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A Safe Space to Grow

Utilizing evidence-based treatments, our knowledgeable therapists provide personalized treatment plans for children and teens in need of therapy. We provide individuals a safe place to learn, grow, and progress their relationships, as well as encourage their belief and hope in change. Our therapists are trained in multiple evidence-based therapy types and work from an eclectic skill set to provide individualized treatment for your child or teen.

Additionally, our staff of therapists, Child Psychologists, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners work together as multi-disciplinary teams in order to give your child and your family the best overall behavioral health care.

Schedule an Evaluation - (585) 922 9900

What is a Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation?

At your initial visit, a therapist will evaluate your child or teen's needs and determine how we can help best. At later sessions, the therapist may partner with a child psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner to look at psychiatric, emotional, social, and family needs, helping us to better understand your child as a whole. We will use this information to determine whether (and what kind of) ongoing care is needed. 

A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is used to help diagnose a wide variety of behavioral, emotional, or developmental disorders. Our experienced mental health providers take a whole-person look at your child, ensuring their evaluation takes into account the cognitive, educational, environmental, genetic, physical, and/or social factors in your child's life. 

Your child's treatment team is here to support both them and you, not to judge, and not to assign blame. We want the best for your child and family, so we listen to your concerns and help your child work towards defined goals. If, at any point, there are questions or concerns, we encourage you to speak up.

Common concerns we hear include:

  • Am I to blame?
  • Is my child normal?
  • Will she/he outgrow these behaviors?
  • How can the family help?
  • What does this diagnosis mean?
  • Does my child need treatment?

When a diagnosis or treatable problem has been identified, your therapist will create a personalized treatment plan for your child. Family involvement and active participation are vitally important for anyone with a mental health disorder. Your child's therapist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist can offer tips and ideas for helping and supporting your child.

Walk-in Evaluations

We know that life can be hectic and ensuring your child gets the help they need, when they need it can be hard. That is why we offer walk-in evaluations at our Genesee Behavioral Health Center Youth and Family Clinic at 224 Alexander Street. Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:00-10:00 am. Children under the age of 18 must come with a parent or guardian. 

What is Individual Therapy?

The Youth and Family Behavioral Health Program at Rochester Regional Health offers individual therapy for those struggling with mental health. Focusing on one-on-one interactions between your child and their primary therapist, individual therapy offers a safe place to delve into underlying causes, beliefs, and thought patterns.

Evidence-based techniques our therapists may utilize include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Informed Care, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and others.

What is Family Therapy?

Supporting a troubled child or teen is rarely easy. Parents or caregivers may disagree about where the difficulties began and how to respond to them. Siblings may resent the attention their brother or sister is receiving, which can lead to rifts. Family therapy is an effective way to support the whole family.

Family therapy can help the family learn to support and relate to the child or teen, help each family member learn how to change unhealthy reactions, and to build effective communication skills. Your child's primary therapist will work with you, your spouse/partner, your children, and any other necessary family members. Therapy sessions will be conducted at an intensity and duration that meets your child's level of need.

Therapy Types 

We utilize evidence-based therapy types, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. These forms of psychotherapy involve therapeutic conversations and interactions in a 1:1 environment and focus on modifying behavior, making positive changes, and resolving problems.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT works to improve your child’s anxiety, behavior, and moods by examining confused or distorted thinking patterns. When utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, your child’s therapist will teach them that their thoughts cause feelings and moods that influence their behavior. With their therapist’s help, your child will learn to replace their thinking with thoughts that result in more appropriate behaviors and feelings.

CBT is shown to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, and coping with traumatic experiences.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Therapists use DBT to help your child take responsibility for their problems and to help them understand how they can better deal with intensely negative emotions and conflict. DBT uses both individual and group therapy sessions to offer a well-rounded and social treatment.

DBT is often used for adolescents who have strong suicidal ideation, intentionally self-harm, and those who have Borderline Personality Disorder.  

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)

We recognize how common trauma is, and understand that every child patient may have experienced serious trauma in any form. Trauma-Informed Care carefully recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma plays in an individual's life. When using this therapy type, we work to understand our patient as a whole, since trauma commonly affects a patient's sense of self and their ability to connect. 

The Five Principles of Trauma-Informed Care include:

  1. Safety: ensuring emotional and physical safety with respectful and welcome common areas 
  2. Choice: ensuring our patients have choices and control over their rights and responsibilities
  3. Collaboration: we include our patients and their families in the planning and evaluation
  4. Trustworthiness: boundaries are maintained, as well as task clarity and consistency
  5. Empowerment: we provide an atmosphere that allows individuals to feel affirmed, validated, and safe with everyone they meet

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

This action-oriented approach to psychotherapy stems from both cognitive behavioral therapy and traditional behavior therapy. We work with your child to help them stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with inner emotions, and instead accept that deeper feelings and learn the appropriate responses to certain situations. With the help of ACT, children begin accepting their hardships and making the necessary changes in their behavior, regardless of how they feel about it and what is going on in their lives.

Therapists use ACT to help treat anxiety, depression, school-based stress, social anxiety disorder, and psychosis. Your child's therapist will help them use self-talk to learn and adapt to situations and start practicing more confident and optimistic behavior.

 

 

Accessing Individual & Family Therapy
Not only does therapy give your child a trusted ally to speak with and learn from, but it can also help them reframe their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. Call today to schedule an initial evaluation and begin their therapy journey.
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