Services

Dr. Engler is well trained in prescribing medication, but is also a huge proponent of therapy. He recognizes that there is a vast array of therapy types and that there is no such thing as “one size fits all” when it comes to therapy. Because of his unique background and training, he is able to guide you through one of the many therapeutic modalities or refer you to the most appropriate therapeutic setting for you, or your child. 

Dr. Engler is psychodynamically oriented and has further training in specific therapeutic modalities including, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive processing therapy for trauma, and family therapy. This allows him to tailor an individualized treatment plan for every unique situation that walks through his door. In addition to individual therapy, when working with children, as well as teenagers, there is usually a family component to therapy, as the family provides the ecosystem for the child. While working with only one part of the ecosystem is possible, it is more effective to engage multiple parties to magnify the response. Play therapy is often used for young children who may not be able to express themselves with talk therapy. Therapeutic play helps children learn to communicate better, change their behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and relate to others in positive ways. As we get older and more independent, talk therapy can help patients organize their own thoughts within their mind, learn skills for handling difficult situations, make healthy decisions, and reach personal goals. 

Medication can be helpful and is often necessary to reduce the severity of symptoms for some people.  After taking a thorough history and getting to know the surrounding circumstances of a patient’s presentation, Dr. Engler will discuss different options that would support the patient’s treatment goals, one of which may be medication. Medications can be very effective in certain situations, but in conjunction with therapy, generally leads to better long-term prognosis. Having a provider who does both therapy, as well as prescribing, allows him/her to get to know their patients on a multidimensional level, so that the the whole person and not just a list of symptoms can be treated.