• Child Neutral Specialist & Divorce Coach

From the very beginning of her career over 25 years ago, Dr. Tina Lepage has been focusing on children and families. Whereas most psychologists have an undergraduate degree that is, like their doctorate, in psychology, Dr. Lepage has an undergraduate degree in Child Development & Family Relationships. In addition, her doctoral education in Clinical Psychology included both complete adult and child psychology tracks:thus she is fully trained to work with adults and as a child psychologist.

Dr. Lepage completed both her master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation in Clinical Psychology in the child-centric area of developing parenting plans. She stays abreast of research related to parenting plans, and is an expert in cooperative co-parenting and parallel parenting. For over the past 10 years, the majority of her client work has been focused on helping parents reach a parenting plan agreement and develop effective and low-conflict co-parenting skills. Her combined experience in divorce transitions, child development, parenting plans, and conflict resolution make her highly sought out by people going through separation and divorce.

Dr. Lepage is especially well known for an in-depth understanding of children and adolescents, and a unique ability to connect with children and teens. As a Child Specialist, her ability to quickly connect and build a trusting relationship with the child allows her help guide families forward in the collaborative process. She is able to truly understand the children she spends time with and provide parents with valuable information.

Dr. Lepage’s direct yet respectful nature with parents provides them a safe space to hear sometimes difficult information, and to reflect on the thoughts and feelings of the children being shared. This is accomplished without blame, but rather with an eye toward ensuring that the children transition through the divorce process with as little stress as possible. Dr. Lepage has been able to harness the shared goals of low stress for the children with a shared desire to have happy healthy children who grow into happy healthy adults. Sharing these goals facilitates parents having difficult conversations that are nonetheless fruitful and lead to resolution and shared agreements.

Dr. Lepage was one of the first psychologists in the Triangle to become fully trained in collaborative divorce (CD) in 2003, and she continues to be the most highly trained and experienced mental health professional working in CD in this geographic area. Since 2003, Dr. Lepage has engaged in hundreds of hours of training in CD and mediation. She works with numerous families each year going though this transition. A leader in CD in the Triangle, Dr. Lepage was a founder of the NC State CD Association. She has brought nationally renowned CD trainers to the Triangle, and has trained and mentored numerous local professionals. In addition, she has trained at the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals annual conference and is an IACP certified trainer.

Dr. Lepage has worked with teenagers and their families in outpatient settings, schools, and for the courts, and served as the clinical manager for a residential treatment center for teens. She is experienced with a range of issues that affect teens, such as adolescent depression, difficulties in interpersonal relationships with family and peers, reactions to divorce, anxiety due to academic pressure, AD/HD, LD, trauma recovery, sexual issues, substance abuse, acting out / delinquency, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder, substance use, body image concerns, and social problems to include awkwardness, shyness, and isolation.

Dr. Lepage completed specialty training at the University of Virginia Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy that qualifies her as an expert in Juvenile Forensic Evaluation. Dr. Lepage provides individual therapy for teens, psychological evaluations for teens, risk assessments for delinquent behaviors, competency to stand trial for teens, couple’s and family therapy, custody evaluations, and an extensive range of divorce services.

From the moment you enter Lepage Associates, you will feel Dr. Lepage’s dedication to providing a child-friendly and family-friendly environment, from the warm welcome you will receive, to the comfortable setting with specific play space and family space. We have a host of accommodations for the children and families we serve! In addition to our compilation of age-appropriate games and activities, we also have a media room, a game room with a pool table, and a campus with outdoor meeting space and walking trails.

Please visit Lepage Associates Psychological & Psychiatric Services for in-depth information on Dr. Lepage and Lepage Associates services.