Mary Educational Gwaltney Psychologist

Welcome to the practice of Mary Gwaltney, Ph. D., a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP #2540) serving the Greater Sacramento area, and a Colorado Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC#18894) serving Colorado families via telehealth. With a focus on providing comprehensive psychoeducational and neurodevelopmental assessment, individual counseling, parent education/training, and consultations to families of children and adolescents aged 3 to 24, we aim to help families and schools better understand a child's strengths and needs, have compassion for why they do what they do, identify the types of support needed to maximize their personal, academic, and social effectiveness, and provide direct counseling support to particular clients.

Dr. Gwaltney has extensive educational background, training, and experience in the field of educational psychology. She holds a master's degree in School Psychology and Special Education from California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) and her continuing education coursework has focused on special education law, ethical use and interpretation of assessment instruments, mental health of children, child development, behavior analysis, and learning theory. Dr. Gwaltney completed an intense 15-month certification program in pediatric/school neuropsychology in 2008 which has significantly informed her philosophy regarding assessment and brain-behavior relationships. She earned her Ph. D. in Learning and Mind Sciences through the University of California, Davis, which allowed her to implement a researcher-practitioner model in the development of recommendations to schools and families.

Dr. Gwaltney's background includes work as a teacher, parent trainer, social worker, behavior analyst, school psychologist, counselor, adjunct faculty at CSUS, and intake coordinator for work and independent living opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. She has been working in this private practice as a Licensed Educational Psychologist since 2001. Dr. Gwaltney understands the view of an educator and has over 20 years of experience in coaching parents on managing behavior in a realistic way.

Our Services

*Comprehensive Psychoeducational and Neurodevelopmental Assessment:* Our assessment process is tailored to the unique needs of each child and includes gathering information from multiple sources, including observations, parent and teacher interviews, and standardized tests. We then use this information to gain a comprehensive understanding of a child's strengths, needs, and learning style. We provide detailed reports with actionable recommendations for families, schools, and other professionals working with the child.

*Individual Counseling:* Our individual counseling services are designed to help children and adolescents develop the skills they need to manage their emotions, behaviors, and relationships. We use evidence-based approaches to help children and adolescents develop coping strategies, build self-esteem, and manage anxiety and depression.

*Parent Education and Training:* We provide parents with the knowledge and skills they need to support their child's development and learning. We offer workshops, classes, and individual consultations to help parents understand their child's unique needs and develop effective strategies for supporting their learning and development.

*Consultation Services:* We provide consultation services to schools, doctors, and other professionals working with children and adolescents. Our consultation services include case management, collaboration with other professionals, and development of individualized education plans (IEPs) and 504 accommodation plans.

Our Approach

At our practice, we take a comprehensive ecological approach to working with children, adolescents, and their families. We believe that understanding the child's unique strengths, needs, and learning style, as well as the social and environmental factors that impact their learning and development, is critical to providing effective supports and interventions. Our role is to ensure that families fully understand the implications of the brain-behavior relationships at hand, and to have a clear plan to address any needs that are identified. We are committed to working collaboratively with families, schools, and other professionals to ensure that children and adolescents receive the support they need to thrive.