About  - Terry Northcutt, Ph.D.

     I am a Psychologist.  I earned my undergraduate degree and my doctoral degree at the University of Maryland.  As a Psychologist I have been privileged to work with children and adults facing a variety of challenges: learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, Asperger Syndrome, anxiety, depression,  chronic illness, chronic pain, abuse, and many more issues too numerous to list. 

     Working with adults and children as well as teachers and schools over the years, I discovered that thoughtfully crafted books often told entertaining stories that spoke eloquently about the joys, humor, dilemmas, pain, and possibilities of life.  Additionally, I discovered they facilitate rich discussions about social emotional topics.

I  recently created the Social Emotional Learning Library, a blog for parents and teachers. It reviews children's books that are entertaining, engaging, and well-written. Selected books have  plot lines that present social and emotional challenges for characters. These challenges require characters to cope with difficult feelings, resolve interpersonal conflicts, struggle with decisions, and explore the good and not so good consequences of their choices.  

I am also a veteran of many years of writing classes and a Certified Guided Autobiography Instructor. Please note that Guided Autobiography is not therapy. It is about writing the important stories of your life in your own words, one theme at a time and one two-page story at a time for yourself or to share with others. According to James Birren, Ph.D who developed this approach to life story writing, "it is dedicated to enriching the lives of adults through writing, sharing, and preserving life stories and life experiences."

     

*****Please note that I am currently not accepting clients for therapy or psychological evaluations*****