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The Sullivan Center for Children is a comprehensive outpatient treatment facility founded in 1989 with the goal of providing quality outpatient psychological and psychiatric service to children, adolescents and families in the Central Valley. Our services revolve around on our 5 main focal points of service.
For details on each of our points of service, use the links below.
 Psychotherapy Services
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Treatment for children and adolescents is quite different than typical therapy with adults. Our philosophy is to treat the whole child within the systems he or she is involved and to facilitate an integrated approach to the child’s care amongst other professionals and systems working with the child. The family is almost always involved in some way in the child’s treatment. The nature of the family involvement is always part of the recommendation. The format of treatment, that is the type, frequency and duration, and integration with other professionals and systems, depends on the diagnosis, the complexity and severity of the problem, and the response to treatment. Following an evaluation the therapist will make recommendations for treatment and outline a specific treatment plan, including diagnosis, goals and objectives, the recommended frequency and type of treatment, and the estimated duration.
Therapy is a complex process in which healing and behavior change comes about through regular sessions between the child, family and therapist. We have several therapists at the center each with areas of specialization, which allows us to provide clients with the therapy orientation and modality that suits their needs and would be most efficient in solving the problems at hand. We have therapists that specialize in the treatment of infants and young children, older children, and adolescents. We have therapist who specialize in treating mild situational problems and those who specialize in the treatment of severe emotional disorders. Often the child’s therapist will also work with the parents, however we have the capacity within the Center to provide help with marital issues that are affecting the family and child, and individual parent issues that affect the child and family. This can be done in coordination and conjunction with the child’s therapist so as to provide a cohesive approach to treatment.
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This form of therapy is essential in the treatment of young and some older children for whom play is the primary mode of expression, the primary mode through which conflict is mastered, and the primary mode through which adaptive skills are learned. Younger children communicate their experiences and conflicts easily through play, and play is the most powerful medium through which to teach them and to facilitate psychological growth. Play therapy provides a non-threatening familiar environment in which healing can take place. Play is the gateway into the child’s inner world. It allows the therapist an entrance to understanding the child, and teaching the child about themselves, others and the world around them. Play therapy is most often done in conjunction with work with parents in which parents learn about their child, and learn specific behavioral, interactional and/ or communication strategies to use with the child at home. |
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We provide individual therapy for older children, adolescents, and adults/parents. This is a verbal process in which within the context of a therapeutic relationship, clients learn to identify problems, identify feelings, and control impulses. Clients have the opportunity to work through traumatic experiences and difficult life circumstances, and develop healthier adaptive skills. It provides an avenue to develop healthier feelings about ones self, and a healthier ability to relate to others. Parents of children and adolescents in individual therapy are included in overall treatment. |
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Group therapy is a powerful modality. The process and goals of group therapy are different than those involved in individual therapy and depending upon the issues at hand it can be appropriate as sole treatment modality, or can be part of a treatment plan that also includes individual or family therapy. Our children’s and adolescent groups typically range in size between 6 to 8 participants and 3 therapists. We have ongoing groups for children ranging in age between 4 and 18. Groups for younger children are usually play therapy groups that focus on teaching social, play, and friendship skills, as well as self- control and appropriate behavior. They also provide an environment in which children can talk about problems and realize that they are not alone. Groups for adolescents encourage expression of feelings through verbalizations, and provide youngsters the opportunity to learn from other children as well as the therapist. We also have intermittent groups for specialized populations on topics such as children going through divorce, support groups for parents with emotionally troubled children, and parenting classes. Children are often referred for group by their therapist, or following an initial evaluation. They are also referred by therapists outside of the Center and by parents who are looking for a therapeutic social |
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There are many approaches to family therapy, and we have the capacity to provide a variety of ways to structure therapy to meet the needs of a given family. One therapist can work with an entire family simultaneously, or if indicated, more than one therapist can work with different members of a family, integrating the treatment so as to accomplish the individual and family goals. |
 Medication Services
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Medication treatment for children and adolescents with emotional/neurological problems is a highly specialized area of expertise. The decision to put a child on medication is always one to be taken quite seriously; however, medication treatment can be a powerful component to the treatment of some disorders. We offer highly specialized assessment and treatment, and an integrated approach in which medication, when necessary, is included as a part of the child’s overall treatment plan. Our clinicians can work together as a team to provide an integrated approach to treatment.
