Clure Psychology

Understanding the Psychological Needs of Children

By Linda Sutherland

Lynne Clure, PhD, is a local child psychologist who started her own practice after many years of experience and training. Dr. Clure earned her PhD from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She trained at such prestigious institutions as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Munroe-Meyer Institute, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Before opening her private practice, she spent 10 years as a psychologist and training coordinator at Children’s Nebraska, helping to train other professionals in her field. 

What is a child psychologist, and how can they help our kids? A child psychologist is a mental health professional who uses various forms of therapy and psychological evaluations to help children and adolescents learn how to cope with life and relationship issues as well as mental health conditions. Child psychologists can treat emotional, mental, social, and behavioral conditions as they help our community’s children learn to be their best selves. 

As a parent, you may be concerned that your child has a condition that affects their learning or social interaction. This could be a condition such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or a learning disability. You may need some help in managing emotional or behavioral problems. This is where Dr. Clure comes in! She can perform a comprehensive evaluation of your child and help you determine how to navigate developmental issues.

Dr. Clure works with children between two and 18 years of age. She uses a wide range of procedures when working with children and adolescents. She takes pride in accurate psychological assessments that include intellectual, academic, and behavioral testing. 

In order for Dr. Clure to get the whole picture, she will interview both the parents and the child to determine if an individual testing plan is indicated. She may also ask for rating scales from parents and teachers to gather information about how the child behaves and copes in different environments—kids are not always the same at home and at school! 

She then can determine if a child needs parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), needs short-term therapy, or may have underlying learning disabilities. She works with children on the autism spectrum and can accomplish clinical testing for autism and developmental concerns. 

Many parents reach out to Dr. Clure because things seem more difficult for their child than for other children of the same age. Children may be struggling academically or socially, unable to focus or remember what they’ve been taught. A child may exhibit disruptive behavior disorders, communication disorders, anxiety, or even sensory sensitivities. 

By the time parents contact Dr. Clure, they may have done some research, or even talked to their child’s pediatrician, but they are still uncertain as to what tools and resources they may need to employ. Dr. Clure can assist with proven strategies that help children thrive and equip them with the skills needed to succeed in their lifetime. 

Dr. Clure’s approach to testing is to get to know your child and to help identify both their strengths and the areas in which they may benefit from more support. Dr. Clure offers early childhood neurodevelopmental evaluations for ages five and under. She offers neurodevelopmental evaluations for children ages six to 18. She also offers learning disability/psychoeducational evaluations for children ages seven and up. Her proven strategies for identifying and then supporting developmental and learning challenges provide an excellent framework for families as they move forward.

Dr. Clure greatly appreciates all the supportive mentors in her life. “The people who supported me throughout my career, who always pointed me in the right direction, and who gave me focus to hone in on what my goals would be,” she says, were so great in number that she couldn’t possibly narrow it down to just one…but she wouldn’t be where she is today without their support. 

This Omaha native decided to start her own practice a year ago, and she couldn’t be more pleased that she made that decision. For business success, she notes that it’s vital “to learn the business side of whatever field is your expertise because that’s a very important aspect of any business.” She recommends learning from as many people as possible, getting all the information that you can. And, as in all parts of life, she recommends that we “always pay kindness and compassion forward.” 

If you have noticed any learning or developmental differences in your child or if your child has difficulty focusing, formal psychological testing may be the next best step. To learn more about what Dr. Clure has to offer, you can visit her online at clurepsychology.com. Dr. Clure has a new office this year, at 11620 Arbor Street, Suite 200, in Omaha. 

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