 Dr. LaFrazza holds a Doctorate and Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology. She works with individuals, couples, families, and groups across the lifespan, and has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient private practice, college counseling centers, and inpatient hospital units. Her experience has spanned an array of concerns including depression and other mood disturbances, anxiety, women’s issues, grief and loss, couple’s issues, interpersonal relationships, social skills, eating and weight issues, major life events, as well as day-to-day stressors. Her clinical work also includes conducting comprehensive psychological and educational assessments for both children and adults. In addition, Dr. LaFrazza has experience in sport psychology.
Intervention Style:
Dr. LaFrazza believes firmly in the resilience of people and their ability to handle challenging therapeutic work. To this end, she has found that those with whom she works in therapy are able to make significant gains early in treatment, or in a brief therapy format if that is preferred. Dr. LaFrazza has an enduring respect for the individuals with whom she works and is honored to share in their stories. She uses an integrative and eclectic therapy model which is influenced by psychodynamic, humanistic/existential, cognitive-behavioral, and feminist theories, utilizing techniques from many different approaches when providing therapeutic services as she believes each individual client will be best served with a unique and individualized combination of practices. Dr. LaFrazza incorporates empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard when working with clients. She often stays close to clients’ affect/emotions and here and now experience. She believes therapy is a chance for individuals to be heard, supported, and ultimately empowered to make the changes they desire in their lives. Dr. LaFrazza tends to be therapeutically transparent and helps clients to direct and set the pace of therapy, recognizing that individuals approach change in their own way and at their own pace.
EXPERTISE WITH CHILDREN & FAMILIES: Dr. LaFrazza has a creative ability to connect with children and teens. She is interested in working with children and adolescents on a variety of common teen and childhood issues such as behavior problems, family and school difficulties, dealing with divorce, shyness, mood disorders such as childhood or teen depression and anxiety, study/academic skills, trauma and abuse recovery, social skills, athletic performance, oppositional defiant disorder, substance use, body image concerns and eating disorders, stuttering, and autism-spectrum disorders. A former competitive athlete herself, she is a great choice for teenagers who face these problems while also balancing the demands of athletics, and can also work with young athletes to improve the psychological aspects of their performance. Many children struggle socially, and Dr. LaFrazza has worked with adolescents on social skills such as making a good first impression, resolving peer conflicts, coping with teasing and rejection, and making and keeping friends.
Dr. LaFrazza possesses an in-depth understanding of family dynamics and issues, and utilizes effective and efficient interventions in family issues as well as parent coaching. Dr. LaFrazza can artfully provide families with a balance of child empowering techniques coupled with behavior modification strategies parents can use to alleviate distress and conflict at home. In addition, having worked in acute crisis as a triage therapist and having trained in mindfulness techniques, she is well equipped to teach children and teens how to self-regulate emotions and communicate more effectively with their parents, as well as assist parents in de-escalation techniques and communication with their child.
The unique blend of having degrees in both clinical psychology and education make Dr. LaFrazza an ideal choice for children, as she understands in depth the educational arena in which much of their time revolves. This additional background in education includes a wide range of experiences that inform her clinical practice with children and parents. She has worked with students and teachers as early as kindergarten to promote science literacy and self-efficacy, particularly among young girls.
In addition to providing individual and family therapy to help children of all ages, Dr. LaFrazza has led therapy and psychoeducational groups for adolescents coping with grief and loss and for those struggling with academics. She has also led/taught therapeutic meditation groups and facilitated workshops on stress management and study skills.
In regards to testing, Dr. LaFrazza has an interest in psychoeducational evaluations across the academic spectrum, evaluating for learning disabilities and AD/HD, as well as for gifted children and adolescents, and a full range of psychological evaluations. She is also interested in conducting comprehensive psychological and behavioral assessments for children and adolescents to aid in differential diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and level of care determination. Dr. LaFrazza believes assessment can greatly benefit children, adolescents and their families by helping to clarify their strengths and how to best serve their learning styles, personality dynamics, and emotional needs. Dr. LaFrazza is also adept at helping parents understand and interpret information from other sources, such as medical providers and the vast amount of information found on the internet.
EXPERTISE WITH ADULTS: Given her foundation in multiple theories, Dr. LaFrazza adeptly provides therapy with adults engaged in personal growth, self-reflection, and individual empowerment as they relate to all areas of life, i.e., the workplace, intimate relationships, friends and family, sports, etc. She addresses common concerns such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, assertiveness, relationship issues, weight management/body image issues, eating disorders, and life transitions and events. A former competitive athlete herself, Dr. LaFrazza has also worked with athletes to improve the psychological aspects of their performance. In addition, Dr. LaFrazza has extensive experience working with women and marginalized groups. Related areas of clinical expertise include sexual assault, intimate partner violence and other interpersonal trauma, grief and loss, pregnancy, infertility and miscarriage, transition to parenthood, post-partum depression, sexuality, sexual orientation and identity, and existential exploration. She also has a unique expertise and interest in therapy with first generation Americans and Muslim women.
In addition to individual therapy, Dr. LaFrazza has taught workshops on healthy eating, led groups on grief/loss and meditation, and conducted a variety of psychoeducational outreach events. As a strong diagnostician, she also has broad testing experience with adults and provides psychological and educational assessments.
EXPERTISE WITH ATHLETES: Dr. Gina LaFrazza uses her experiences as a former competitive athlete in conjunction with her clinical training to work with athletes on a variety of issues, including helping to improve the psychological aspects of their performance. She has experience with and is interested in helping clients with performance anxiety, providing psychological support and training as it relates to injury rehabilitation, recognizing and regulating physiological arousal, regaining focus, and honing psychological skills to optimize performance. Dr. LaFrazza has worked with female athletes on balancing sport-specific diet and exercise demands, with healthy and mindful eating practices. She is also interested in working with adolescent and college athletes on achieving balance between their athletics and academics, as well as managing stress associated with family, coach, or team expectations.
Dr. LaFrazza understands athletes at times experience similar psychological issues to other individuals (for example, depression, anxiety, relationship stress, family problems, etc.); however, athletes experience these issues in a unique context and have additional pressures. She has found in her work with clients when this individual context is explored, the therapeutic results are far richer. Dr. LaFrazza is an ideal choice for athletes seeking therapy, as comfort and rapport are often more easily established when working with a clinician who is also a former competitive athlete.
Athletes do not only work with Dr. LaFrazza when experiencing a problem, but also seek her out to increase mental strength, resilience, and confidence.
Sport psychology is designed to help athletes overcome problems, enhance their performance and achieve their goals. Coaches typically focus on the physical components of the sport, whereas psychologists focus on an athlete’s mind.
PERSONAL: Dr. LaFrazza was formerly a competitive athlete in triathlon, cycling, kickboxing and softball. Currently, she enjoys exercise for health, particularly boxing, running, and cycling. In her free time, she also enjoys traveling, photography, reading, and spending time with her husband, children, and two dogs.
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