Do families need to speak and write in
English?
No. We serve patients who speak English, Spanish, and South/East
Asian dialects. Literacy is not mandatory.
Who might not be an appropriate referral
to the PARTNERS Program?
Children and/or parents who have significant developmental delays
or are experiencing severe, untreated mental health difficulties,
such as bipolar disorder and psychosis, are referred for more
appropriate services. If family members with severe mental health
problems or alcohol/drug abuse are receiving active treatment to
manage their difficulties, they are eligible to participate.
Are siblings welcome?
Yes. Although one child in the family may be identified as having
experienced a traumatic experience, we welcome all preschoolers,
children, and adolescents in the family to participate in therapy.
We provide babysitting for toddlers so that their parents are not
prevented from attending sessions due to childcare needs.
Are primary caregivers' spouses/partners
welcome?
Yes. The primary caregiver provides the information needed to
complete the evaluations. The primary caregivers may be encouraged
to bring their spouses/partners to therapy sessions. The caregivers
and the therapist discuss which parent will be the main participant
in therapy.
Are families able to participate in other
therapies or programs while in the PARTNERS Program?
Yes. Information is requested from caregivers about other services
the family is receiving such that PARTNERS Program staff does not
give conflicting information.
What does coming to therapy
involve?
Families receive therapy once a week. Therapy consists of
individual and family sessions.
What type of treatment do the families receive?
Families receive trauma-specific cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy involves education about typical
reactions to stress and skills to address hose reactions. Multiple
studies have indicated that this treatment has decreased stress in
families.
Who are therapists?
Therapists are licensed psychologists, social workers, and doctoral
candidates in child psychology with specific education and training
in the area of child trauma. The program director, Dr. Elissa
Brown, trains and supervises clinicians on evaluations and
treatment. Dr. Brown is a licensed child psychologist with
extensive experience working with children and families who have
experienced multiple forms of trauma.
Where is therapy held?
Our goal is to offer families a choice of treatment settings,
including St. John's University Center for Psychological Services,
Flushing Hospital and Jamaica Hospital in Queens and Brookdale
University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn.
Why do families participate?
We try to make the therapy fun and easy to fit into families'
schedules. Scheduling is flexible, including evening and Saturday
hours. We provide snacks and baby-sitting. Most importantly, both
parents and children learn skills and get support that will last
far beyond their participation in the PARTNERS Program.