Practice Philosophy:
Dr. Perlstein brings a calm, thoughtful and empathetic demeanor to her work with children, teens, college students and families. She is especially focused on building strong partnerships with parents, helping them develop practical tools and strategies to support their child’s growth at home and beyond. By creating a safe, welcoming space, she empowers both children and parents to feel understood, supported, and confident. Dr. Perlstein takes the time to understand what each client cares about, and tailors her approach using play, games, and age-appropriate activities to build trust and rapport.
Dr. Perlstein helps younger children and families build concrete skills to manage anxiety, regulate emotions, and approach fears with “brave practices”; guiding parents in ways they can help their child practice new skills at home. With teens and emerging adults, she helps manage anxiety, stress, irritability, and big life transitions, including independence, relationships, and going to college. She emphasizes the importance of aligning treatment with each client’s goals and identity, and encourages clients to practice new skills in the real world as they would if they were learning an instrument or a new sport. Clients develop insight and knowledge of the ways in which their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact to impact their functioning and day to day experiences. Whether coaching parents, supporting a child through school anxiety, or helping a teen navigate identity and independence, Dr. Perlstein meets each client with warmth, understanding, and genuine care that is flexible, effective, and tailored to the need of each client and their family.
Areas of Expertise:
Dr. Perlstein specializes in helping children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, ADHD, depression, autism, and behavioral challenges. She is particularly skilled in parent training, teaching interventions and strategies that can impact a child’s behavior, mood, or anxiety, while strengthening the parent-child and family ecosystem. She also conducts neuropsychological evaluations for developmental, educational, and medical concerns. Her integrative approach draws on evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and phobias, and Parent Management Training (PMT). She also incorporates principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and trauma-focused therapies. She has extensive experience with complex and overlapping conditions including neurodivergence, suicidality, and medical trauma. With children and teens who struggle with ADHD, she helps strengthen executive function skills, regulate emotions, and build more effective routines, and provides feedback to parents to reinforce progress at home.
Experience and Training:
Dr. Perlstein earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her clinical internship at Duke University Medical Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and trained at top academic medical centers including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She also serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgetown University, where she conducts research on the development of empathy in childhood and its influence on the emergence of behavior problems across development. Her broad training in both outpatient and hospital settings informs her ability to provide outstanding care tailored to the needs of each client, giving clients the skills and confidence they need to tackle whatever comes their way.
Dr. Perlstein completed her PhD and is being mentored by Lauretta Brennan, Ph.D. throughout her fellowship.
