Sidney Stockman

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts with experience working with children and adolescents across different levels of care. I earned my graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine in 2023 and began my career working in an adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program. I currently work in juvenile detention with adolescent boys, providing individual and group therapy, crisis support, and clinical assessment.

I strive to create a judgment-free, safe, and emotionally stable space where you and your child can be honest about what’s going on that has led to seeking therapy. At the same time, I don’t believe that being supportive means simply telling you what you want to hear. Once we’ve built a trusting relationship, I’m comfortable challenging my clients, pointing out patterns I notice, and helping look at situations from a different perspective. I’ll always be honest with my clients while remaining respectful and compassionate.

You and your child are the experts on your own life, and you’re in the driver’s seat of our therapeutic relationship. My role isn’t to tell you or your child how to live your life or make decisions for you. Instead, I’m here to help you understand yourself, work through challenges, and make choices that feel right for you - with the occasional gentle reminder when you might be heading in a direction that may not be serving you.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, person-centered, direct, humorous, and creative. When working with children and adolescents, collaboration can include the client, caregivers, and other important people involved in their care. I believe each person brings valuable information to the therapeutic process, while the client remains at the center of the work.

I use a variety of therapeutic approaches to meet different needs, but my foundation is always person-centered. I primarily utilize Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), incorporating skills and strategies to help clients better understand and manage emotions, navigate relationships, tolerate distress, and make choices that align with their goals. I adapt the way I work based on the individual rather than expecting every client to fit the same approach.

I do not hesitate to be direct when it’s helpful. Therapy can be difficult work, but it doesn’t have to feel serious or heavy every minute of the session. I use humor, creativity, and different activities or techniques to make therapy engaging and accessible, particularly when traditional talk therapy isn’t the best fit for younger clients. My goal is to create a space where your child can be themselves, feel comfortable being honest, and know that I’ll support them while also challenging when needed.

The first session is largely about getting to know your child and understanding where they are, where they’ve been, and where they want to go. I’ll ask plenty of questions about their current concerns, background, relationships, strengths, and experiences so that I can understand the bigger picture. I’ll also ask parents or guardians questions to better understand the child’s experiences and what you’ve noticed at home or in other settings. There’s no expectation that anyone comes in with all the answers - we’ll figure things out together.

When working with children and adolescents, the child is the focus of treatment. I’ll gather information from both the child and their parents/guardians because both perspectives are important in understanding what’s going on. I want to make sure the child feels heard and has a voice in their treatment while also working collaboratively with the adults involved in their care.

Treatment planning is a collaborative process, so we’ll talk together about what the client and family would like to get out of therapy and identify goals that make sense for the client. That might mean starting with one goal, several goals, or simply getting to know each other before deciding exactly what to work on. Goals can - and often should - change as the client’s needs, circumstances, and priorities change. Therapy is a process, and we’ll adjust along the way.