Erika C. Busch, Psy.D.
108 N. Cayuga Street ~ Ithaca NY 14850
607.323.7171 ~ ecb.psyd@gmail.com
About Me
About Me
I am a clinical psychologist specialized in working with children and families. I have been providing therapy to young children (preschool and elementary school-aged) and their families for almost 10 years.
In my private practice, I provide individual and dyadic therapy for children, parent consultation and Therapeutic Tabletop Role Playing Game Group therapy.
I received my clinical training and degree through The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I completed an APA-accredited internship at ANDRUS, in Yonkers, NY. There I received training in The Sanctuary Model, a trauma-informed services and systems approach. Post-internship, I stayed on as a Staff Psychologist at ANDRUS' community mental health clinic serving children ages 0-12.
In addition to my private practice, I am currently working at Family and Children's Service of Ithaca (FCS).
I have worked with a broad range of presenting problems, but some areas where I have focused my practice include:
early childhood mental health: I generally use interpersonal neurobiology and attachment-focused approaches to build skills and address disruptive behaviors, tantrums, anxiety and other challenges facing young children.
sensory processing differences: I have received introductory training in Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Therapy and I am mindful of the role of sensory processing issues in many presenting problems in my work with all clients. I often use sensory techniques in my practice, especially with children with impulse-control or mood regulation challenges.
autism spectrum disorders: Both individual therapy and parent support services. I use a relational approach to this work as well as borrowing from Greenspan's DIR (Developmental, Individual-Differences, Relationship-Based) Model. I am often a good fit when a child on the spectrum is exhibiting symptoms of another mental health disorder, such as anxiety or depression.
trauma-informed interventions: I approach every client from the question "What has happened to you" instead of "What is wrong with you" and my work is mindful of the impact of trauma on individuals, families, generations, and systems.
play therapy: I believe strongly in a child-directed approach to children's mental health and use many forms of play therapy - symbolic play, sand tray play, sensory play, games etc.
acceptance and commitment therapy: I often find this a useful theoretical orientation in my work with parents and sometimes even directly with children, using mindfulness, values work and cultivating psychological flexibility to help change a client's relationship with their own thoughts.
My office is located on the Commons in Downtown Ithaca. There is street/meter parking and a parking garage nearby. There is an entrance to the building off of the Commons and from Cayuga Street, across the street from SewGreen. The office is on the second floor and at the top of a staircase. There is no elevator in the building.
