Psychiatric Day Treatment

The program provides mental health services for children of all ages and their families in Los Angeles. Services include behavior modification targeted to youth, child sexual abuse prevention, developmental screening, infant and early childhood mental health, parent child interactive therapy (PCIT), psychiatric day treament for preschool age children, and sexual assualt counseling. Age and geographic restrictions apply for some services.

The developmental screening program for children, age zero to five, is offered to parents who have concerns about the develomental progress of their child. A screening tool, Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ or ASQ-SE), is administered by a multi-disciplinary team in the clinic setting, client's home, or preschool location. Parents are then provided with the results and recommendations for further services and/or offered education in strategies in working with their child on their skills deficits.

Treatment services may include psychological testing, Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, play-based therapy, Dyadic therapy, individual therapy, family therapy and parenting education. The agency works with the entire family including parents, guardians, and siblings during counseling. Staff are trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Incredible Years general and toddler programs (IY), Mindful Parenting, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Reflective Parenting.

PCIT is an evidence based program for young children ages four to eight, who may have serious behavioral problems such as aggressiveness, defiance, temper tantrums and oppositional behavior. Therapy focuses on improving parent-child interaction patterns to reduce the possibility of physical abuse. Services are restricted to SPA's 4, 6 and 8.

Sexual assault treatment includes evaluation, psychological testing, treatment and supportive services for children who have been sexually abused and their non-offending family members. Assessment is provided for youth age 21 and younger who have been in therapy for at least six sessions. Individual and groups counseling for children age 0 through 11 who are active participants of the act; children and youth age 0 to 21 who are not actively willing to participate. The program accepts court-ordered individuals.

The program also provides intensive psychiatric day treatment for preschool youth, ages 3 to 5, who are diagnosed with severe behavioral or emotional problems such as adjustment disorder, attention/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder or reactive attachment disorder. Behavioral and emotional goals are addressed through group and individual therapeutic sessions.