Madison Besser M.A, LMFT
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist | Parent & Adolescent Coaching | ASD Specialist
Marriage & Family Psychotherapist
My Services
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy
I specialize in child and adolescent psychotherapy. I facilitate clients’ expressions and acceptance of themselves, while encouraging them to embrace the differences of others. I engage my clients through social emotional learning and wellness practices. I am passionate about helping them to organize their lives. Communicating effectively and developing a powerful narrative can help children move through the world with a greater sense of ease.
Parenting Skills
My professional training took place in a middle school and free children’s clinic where I worked with students, parents, and extended families and kinship. I saw the intricate dynamics of families, which include parent/child relationships, couples interactions, and relationships with extended family members, and was able to focus on each of these groupings to help families better understand themselves and each other.
Autism Specialization
I specialize in providing individualized therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as support for parents and families. My approach integrates evidence-informed clinical practices with a compassionate, strengths-based perspective. Therapy may focus on emotional regulation, social communication, anxiety, coping skills, comorbidity, self-advocacy, relationships, and navigating the unique experiences associated with ASD. I work collaboratively with each client and family to better understand their individual needs, build on existing strengths, and develop practical strategies that support emotional well-being and meaningful day-to-day functioning. My goal is to provide a supportive, affirming environment where clients and families feel understood and equipped with tools to navigate challenges with greater confidence. Additionally, I am certified in An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for Children with ASD (AIM HI), which is a package of evidence-based intervention strategies designed to reduce challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder ages 5 to 13.
Coaching Services
Coaching is a personalized, supportive process where I help individuals identify their goals, overcome obstacles, and create actionable plans for personal growth and success. I empower clients to make positive changes in their lives, relationships, and overall well-being, offering guidance, motivation, and accountability along the way. My coaching for children and families focuses on helping young individuals and their family members develop strong communication skills, build confidence, and navigate challenges. Through a supportive and understanding approach, I guide children in improving their emotional regulation, decision-making, and social skills. For families, coaching helps strengthen relationships, resolve conflicts, and create healthier, more harmonious dynamics. I help equip families with practical tools to foster positive growth, ensuring both children and parents can thrive together.
Play & Art Therapy Techniques
I use play therapy to aid in parent/child attunment/to strengthen the parent/child relationship, as well as to provide insight into the coping strategies children use to deal with grief and loss, divorce and abandonment, and/or crisis and trauma. It can also help in treating behavioral disorders, such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), anger management, and OCD. If a client feels less inclined to engage in talk therapy, I employ art therapy techniques such as collage, painting, drawing, and building in order to make therapy more experiential without forcing talk.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
Somatic Practices
Somatic therapy offers a body-centered approach to healing, recognizing that our experiences, emotions, and stress can be held not only in our thoughts but also in our bodies. Together, we’ll explore sensations, patterns, and responses in the body to develop greater awareness, regulation, and a sense of safety. Through mindful attention to the body, breath, movement, and nervous system responses, we can create space for new ways of understanding and responding to life’s challenges.