the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxious adolescents, Camp Cope-A-Lot, the first empirically-supported computer-based treatment for anxious youth, and CBT4CBT: Computer-based training for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for anxious youth, a computer-based training program for professionals interested in becoming proficient in CBT for childhood anxiety disorders. She has also recently co-authored a website and computer program called Child Anxiety Tales for parents of anxious youth at www.copingcatparents.com.  She also conducts CE (continuing education) workshops and trainings for a wide range of professionals and routinely presents at national scientific meetings and conferences.

Dr. Khanna completed her doctoral degree at Temple University under the mentorship of Dr. Philip Kendall, clinical internship at UCLA under the direction of Dr. John Piacentini, and NIH-sponsored fellowship at Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, under the direction of Dr. Anne Marie Albano.


New Patients queries, please email: muniya@muniyakhannaphd.com
Existing Patients: to schedule, reschedule, or cancel an appointment with Dr. Khanna, please visit the scheduling platform on my website: www.ocdandanxietyinstitute.com
Visit www.ocdandanxietyinstitute.com to learn more about Dr. Khanna.




Carrie L. Potoff, MSW, LCSW             

484.530.0778, extension 4

 

Carrie Potoff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who joined the Center in 2017.  Before relocating to the Philadelphia area, she was a clinician at Yale University in the Department of Psychiatry.  While at Yale, Carrie was involved with various State funded clinical/research studies focusing on children/families involved in the court/legal system.  She also had a small private practice on the Connecticut shoreline working with children and adolescents struggling with various anxiety and mood disorders.  


Carrie is a Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist through the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT), with extensive training through the Beck Institute.  Along with CBT, Carrie incorporates mindfulness/meditation and exposure response prevention into her treatment planning.  Her client population consists of children, teens and young adults experiencing various forms of anxiety - social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, as well as obsessive compulsive disorder, amongst others.  She also has a vested interest children/adolescents involved in highly competitive sports, as well as kids managing co-morbid medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases and various childhood cancers.


Carrie earned her Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of  Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.  Following her graduate training at the Children’s Hospital in Detroit, MI,  she was an inpatient clinician at  Georgetown University Hospital where she provided intensive inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy for children diagnosed with chronic and terminal illnesses who oftentimes struggled with anxiety and/or depression.  


In utilizing an evidenced-based, holistic, collaborative approach, Carrie has assisted clients and their families set and achieve short and long term goals, develop effective coping skills, build confidence and self esteem, manage stress, create and nurture positive relationships, as well as regulate mood and overcome annoyingly troublesome anxiety.  During your treatment (if you like dogs), you may even see Carrie’s buddy Henry from time to time who is currently training to become a certified therapy dog!



Please email Carrie at carrie@kidsluvcbt.com for further information or to request an appointment.



Directions to the Children’s Center:


Children’s and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety
3138 Butler Pike, Suite 200
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462



The most complicated part of finding us is identifying our Center from the street from the first time because it is a residential building of white stucco with brown shutters (see the photo above). There is a post and rail fence out front and a small wooden sign with our address 3138 Butler Pike.There is no sign saying Children’s Center from street or identifying it as a business location. After locating us the first time, it will be easy. Go slow once you turn onto Butler Pike. Park anywhere there is a free space in the large lot.

From PA Turnpike East and West
Take Norristown exit. After toll booths, bear right to Plymouth Meeting and Germantown Pike East. After ramp, get in left lane. Turn right at the second light (Butler Pike- Plymouth Meeting Friends School on corner). Turn left into the first full driveway.

From Blue Route and Main Line
Take exit 19, Germantown Pike East. Stay in right lane, turn right at first light, onto Germantown Pike. Turn right at the next traffic light (Butler Pike- Plymouth Meeting Friends School on corner). Turn left into the first full driveway.

From Chestnut Hill
You can take Germantown Pike to the intersection with Butler Pike. Alternatively, take Bethlehem Pike to Stenton Ave west. Go thru 2 lights, and turn left at the 3rd light (Flourtown Rd). Bear right at the next intersection, continuing on Flourtown Road. At next traffic light, turn left (Joshua Road). Turn right at next light (Germantown Pike). From either route, at the light turn left (Butler Pike- Plymouth Meeting Friends School on corner). Turn left into the first full driveway.
 


For all directions above:




Go in the door marked Children’s Center for OCD and Anxiety and go up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, go thru the right side door to this 2nd floor waiting room. Take a seat in the waiting room. Your therapist will greet you there.






Fragrance-Free Office

The Children’s Center is a perfume-free environment. For the health and well-being of those with asthma and allergies, please refrain from wearing perfume, aftershave, hairspray or other heavily scented products as the chemicals they contain make breathing difficult.  Your cooperation is essential for those with asthma, but is more healthful for you and your family too. All personal care products are available in a safe, chemical free form at Whole Foods, or other health food stores. Click here to learn more about safer personal products.



Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you!