Clinical Excellence
The Merck Center at Germaine Lawrence is a clinically sophisticated program that provides an array of gender specific services to each student and family. Treatment is highly individualized to target your daughter’s clinical, psychiatric, and behavioral needs.
Two master’s level clinicians, each closely integrated yet with unique roles, will assist your daughter in settling into the program and navigating through the day-to-day treatment tasks and routines. The therapist conducts the weekly individual and bi-weekly family therapy, while the treatment coordinator ensures active case management and in-the-moment clinical support. All clinical staff work closely and in tandem with the consulting board-certified child psychiatrist who is an integral part of your daughter’s treatment team.
Individual Therapy
Goal oriented weekly individual therapy is provided by an independently licensed therapist who is highly skilled at working with adolescents. All therapists on-site are intensively trained and certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). These master’s level therapists each have areas of specializations which include:
- Trauma
- Grief and loss
- Adoption
- Reactive attachment
- Substance abuse
- Non-verbal learning disabilities.
In addition to weekly individual therapy, our clinicians are available for your daughter to give her extra clinical support, skill practice, and crisis skill coaching as needed.
Group Therapy
Relational theory tells us that girls build their identity through their relationships. Group therapy is a key component of helping girls build positive relationships. Master’s level clinicians conduct groups three times/week to assist girls in building the skills needed to successfully navigate through the day-to-day challenges, relationships, and complexities of being an adolescent female.
Psychoeducational groups focus on helping girls practice the skills of emotion regulation, conflict resolution, and symptom management, as well as provide opportunities to learn and develop healthy peer relationship. Group programming is based on individual and group needs and includes:
- DBT skills group (Focuses on helping girls who struggle with affective disorders and/or exhibit some borderline personality traits)
- Adoption (explores issues related to being adopted and identity questions)
- DBT-substance abuse (provides education and assist girls in developing and utilizing active relapse prevention plans)
- Treatment Issues (Explores high risk behaviors so as to identify and practice healthier alternative behaviors)
- Community Meeting (Empowers girls to take ownership and work with others to positively impact their community)
Family Services
Families are an integral part of the treatment at Germaine Lawrence. Family Therapy is conducted by an independently licensed therapist on a weekly basis, or at a meeting frequency of your choosing. This forum is highly individualized, occurring either in person or via conference call, to target the unique goals of each family and assist the entire family in building healthy connections. All families have structured weekly phone calls with the student’s treatment coordinator, as well as regular contact with therapist.
You and your family are supported far past the therapy hour. Click here to read more about our family programs.