Individual Psychotherapy for Children - Play Therapy
Younger children may benefit from one-to-one contact with a therapist who uses play
therapy techniques. Since young children do not have the same ability to verbally communicate as older
children or adolescents, a therapist helps a child express
and understand experiences, thoughts and feelings by using
toys, games, dolls and dollhouses, puppets, crayons and paper.
Through this process, children begin to have mastery over their feelings and are better able to
communicate their needs with the important people in their lives. They learn refined
ways of understanding their feelings and experiences. Sessions with young children
generally last from 30-45 minutes.
In addition to the child’s individual contact with the therapist,
therapists typically meet with the child’s parents or guardian weekly, biweekly or monthly.
These meetings allow the therapist and parents an opportunity to exchange important information about the
child’s behavior at home and in session, to plan management strategies and to find ways for
parents to support the child’s emotional and behavioral changes.
Individual Psychotherapy For Older Children and Adolescents
Older children and adolescents who participate in individual therapy are taught to use
their verbal skills to help in identifying and labeling feelings and behaviors, discuss family
and peer relationships and to learn ways to change problem behaviors and cope with the stress in their lives.
Sessions with older children and adolescents generally last from 30-45 minutes.
In addition to the child or adolescent’s individual time with the therapist, it is not uncommon for the
therapist to also meet with parents, either alone or with the young person present. Such meetings
generally occur less frequently than those in the treatment of a younger child. These meetings allow
the therapist, parents and child or adolescent (when present) to discuss the young person’s progress
at home and at school, to identify continuing difficulties and ways parents can help to address them
and to strengthen communication skills between parents and their children. In some situations,
therapists do not meet with parents of adolescents.
Medication Therapy For Children and Adolescents
A child or adolescent and their parents meet with a psychiatrist to evaluate whether medication
may be helpful in addressing emotional and behavioral difficulties. A psychiatrist is a medical
doctor specially trained to work with psychological and behavioral difficulties.
For more information on medication therapy, please see
What To Expect From Mental Health Treatment.
Group Treatment For Children and Adolescents
Sometimes children and adolescents have therapy in a group with other young people who share
experiences. Groups can help children and adolescents learn to cope with difficulties
and change feelings and behaviors by working with a therapist and interacting with their peers who face
similar struggles. For example, group therapy is a good way to help children and adolescents with
difficulties to learn and practice social skills.
We offer the following groups for children and adolescents based upon community interest
and/or demand:
Younger Boys and Girls Socialization Group: For boys and girls ages six to eight who have
difficulties with social skills and in relating to other children. The group runs for eight
weeks and teaches children social skills, effective ways to communicate and strategies for solving problems.
Older Boys Socialization Group: For boys ages nine to twelve who have difficulties with
social skills and in relating to other children. This group also runs for eight weeks and
teaches social skills, effective ways to communicate and strategies for solving problems.
Ages 15-18- Adolescent Girls Only: For adolescent girls struggling with issues related to relationships,
their sexuality and engaging in self-destructive behaviors. This six-week educational and support group focuses on
developing skills to address these issues and teaches girls skills for making and maintaining peer relationships.
Ages 12-16 Adolescent Boys Only: For boys struggling with managing anger, family and peer
relationships, impulse control and assaultive behavior. This six-week educational and support
group builds skills to deal with these problems and teaches positive social behaviors.
FACES - Ages 5-7: FACES - Family Abuse Children’s Education Series.
A support and educational program for children from homes in which domestic violence has
occurred. This group is ongoing and meets weekly (90 minutes per session) in eight-week cycles.
FACES - Ages 8-11: FACES - see above for description.
Ages 17-21 Young Men's Workshop: Educational group for young men who are assaultive to
significant others, including family members. This group teaches conflict resolution, problem
solving and anger management in an atmosphere that condemns violent behavior as unacceptable.
The group is an ongoing group.
Family Treatment For Children and Adolescents
Family treatment looks at problems and solutions from a family point of view. In this treatment group
a therapist meets with family members together to explore and practice how family members can learn
to identify and meet each other’s needs and improve the way the family works.
Other Groups
If there is a group in which you are interested but which is not offered now, please
call our Information and Referral Service at 914-345-5900, extension 240 or e-mail us at
help@mhawestchester.org to see if such a
group is being formed.
Where
All Child and Adolescent treatment services are offered at three sites:
Northern Westchester Counseling Center
344 Main Street, Suite 301
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
914-666-4646
Click here for How Can I Get Here?
Sterling Center
2269 Saw Mill River Road, Building 1A
Elmsford, NY 10523
914-345-5900
Click here for How Can I Get Here?
Sterling Clinic
29 Sterling Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606
914-345-5900
Click here for How Can I Get Here?
We also offer home-based psychotherapy for children and adolescents through the PIP (Partners in
Parenting) program. To discuss your eligibility
for a therapist to come to your home, please call Program Coordinator Kimberly Naclerio at 914-666-4646, extension 121.
When
Our clinics are open Monday through Friday, beginning at 9:00 AM. There are evening hours
every weekday except Friday. Please call the clinic most convenient to you for their evening hours.
Partners in Parenting (PIP) services are available through both community-based and shelter-based
programs. Each provides
services Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
For more information on home-based programs, please see Partners in Parenting
or call 914-666-4646, extension 121. For more information on our shelter-based
program, please see Services for the Homeless or call
914-345-5900, extension 297.
All our treatment programs provide emergency coverage using a beeper system for weeknights and
weekends. The clinics’ staff members are available to help with crises even when the clinics are closed.
Languages Spoken
Please contact individual sites for availability of a particular service in Spanish.
Cost
We accept many health insurance plans, including Child Health Plus, Medicaid and Medicare. For people without insurance,
we have a sliding fee scale. For more information about cost, please see
How Much Does Mental Health Treatment Cost, and
Does My Health Insurance Cover This Expense?
No one is denied treatment services at our clinics because he or she is unable to pay standard fees.
Staff/Service Providers
Clinic staff who work with children and adolescents in our clinics and home-based treatment
settings are master's level certified clinical social workers (CSWs), doctoral level
psychologists (PhDs, PsyDs), or medical doctors (MDs) who are trained as psychiatrists
and have experience treating children and adolescents.
Our clinics have internships for advanced graduate students training to be child and
adolescent therapists. These students are supervised by senior clinic staff members. Some
people coming to the clinic work with these students. A person may choose not to work with a
student if they prefer.
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