MEET
DEREK HENDERSON

Prior to joining Think Happy Live Healthy, Derek worked as a School Psychologist in the public school setting for nine years, primarily serving schools in the Northern Virginia area. Derek brings experience working with students in the elementary, middle, and high school settings. He has extensive experience working with school teams and parents throughout the special education identification process. His areas of expertise include psychoeducational testing, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, behavior support, and parent/teacher consultation. Derek's previous experience also includes working with children, adolescents, and adults in the inpatient psychiatric hospital setting. 

 

Derek has formal training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and many evidence-based programs. Derek's approach is primarily solution focused and incorporates positive psychology practices and principles. Derek focuses on skill development compared to viewing behavior as a deficit or weakness. Derek believes strongly in psychoeducation and working collaboratively with parents and school teams. Throughout his career, Derek has supported students with a variety of needs including anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, impulse control, ADHD/executive functioning, social skills, autism, and learning difficulties. 

 

Derek completed his Bachelor's degree at the University of Dayton in Psychology. He earned his Master's degree and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from George Mason University in School Psychology. Derek is an active member of the National Association of School Psychologists and has maintained qualifications as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist since 2014. 

 

Derek enjoys outdoor activities, exercising, watching sports, and spending time with his puppy.