Psychotherapy often involves identifying meaningful connections between thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and experiences that may initially appear unrelated. This process is commonly understood through the concept of dialectics—the integration of seemingly opposing ideas to create a more effective and balanced understanding. At Triad Psych, dialectical thinking serves as a foundational principle that guides both clinical philosophy and day-to-day therapeutic practice.
Bridging Two Disciplines: Special Education and Psychotherapy
Triad Psych was founded on the intentional integration of Special Education and Psychotherapy—two fields often viewed as separate, but deeply connected in practice. Special Education focuses on helping students with disabilities learn through structured instruction, skills development, and individualized supports. Psychotherapy, meanwhile, addresses emotional insight, behavioral change, and mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma.
When combined, these disciplines offer a comprehensive framework that supports both emotional well-being and functional skill development.
The Origins of the Triad Psych Model
The Triad Psych approach emerged from the graduate training of founder Dave Glick in Boston in the early 1990s. In 1993, Dave enrolled in a dual-degree program in Special Education and Social Work, with the goal of working as a special education teacher and a psychotherapist. This dual training led to a critical insight: many core principles of effective psychotherapy closely align with established Special Education practices.
In particular, Dave identified strong parallels between cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Special Education methodologies. Both emphasize skills acquisition, task analysis, goal-directed behavior, and learning strategies that support real-world application. Techniques such as breaking complex tasks into manageable steps, reinforcing progress, and promoting generalization across settings are central to both fields.
A Skills-Based, Evidence-Informed Therapeutic Approach
More than thirty years later, the integration of psychotherapeutic and Special Education approaches remains central to Triad Psych’s professional identity. Our clinicians incorporate evidence-based psychotherapy alongside structured, skills-focused interventions to help clients build lasting change.
This integrated model allows therapy to move beyond insight alone. Clients not only explore emotional and cognitive patterns, but also develop practical tools related to executive functioning, emotional regulation, behavioral flexibility, and problem-solving. This approach is especially effective for children, adolescents, and adults who benefit from structure, explicit instruction, and skill-building within the therapeutic process.
A Dialectical and Developmental Perspective on Mental Health
At Triad Psych, we view mental health as both an emotional and developmental process. By integrating Special Education principles with psychotherapy, we reject false either-or distinctions and instead embrace a dialectical, whole-person approach to treatment.
This model reflects our commitment to meeting clients where they are, while providing the insight, structure, and skills necessary for meaningful and sustainable growth.