Children's Services

At JFS we offer individual and group therapy for children and adolescents ages 5-18. Individual therapy allows a child or teen to establish a trusting relationship with a safe adult, one who understands their situation but is outside of it, and not emotionally involved in it.

Groups are formed as the need arises so that children can share with each other a challenging situation, such as a divorce, school problems, or loss. In this way, children learn from each other and are give a perspective on where they have come from in overcoming their problems as well as getting peer support to find solutions.

Within each child-therapist relationship, the child or teen can express scary and overwhelming feelings as well as practice ways of expressing feelings that are safe and not self-destructive. They can use the therapist to help them understand what is going on in their life.

The child is also allowed a sense of control over the therapeutic process; beginning with identification of their goals for therapy, and the child or teen is given a nurturing environment in which to practice social skills, anger management techniques, and other therapeutic interventions.

Parents and other family members are invited in when their participation will help the child or teen to meet their individual goals. Parents are, at times, asked to meet with the therapist individually to discuss parenting techniques or brainstorm other services that would benefit the child or family.

The therapists at Jewish Family Service accept most insurance plans for therapy, and there is a sliding fee scale for private-pay clients. The first appointment can often be held within two days of referral. For information call our office at (717) 233-1681 and ask to speak to a child therapist.