Clinical Services for Children

Child Guidance Clinic

The Child Guidance Clinic is a state-licensed outpatient psychiatric clinic for children which provides a multi-disciplinary approach to problems associated with behavioral, emotional and learning difficulties of children and youth aged 3 to 18. Treatment is based on a comprehensive mental health evaluation and is intended to diminish the interference of psychiatric problems in everyday life while fostering age-appropriate development.

Treatment is focused on the principles of child development and supports family preservation. Clinical services include diagnostic evaluation; individual, family and group therapy; medication evaluation and management; crisis intervention; substance use evaluations and counseling; and collaboration with schools and other providers.

Services are offered at the Parent Child Resource Center, 30 Elizabeth Street, Derby, CT, and at BHcare‘s Ansonia clinic, 435 East Main Street, Ansonia.

Beginning Fall 2024, services will be available at our new Shoreline Parent Child Resource Center, 28 Branford Road, North Branford. Stay tuned for details and updates!

Rapid Response Service

A program of the Child Guidance Clinic, the Rapid Response Service provides urgent evaluation and psychiatric care for children and families in crisis.

Intensive Outpatient Program

Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) focuses on children between the ages of 5 and 18 who have difficulty meeting school, family and/or social expectations due to serious emotional, behavioral and social difficulties. Children attend daily group sessions for approximately 8-12 weeks which emphasize problem-solving and coping skills, emotional expression, learning how emotions and actions work together, and identifying behavioral and social disturbances. Treatment also includes play, art and drama therapy, psychiatric services, and active parent/family involvement.

Medication Management

We provide medication management services to therapy clients who are actively participating in one or more of our clinical programs.

Today’s Choices

Today’s Choices is an evidence-based clinical and educational program to help youth ages 13 – 18 understand the importance of the choices they make every day, and how those choices result in opportunities as well as consequences. The program also helps parents learn about adolescent struggles, how parents’ behavior impacts the choices their children make, how to improve communication with their children, and how to help their children make more effective choices.

Commercial and HUSKY/Medicaid insurances accepted, sliding fee scale available.

For more information or to discuss referring a child to one of our clinical programs, please call 203-800-7177