MILITARY SERVICES

Ms. Savage has extensive experience working with the military.  As a Marine Corps spouse, and as a Tricare provider Ms. Savage has personal & professional experience working with the challenges of being Active Duty, a family member of an active duty spouse, coping with deployments, PTSD, family stressors, and navigating Tricare.  Ms. Savage has held positions as part of Family Services on military installations in CA and VA.

AFCC

AFCC is the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, which is an interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict.  Ms. Savage is a firm believer that court cases should be mediated as opposed to litigated whenever possible. 

Not only is litigation financially draining, the long term effect on children and families who engage in this process is horrific. 

FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK

Ms. Savage is also a Forensic Social Worker, providing services such as co-parenting, child custody assessments and court ordered therapy.  Ms. Savage is also called upon to testify as an expert witness in court cases.

What is Forensic Social Work?

"Forensic social work is the application of social work to questions and issues relating to law and legal systems. This specialty of our profession goes far beyond clinics and psychiatric hospitals for criminal defendants being evaluated and treated on issues of competency and responsibility. A broader definition includes social work practice which in any way is related to legal issues and litigation, both criminal and civil. Child custody issues, involving separation, divorce, neglect, termination of parental rights, the implications of child and spouse abuse, juvenile and adult justice services, corrections, and mandated treatment all fall under this definition." taken from the NOFSW website

THERAPY FOR CHILDREN

Ms. Savage specializes in tthe treatment and assessment of children.

It is common for children to experience occasional problems as they grow and mature. They experience conflicts at home over such issues as toilet training, bedtime and homework. They encounter problems with parents and peers as they attempt to establish a personal identity and practice relating to others. They experience conflict with teachers as academic and behavioral demands increase. As a child is faced with new situations, demands and expectations, it is common for the child to experience emotional ups and downs characterized by feelings of sadness, fear and anger.

Children's reactions to stressful life circumstances range from mild and short-lived to severe and long lasting. When a child's problems do not resolve within a reasonable time-frame psychological intervention is recommended. Therapy offers children the opportunity to identify, discuss and understand problems and to develop necessary coping skills. Therapy also provides the opportunity to address parental concerns, educate parents regarding their child's unique needs, and assist them in meeting these needs in an appropriate, effective fashion. Finally, it is important to recognize that without appropriate and timely treatment a child's problems may become severe and lead to more serious, long-lasting difficulties. 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Ms. Savage has extensive experience treating and advoacating for victims of domestic violence, specifically domestic violence and the Military.

Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.