KIDS Center partners with Deschutes County Mental Health Child & Family Team to provide therapy services in Bend, Redmond, and LaPine for KIDS Center referrals of clients with OHP coverage.

As of January, 2009 the KIDS Center has a staff therapist to provide services for Deschutes County clients without OHP or private insurance.  At present, these services will only be provided at the KIDS Center building in Bend. Clients who have insurance coverage are generally referred to the private sector for therapy.

Therapy services provided at the KIDS Center include individual, group, and family treatment. Clients with more severe symptoms may also qualify for more intensive services , possibly including in-home skills training, respite, day treatment, wrap-around team planning, medication assessment and management.

Typically, therapists work closely with parents to help them understand the impact of trauma and how to address trauma behaviors and symptoms. Family support is central to the process of healing. Therapists may use different therapy approaches, depending on the child’s age and developmental level. For example, the use of artwork and play therapy is more helpful with younger children than just talk therapy. Therapists are trained in treatment approaches which have been designated as “evidence-based,” meaning research has shown that these treatment approaches are effective.

Initially, the therapist will talk with the parent about the known abuse, other traumas in the child’s life, and what concerns the parent has about the child. The therapist and parent will decide on treatment goals together and a course of treatment after the therapist has assessed the child.

Therapy services are usually offered once a week for as long as needed to meet the treatment goals. In some cases, a child may need minimal services but it is still wise to complete a mental health assessment. Sometimes a child may appear to be coping well with abuse issues when they are actually masking their distress.  It is better to be preventative than to wait until deeper problems or issues develop. Any parent may call the KIDS Center and make a referral of their child to the therapy team for an assessment.  Children do not have to have been seen at the KIDS Center for evaluation to be appropriate for treatment at the KIDS Center, but they do need to have experienced trauma.