Clinical Approach

OVERVIEW
Children and adults alike confront challenges to healthy functioning and personal fulfillment. Dr. Pagano aims to create an empathic connection with his clients, enabling them to better understand their emotions and habitual ways of coping with challenges, and to change the patterns of thought and behavior that interfere with reaching their goals and potential.

Whether using play therapy with children or talk therapy with adults, he takes an engaged, collaborative and active approach to help clients achieve their objectives and resolve their problems. When treating children, he works closely with parents, and when indicated, schools, to help children thrive.

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION
Dr. Pagano integrates psychodynamic, attachment, trauma and cognitive behavioral theories in his work, individually tailored to meet the specific needs of each client.

Dr. Pagano is a Level 2 Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) therapist. This model focuses on creating a safe therapeutic relationship in which core emotions can be experienced and processed while simultaneously working to develop the client’s adaptive functioning and resilience. AEDP is particularly effective in helping clients process traumatic experiences and develop a sense of renewed strength and resilience.

With children, Dr. Pagano employs strength-based approaches, such as the Incredible Years and Collaborative Problem Solving, which promote emotional and social competence, improved parent-child interactions, and enhanced communication and problem-solving skills.

With couples, he draws upon Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help clients develop insight into maladaptive relational patterns and to help them develop healthier ways to express emotions and needs and to thrive in their relationships.

Dr. Pagano approaches each encounter with curiosity, courage and compassion, with the goal of assisting his clients to develop these same qualities in relation to themselves and others. He believes that the therapeutic relationship provides an avenue for navigating personal and interpersonal change and growth, and he aims to provide a safe, supportive and encouraging environment to help facilitate enduring change.