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 Forensic Services
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The Sullivan Center has on staff several doctoral level psychologists who are more than five years post licensure, and who have experience in forensic/legal evaluations and have served as expert witnesses in court.
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A Custody evaluation is a comprehensive unbiased evaluation of all parties involved in the custody dispute. It is always done either under court order or mutual agreement of the parties involved. The purpose of the evaluation is to assess all of the parties including the children, to gain a psychological understanding of the dynamics involved in each unique situation, and to make recommendations regarding custody, visitation, and therapeutic needs of the child and parties involved. Judges, attorneys, family court, mediators, or parents frequently request additional specific information. The Center's philosophy behind all evaluations of this nature is to make recommendations and determinations that are in The Best Interest of the Child. |
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The Center provides Forensic Psychological Examinations of children and adolescents involved in civil/personal injury cases. We assess brain damage and/or emotional damage resulting in loss or injury from accidents, child abuse, animal attacks and other sources. The assessment can result in a comprehensive report that integrates the child’s current functioning with their background history, and premorbid level of functioning, and draws conclusions as to the presence or absence of injury, the severity and implications of injury, and interventions necessary for present or future care. This type of evaluation is a specialty and should be done by a professional with expertise in child and adolescent development, assessment and evaluation. |
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We provide Forensic Psychological Evaluations for juvenile offenders involved in criminal cases. Information requested from these evaluations usually involves competency, mental status, diagnosis and recommendations for treatment or disposition. |
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Child abuse evaluations may involve an assessment just of the child or may involve all parties involved. The format of these evaluations varies depending on the circumstances and age and ability of the child. Our clinicians are well trained in abuse evaluations and utilize sound, developmentally age appropriate techniques to help the child express what has happened. In addition to the knowledge of how to interview children under these circumstances, appropriate interpretation of the data attained in child abuse evaluations requires the integration of knowledge of childhood development, childhood pathology, and family and situational dynamics. |
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An attachment assessment is a psychological evaluation of a child and adult (usually parent, guardian, de facto parent, foster parent) that assesses the nature and quality of attachment or bond between the two. Juvenile court, or attorneys, or the department of social services often requests these evaluations, when termination of parental rights is an issue. This evaluation involves a study of the background of the situation of all involved, a history of all parties, a mental status of those assessed, and observations of the parties in interaction. A comprehensive report integrates all of the data and provides information regarding the nature and quality of the bond, and the psychological effects of severing the bond. Recommendations are made on the basis of the best interest of the Child. |
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Many different issues arise during a process of adoption. We can provide an evaluation that is tailor made to meet the specific needs of the child and families. We can provide an evaluation of the child to clarify the child’s psychological strengths and weakness, determine the presence or absence of significant problems, and provide information regarding the child’s potential responses to adoption. This is especially helpful for older and/or high-risk children. It can provide both the service and the adoptive parents with information to prepare them for what to expect, and help parents get a solid start knowing if they are going to need special services, and if so having the tools to access them right from the beginning. We can also provide evaluations of biological parent(s) and adoptive parents considering adoption. |
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Our staff can provide consultations to attorneys and judges regarding mental health issues in cases involving children and adolescents. Issues that may arise to indicate the usefulness of a consultation would be, for example, to attain guidance on the following: a) how to depose a child of a certain age or having a specific disability; b) how to examine or cross-examine a child; c) determining the child’s ability to testify; or the conditions that would facilitate their ability to testify; d) the need for a psychological evaluation. We can provide help with most psychological and development questions regarding children. |
 Comprehensive Assessments
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Based on symptoms and specific referral questions a battery of psychological tests is administered to provide accurate diagnosis and analysis of cognitive and emotional dynamics involved in the overall clinical picture. A comprehensive report integrates the symptoms, developmental /family/ medical/ school/ and social history, with mental status, and the results of intellectual and projective testing. The report highlights cognitive strengths and weaknesses, personality dynamics, an integrated formulation of the problem, differential diagnoses, and recommendations for treatment. Comprehensive psychodiagnostic assessment is especially useful in complex cases where differential diagnosis is an issue, in cases in which the client is not responding to treatment as expected, and in cases in which previous attempts at treatment have failed. It can provide valuable information to therapists, psychiatrists, and physicians and aid in providing overall direction for clients in their care. These services are available for children, adolescents and adults. |
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Accurately diagnosing the difficulty a child is having with learning is crucial. Learning difficulties can have devastating effects on a child’s academic life and overall emotional adjustment. Understanding the exact nature and severity of the disability empowers parents to access appropriate resources for their child. It also provides guidance for educators regarding appropriate strategies to utilize to maximize the child’s potential. This assessment utilizes a battery of tests specifically selected based on the child’s age, and symptoms, to differentially diagnose the Attention Deficit Disorders and Specific Learning Disabilities. A comprehensive report is generated that identifies overall intellectual level, cognitive strengths and weaknesses, overall level of academic achievement and academic strengths and weakness. This evaluation is especially helpful for parents wanting a second opinion regarding a school assessment, or for parents wanting validation for diagnoses such as ADD or ADHD. It is also quite helpful for parents or educators wanting additional information regarding guidance on how to facilitate learning for a specific child, and for other professionals needing diagnostic clarification for treatment purposes. The assessment includes guiding parents toward appropriate resources including accessing school district resources. Clinicians at the Center will attend IEP meetings and present test results and recommendations, if the parents so desire. This service is available for children, adolescents and adults.
