Mental & Behavioral Health Counselor

How does a mental and behavioral health counselor assist in the formation of new patterns that result in improved child behavior and emotional stability? What can we do to assist each family in becoming a haven of safety for children who have experienced significant neglect, rejection, fear, and loss? We do this by moving these relationships toward greater security.  

Frequently, by the time parents seek counseling, they have already experienced a significant amount of distress and frustration. We allow you to feel heard and understood, but not judged. Parenting a child with a difficult history and emotional needs is even more challenging. As mental and behavioral health counselors, we empathize. We take the time to listen to your worries and validate how you feel while also offering effective solutions.   

Our family counselors understand the effects that trauma and loss can have on an individual, group, and family. Sometimes, foster and adoptive parents don't understand why the child they are fostering is acting in such a difficult way because they have already successfully raised other children. We explain how a child's brain may have developed in a very different way because of abuse, loss, and neglect. It takes time to form new, secure relationships. 

Behavioral Health 

We assist in facilitating the observation process. Humans naturally process information and draw inferences without even realizing it. Our mentors help you make correct observations where others would judge incorrectly. We teach you how to learn by paying attention to a child's body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Parents frequently assert that they have no idea what is going on inside the mind of foster children. By offering effective skills and a background of what a child has gone through you can begin to create positive relationship patterns. 

Family Counselor 

Parents frequently concentrate on controlling their child's behavior. When it comes to children who have been neglected, abused, or lost, rewards and punishments are rarely effective. Even though the child's actions don't seem to make sense at first. We help you navigate and create mental and physical safety for a child.  

According to research, the initial relationship patterns of a foster child frequently do not match the parent's natural caregiving patterns. We acknowledge that the child's attachment patterns are strongly influenced by the patterns of the parents. Additionally, we can become better caregivers by reflecting more on these psychological experiences.

It is important to celebrate both big and small victories. The big moments are in the little things. As parents experiment with new methods and persevere in the day-to-day responsibilities of parenting, we continue to offer plenty of encouragement and support. Giving you the courage to persevere through difficult times can be greatly aided by acknowledging your own efforts and celebrating a child's successes.

Change can be sparked by the type of relationship we establish with one another. That is why we offer you a safe space to talk about your feelings and work through what you find difficult when it comes to fostering. 

Mentors for Mental and Behavioral Health 

As they get older, young people face numerous obstacles. These include trying to do well in school, making friends, having their first relationship, learning to drive, and learning how to be the kind of person they want to be. However, they frequently have to face these difficulties with little or no prior experience. Children and teenagers can benefit from having an adult who can share their knowledge, wisdom, and intellectual experience in order to better comprehend, navigate, and meet the challenges of youth.

Being a mentor is a chance to make a difference in the life of a young person. You can assist that person in overcoming the obstacles they face on a daily basis. These challenges are very real and can be very daunting for a child or teenager with limited life experience. You can use your experience as an adult to guide them. 

Mentor Goals

A mentor's job is to support, advocate, tutor, guide, and act as an example for a mentee. Mentoring is not the same as teaching, tutoring, or coaching, even though it may sometimes involve these activities. 

As a result, the role of a mentor can look very different depending on which child you're mentoring. An older adolescent is in a different part of their life than a young child. A teenager will be facing decisions about their future education or career path. A young child will be working on social skills around others. It is your responsibility as a mentor to listen to that young child or teenager and try to comprehend how you can best assist them.

Counseling 

We also offer individual, couples, family, and group counseling to help you better take care of yourself and others. 

Individual counseling can treat trauma, relationships, anxiety, depression, OCD, substance use, addiction, grief, life transitions, or anything that is bothering you.

Couples counseling assists in communication, coming to solutions, trust-building, rebuilding, intimacy, life transitions, struggles with in-laws, struggles with domestic violence, and any other struggle within a relationship.  

Family therapy addresses life transitions, grief, familial dysfunction, connection, navigating difficult emotions, communication, and building healthy lasting relationships. 

Group therapy includes: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), substance use, and general process group for life stress.