Child and Family Resources
Emotional or mental health issues may occur at any age, and when they affect children or adolescents, they affect the whole family. Resources are available to support children, adolescents, parents, and caregivers.
CentraCare Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health
CentraCare offers family and individual therapy for children and adolescents. They also provide psychiatry services and psychological evaluations.
Central MN Mental Health Center Services for Children, Youth & Families
The CMMHC offers a broad range of mental health services to help everyone in the family. Services include outpatient mental health therapy, certified peer support specialists, and psychiatry.
Ellison Center
The Ellison Center provides family therapy services, prioritizing children from birth to age 6. There are also a variety of services for parents and caregivers, including book clubs, parenting classes, and a caregiver support home visiting program. Many caregiver services are also available in Spanish and Somali.
What to Expect from Family Therapy
When you call one of the resources above, you will be asked for basic information about your child and your concerns. They may send you paperwork to fill out before your first appointment, and they may schedule your first appointment, tell you to expect a call later to schedule, or ask to put you on a waitlist. They can also help determine which resource or appointment is most appropriate for you, and help you get connected to that resource.
When you first meet with a family therapist, you will meet with the therapist without your child. The therapist will ask you questions about your concerns, your goals for your child, and if they have experienced trauma. Then, the therapist will observe you and your child together. After the assessment, you will meet with the therapist to talk about what they learned from the assessment and work together to create a treatment plan, which will focus on supporting your relationship with your child. Sometimes the therapist will introduce specific play activities for you and your child. You, your child, and the therapist will continue to work together until you feel you have learned all the skills you need to support your child’s mental health and you are ready to maintain the progress without therapy.