Behavioral Health Services

Behavioral Health Services at Pinebrook are offered to children ages three to eighteen and their families. We help them to maximize their potential for growth and character development by focusing on their strengths to resolve the specific problems that necessitated treatment. Treatment approaches include individual, family, collateral family, group, play and art therapy.

Programs:

• Assessment and Referrals, Psychotherapy and Counseling
  
  * Individual
  * Sibling
  * Family
  * Collateral Family
  * Group
  * Play therapy
  * Art therapy
  *Support group for children of divorced or separated parents
  
  
• Psychiatric Services
  
  * Psychiatric evaluation
  * Consultation
  * Medication evaluation and review
  * Treatment planning and review
  
  
• Psychological Services
  
  * Psychological evaluation
  * Consultation
  * Diagnostic Evaluation
  
  
• Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
  
  
• Summer Intervention Program (seven-week therapeutic day camp)
  
  
• Creative Expressions Program

Services are provided at the Florence Child Guidance Center. Operated by Pinebrook, the Center is:

• A private, not-for-profit outpatient psychiatric clinic for children and families
  
• Licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of Mental Health
  
• Committed to providing a continuum of high-quality psychiatric, psychological and treatment services
  
• Open weekdays, evenings and Saturdays to accommodate most clients’ schedules
  
• Committed to beginning discharge planning as soon as appropriately warranted
  

To expedite the referral and treatment process, it is important that all client referrals include:

• A copy of all previous treatment records, including psychiatric and/or psychological evaluations
  
• Pertinent background information on client and family members
  
• A copy of insurance card(s)
  

To make an appointment, simply call us at 610-432-3919 (Allentown main ofice) or 610-559-8151 (Easton and Bangor offices), or e-mail us at . Intake and an evaluation can usually occur within a day or two. Therapists are available six days a week with both day and evening hours. Appointments are available in our main Allentown office, our Easton office or our Bangor satellite office. All client information is kept in strict confidence.

Types of problems and issues treated include:
Aggression and fighting
Attention Deficit and Developmental Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Behavior disorders
Child custody problems
Depression
Emotional disorders
Life and school adjustment difficulties
Parent/child conflict
Sexual and/or physical abuse

Services:

1. Creative Expressions
   It is often difficult for children to articulate what is causing the pain in their lives. But children and adults who have been exposed to unspeakable trauma, as well as those suffering from depression, anxiety or other serious mental or physical illnesses, can reap enormous benefits from the healing process of art therapy, which uses paint and paper, glue and scissors, images and colors to symbolically express the depth and intensity of emotional pain.
   
   There are two co-therapists for each group. There are eight weekly group meetings at Pinebrook or at another designated site in the community for each session.
   
   We use a variety of artistic exercises to stimulate thinking and improve problem-solving abilities.
   
   
2. Family-Based Mental Health Services
   Family-Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS) are short-term therapeutic and case management services designed to provide assistance to families in their own homes. By providing services in this manner, they are more accessible and effective and ultimately more likely to prevent the need for out-of-home placement of children in the family. The services can also be implemented for children and adolescents who are returning to their families from an out-of-home placement to assist their transition back to the community.
   
   Services can begin within 24 hours of acceptance. Referrals can be accepted from families, managed care organizations, psychiatrists or psychologists, county children and youth caseworkers or probation officers, or community agencies. Therapeutic services include but are not limited to individual and family therapy, parenting skills training, assertiveness training and behavior management techniques. Staff are available 24 hours a day to assist with crisis situations.
   
   For more information, please contact Angela Marchetto, MS, Supervisor of Family-Based Mental Health at 610-432-3919 or email .
   
   
3. Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
   Each child will receive a detailed biopsychosocial assessment, which will include any number of screening tools. The assessment will be highly dependent upon input from parents as well.
   
   In addition, some children who show strong clinical indicators or signs of ASD will be seen by a Pinebrook pyschologist or psychiatrist to confirm the diagnosis and to develop recommendations for treatment. In certain cases, referrals will be made to specialist providers in the community. Typical recommendations include:
   
   
   * Individual therapy
   * Family-based mental health services
   * Psychiatric evaluations
   * Medication management
   * In-home respite services
   * Psychoeducational services
   
   
4. The Summer Intervention Program
   The Summer Intervention Program (SIP) is designed for 6-14 year old children at risk for mental illness, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, aggressive behavior, and truancy. SIP is staffed by a Program Supervisor and professionals from Pinebrook’s Behavioral Health Care Services. There are three staff members for every ten children. The program runs 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The Summer Intervention Program consists of therapeutic activities, group process, mentoring and modeling to create a "moral community" to enhance participants' character; daily recreational activities; and off-site trips. All activities are closely monitored and supervised by the program staff. We also provide lunches and snacks for participants.
   

Pinebrook’s Behavioral Health Services staff include:
4 Child Psychiatrists
1 Psychopharmacologist
1 licensed Psychologist
1 Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
25 Master’s level Psychotherapists

Insurance
Pinebrook accepts Medical Assistance to cover all or a portion of the costs. Pinebrook also participates in the Magellan, CBHNP and CCBH networks. Please check with us as this can change.

Eligibility
Pinebrook's services are available to any parent having difficulty with his or her child. Children under age 14 are usually seen only if at least one parent (or adult entrusted with the full-time care and supervision of the child) is willing and able to participate. Parental consent is required for treatment on all children under the age of 14. Parental consent is strongly recommended for minors between the ages of 14 and 17 inclusive, although client admission in this age range is not dependent upon family participation.