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 with family, and other professionals working with the child. Following an initial evaluation our therapists will outline a treatment plan, including the working diagnosis, goals and objectives, frequency and type of sessions, and the estimated duration of treatment.
Therapy is a complex process in which healing and behavior change come about through regular sessions involving the child, family and therapist. Our staff will work to find the most effective type of interventions given the symptoms, diagnosis, and family needs. The diversity of our clinicians' expertise enhances our ability to bring to bear a wide variety of theoretical approaches ranging from psychodynamically oriented strategies, to evidence-based approaches, to medication management. We also have the capacity within the Center to provide help with individual parent issues and/or marital issues that affect the child and family. This is done in coordination with the child's therapist so as to provide a cohesive approach to treatment.
This form of therapy is essential in the treatment of young and some older children. Play is the primary medium of expression for children, the primary activity through which conflict is resolved, and the primary mode through which adaptive skills are mastered.
Children communicate their experiences and conflicts easily through play. It is the gateway into the child's inner world, and it is one of the most powerful mediums we use to help children heal and mature psychologically.
This is a verbal process in which, within the context of a therapeutic relationship, clients learn to identify problems, to identify feelings, to control impulses, and to cope with life's difficulties. Clients have the opportunity to work through traumatic experiences and difficult life circumstances and to develop healthier adaptive and coping skills.
The process and goals of group therapy are different than those involved in individual therapy. Group therapy can be appropriate as the sole treatment modality, or it can be part of a treatment plan that also includes individual or family therapy. 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. Groups for adolescents encourage expression of feelings through verbalizations, and they provide teens the opportunity to learn from other children as well as from the therapists.
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.
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 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.
We have a Board Certified Child Psychiatrist on staff who works side by side with the child's therapist to facilitate efficient communication between providers. This results in quick turn-around times when medications need to be adjusted and easy transfer of ideas and hypotheses regarding overall care.
The Sullivan Center has on staff several doctoral-level psychologists who have more than five years' experience post-licensure. They also have extensive experience in forensic/legal evaluations and have served as expert witnesses in court.