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Neuropsychological Assessment involves a very comprehensive test battery for clients with suspected or known neurological dysfunction or brain damage. It is also used for clients with very complex learning and functional problems whose dysfunction are not adequately understood on the basis of learning disability assessment alone. Child clinical neuropsychology is an exciting and flourishing field of study about which we have learned much in the last 30 years. And, understanding cerebral functioning can be essential in determining accurate diagnosis and treatment. We know that cerebral dysfunction originates from many different sources and that it can be present without parents knowledge. We know that cerebral dysfunction manifests in learning and behavioral problems that can be misdiagnosed as psychological in nature. We also know that cerebral dysfunction can co-exist with psychological diagnoses often resulting in a child with complex symptomotology, who is resistant or non-responsive to treatment strategies that do not take into account the dual diagnosis. Neuropsychological assessment can provide valuable information in the determination of the presence or absence of brain dysfunction. By measuring brain dysfunction through standardized instruments that provide observation of a wide range of neurobehavioral functioning, this type of assessment provides an additional source of information about brain functioning. Neurologists often find this data as critical, and use it in conjunction with standard medical tests such as the electroencephalogram and neuroimaging techniques. The goals of this type of assessment are to provide information regarding the presence or absence of cerebral dysfunction, to provide information regarding localization and nature of dysfunction and to identify neurocognitive strengths and weaknesses. They also measure loss of neurocognitive functions following a brain injury and can be used to track rate of recovery. Perhaps most useful is the information provided regarding differential diagnoses and recommendations for interventions. We specialize in neuropsychological assessment of young children through adolescence, however this assessment is available for adults also. We accept referrals from medical doctors, neurologists, rehabilitation centers, psychologist, psychiatrists, other mental health professionals, attorneys, courts, schools, regional centers, and families.
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David Fox, MD, Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist provides assessment regarding the appropriateness of medication treatment. Medication treatment is helpful and necessary for many childhood and adolescent emotional disorders. For most children in need of medication, the combination of medication treatment and psychotherapy is the most effective treatment strategy. We have the capacity to assess the appropriateness of medication needs within an integrated assessment approach. |
 Special Services
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In addition to primary care, the Sullivan Center provides consultative services to professionals and agencies. We provide in-service training of various aspects of child psychopathology and treatment. We provide outside assistance and consultations for schools, treatment centers, group homes for emotionally disturbed and developmentally disabled populations, residential and inpatient facilities regarding highly resistant, problematic of complex treatment cases. Our staff also offers consultative services to individual therapists and professionals working with difficult treatment cases. We will work directly with the therapist or provide an independent evaluation of the child and family with a review of the records and treatment.
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The Center regularly contracts with agencies to provide services and programs. We have the capacity to provide on-site treatment programs for schools and group homes, residential facilities and other private or public agencies. We can design and implement assessment and treatment programs to meet an agencies specific need. |
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We are very committed to ongoing training of child/ adolescent therapists and maintain an active APPIC approved internship program. We are also committed to understanding childhood pathology and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment. We maintain ongoing research efforts to that end. |
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