School and Academic Functioning
- School avoidance and refusal
- School-related anxiety
- 504 plans and accommodations
- Homework distress
- Executive-function difficulties
- School transitions and diagnostic clarification
Pediatric & Adolescent Psychology · Telehealth
Thoughtful psychological care for children, teens, and the families who love them.
Dr. Dina O’Brien, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with more than 25 years of experience in pediatric and adolescent psychology. She works with anxiety, ADHD, OCD, mood concerns, behavioral challenges, school difficulties, chronic illness, pain, and medical stress — always with parents included in the plan.
More than 25 years of pediatric psychology experience · Telehealth care · Licensed in Florida, Texas, and Washington, as well as PSYPACT credentialed
Who Dr. O’Brien helps
Care built around your child, not a single diagnosis.
Families come in for many reasons: a child who worries constantly, a teen who has stopped participating, a student whose grades hide how hard the day feels, or a child facing a medical condition that has changed everyday life.
Treatment is individualized — based on the child’s symptoms, developmental level, family needs, school situation, medical history, and goals. Parents are partners in the work, with practical guidance for the moments that feel hardest at home.
Children are not choosing to struggle, and parents are not causing the problem.
Families she works with
- Children and adolescents from elementary school through high school
- Parents who are unsure what their child’s behavior is telling them
- Families managing anxiety, ADHD, OCD, or mood concerns
- Children adjusting to chronic illness, pain, or medical treatment
- Students struggling with school attendance, homework, or accommodations
- Families preparing a child for surgery or a medical procedure
Areas of support
A broad range of pediatric psychological services.
Not every approach is used with every child. Recommendations depend on clinical appropriateness, diagnosis, age, developmental level, and family goals.
Emotional and Behavioral Concerns
- Anxiety and panic symptoms
- ADHD
- OCD and reassurance-seeking
- Mood concerns and emotional dysregulation
- Overwhelm that appears as defiance
- High-functioning autism
Pediatric Health Psychology
- Adjustment to chronic illness or disability
- Pain management
- Medical anxiety and medical trauma
- Treatment adherence
- Coping with health-related limitations
Medical Preparation
- Preparation for surgery and procedures
- Coping with needles, testing, or imaging
- Clinical hypnosis when appropriate
- Skills for anticipatory anxiety
Parent and Family Support
- Parent guidance
- Understanding difficult behavior
- Responding to avoidance
- Reducing unproductive reassurance cycles
- Coordinating goals across home, school, and healthcare
Treatment Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Dialectical behavior therapy-informed skills
- EMDR
- Behavioral and skills-based interventions
- Clinical hypnosis
Specialty areas
Two areas families ask about most.
School Anxiety & Avoidance
Support for children who resist school, experience stomachaches or panic before attendance, repeatedly ask to come home, or hold it together all day and fall apart once they walk in the door.
504 Plan Support
Guidance for families considering school accommodations — understanding what a child’s psychological needs look like at school, preparing for those conversations, and keeping supports aimed at participation.
About Dr. O’Brien
Experienced pediatric care with a parent’s perspective.
Dr. O’Brien’s background includes extensive work in children’s hospitals, outpatient pediatric settings, chronic illness, medical adjustment, anxiety, school functioning, developmental concerns, and family support.
As a parent of four boys, she also understands how helpless it can feel to watch a child struggle. Her work is grounded in children’s resilience and in the belief that, with the right support, children can develop stronger skills, greater confidence, and a healthier relationship with difficult experiences.
“Good grades do not always mean okay.”
“Knowing how and being able to do it in the moment are not always the same thing.”
“Hard does not have to mean impossible.”
How care begins
What to expect
- 01
Schedule a Free 20-Minute Consultation
Families can select an available appointment using the booking link.
- 02
Meet Together
The initial consultation is generally 55 minutes and typically includes the parent and child. With older children and adolescents, Dr. O’Brien may spend part of the appointment speaking with them individually when appropriate and comfortable.
- 03
Create an Individualized Plan
Recommendations are based on the child’s symptoms, developmental level, family needs, school situation, medical history, and treatment goals.
- 04
Practice Between Sessions
Session frequency is individualized. Some families attend weekly, while others may meet every other week to allow time to practice and apply skills.
Structured package options may be available when clinically appropriate.
Telehealth
Specialized care from home
Dr. O’Brien provides telehealth-only psychological services. She is licensed in Florida, Texas, and Washington, as well as PSYPACT credentialed. PSYPACT is an agreement between states that lets her see clients by video in other participating states—she can currently work with families in 42 states where she is legally permitted to practice.
Availability and service eligibility depend on the client’s physical location at the time of care.
Parents—Click Here to See if Your State Is Eligible Through PsyPACT →
Insurance & payment
Private-pay care
Dr. O’Brien’s services are private pay. A superbill is available upon request for families who wish to pursue possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reimbursement is determined by each insurance plan and cannot be guaranteed. Dr. O’Brien accepts Visa, MasterCard or HSA funds, and can assist with financing through CareCredit.
FAQs
A few of the questions parents ask most.
What ages does Dr. O’Brien work with?
Primarily children and adolescents from elementary school through high school, with occasional services for college-aged young adults when clinically appropriate.
Is the practice telehealth only?
Yes. All services are currently provided through secure telehealth.
Does Dr. O’Brien accept insurance?
The practice is private pay. A superbill is available upon request for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Dr. O’Brien accepts Visa, MasterCard or HSA funds, and can assist with financing through CareCredit.
What happens during the initial consultation?
The initial consultation is generally 55 minutes and usually includes the parent and child.
You do not have to wait until things become a crisis.
Early support can help families understand what is happening, reduce escalating patterns, and give children more effective ways to respond to difficult situations.
