| Psychotherapy Services | Case Management |
| Friendship Group Therapy | Educational Consultation |
| Speech-Language Treatment Services | Executive Function Tutoring |
| Pharmacological Treatment |
We offer individual, family, and group therapy services that are coordinated with other aspects of a child’s treatment. Goals for therapy are determined by the child’s needs and may be specific, such as a change in behavior or improved relations within the family, or more general, such as achieving greater self-esteem.
When a child struggles with a neurobehavioral issue, it can be frustrating and disheartening. It may generate secondary problems such as decreased self-esteem, depression or anxiety. Some children develop social, emotional, or behavioral problems that arise from their unhappiness. The child’s problems may also create strain within the family.
The children we see often have a variety of problems such as these so our therapists provide a diverse range of treatments. “One child may need individual therapy to help understand himself better and learn new ways to cope with his experiences,” explains Dr. Bernadette Evans-Smith, RNBC’s Clinical Director. “In another instance, parents and children might benefit from family therapy to understand and change the patterns of behavior that have grown up around the child’s special needs.”
The therapeutic approaches also vary. For example, a psychologist may use cognitive behavioral therapy to help an anxious child recognize and change his thoughts and reactions to stressful situations. A child may be taught to detect warning signs in her own breathing and heart rate that signal a negative mood. Parents and teachers may also learn strategies to cue the child, to help control her emotions better.
The amount of time the child or family spends with our therapists varies greatly, from only a few sessions to work on one specific problem to long-term periods of months or years.
“It makes a real difference that our psychologists work as a cohesive clinical team. We know from the child’s assessment what his strengths are and what is likely to cause the child difficulty, what progress is being made in other forms of treatment, and what input has come from the school,” says Dr. Evans-Smith. “Our psychologists often work directly with the school to explain the issues involved and to help create an environment in which the child can experience success. There are children with ADHD who can think more easily while moving around,” Dr. Evans-Smith explains. “A teacher, who understands that movement is not a sign of disobedience, might allow the child to stand at his desk or doodle or squeeze a ball. Often the adaptation can be quite simple.”
The ultimate aim of the RNBC psychologist is not simply to address a problem; it is to serve the emotional and psychological well-being of the whole child. Over time, our psychologists help children understand themselves, follow their interests, and be increasingly connected to their family and friends.
The children we see at RNBC often have trouble with social interactions, including forming relationships and the ordinary give-and-take of the schoolroom and playground.
Becoming expert in all the components of social life are part of developing Social-Emotional Learning skills. This consists of many things, including recognizing emotions conveyed by a gesture or facial expression or tone of voice, understanding the thoughts feelings of others, recognizing and controlling one’s own emotional state, learning how to enter and carry on a conversation, and analyzing what has happened during a social encounter and what further action will yield good results. Some children learn these things easily and intuitively; others need practice to become more adept, and ideally this practice should be with their peers.
For this reason, RNBC conducts a number of social group sessions that are specific, for the most part, to age, grade, and gender. Our social groups offer children and teens that don’t otherwise get the chance the opportunity to connect with and learn from other individuals in their own age group. We specialize in “friendship” groups designed to foster increased social emotional awareness and skill. Children who participate in our groups are provided with the space they need to trust others, learn from one another, and feel appreciated by their peers.
Currently there are nine groups, in which the aim is to improve social-emotional skills and cultivate trust and cohesion among the children participating. Each meets once a week for one hour.
Speech-Language Assessment and Therapy Services
Many of the children we see at RNBC struggle with articulation or verbal expression, and/or comprehending language. Our speech-language pathologist, Sara F. Brown, MA, CCC-SLP/L, explores and evaluates the nature of the communication difficulty and provides the necessary specialized treatment.
In some cases, outcomes are greatly improved with appropriate medication. Our experts in pediatric pharmacology are cautious and knowledgeable. They follow the progress of children receiving treatment and adjust medications, when necessary, to optimize the child’s outcomes.
Case management is a system of care that:
- Is customized to an individual child’s needs
- Includes all aspects of treatment
- Is designed to produce the best possible outcome
Under the leadership of the child’s case manager, a treatment plan is created and implemented. It is then monitored to assess its continuing effectiveness for the child’s neurobehavioral development.
The treatment services we recommend are adjusted as the child develops and their needs change. Because we provide a comprehensive range of services, the multi-disciplinary RNBC team collaborates to address the child’s abilities and needs. RNBC clinicians work closely with the child’s network of support toward his or her individual goals, giving the child the best possible chance of success in school, at home, and with friends.
Some children need an educational plan at school. It could be a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). In other cases, children may benefit from attending a specialized school.
Our educational consultant will review the child’s records, talk to parents and others about the child’s background, and help assess educational needs. Finally, the consultant will collaborate with the child’s school to create an environment in which the child can be successful or help in choosing a more appropriate school setting.
Because we recognize that many children with social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties also have academic issues and cannot achieve their full potential without tutoring help to develop Executive Function skills, we offer tutoring at the Center and in a student’s home. Please click here for more information on Executive Functions skills.
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