Currently, Dr. Alvarez works with children and adolescents within the context of a complex family dynamic in which the parents are divorcing or have divorced. When parents cannot determine how to successfully end their relationship as a couple without involving the children and creating a toxic psychological environment for the children, family intervention and parenting intervention is necessary.  The research indicates that children can be traumatized by their parents’ ongoing conflict and inability to co-exist post-separation or post-divorce and such trauma creates the toxic stress response in children.

Dr. Alvarez is familiar with the science and research concerning the toxic stress response in children and she works within the family context to alleviate the negative psychological and neurological effects on children.