Child services
We offer child treatment and parent counseling for families and foster families of children from newborn to six years of age. Some services are offered in our Family Center in Richmond, others in family homes in every community in West Contra Costa County from Port Costa and Crockett on the north to El Cerrito on the south. We offer these child-centered services: Comprehensive Therapeutic Nursery, Individual Therapy (Play Therapy); and Infant Parent Home Visiting.
Comprehensive Therapeutic Nursery
Children who show signs of emotional disturbance and are having difficulty either at home or in a child care program may be enrolled in this intensive classroom program at our Family Center. Children diagnosed with ADHD, suffering because of the absence or death of a parent, or traumatized by abuse or neglect may also benefit from this program. Children attend from 9 am to 12 noon, five days a week. The classroom program, limited to ten children, is staffed by three teacher-therapists under licensed supervision.
The child’s parent or foster parent also attends individual counseling sessions once a week, either in the daytime or the evening. Children may be referred by a professional or a family member.
Transition services are provided for up to two years for children who are leaving the Nursery School to enter public school or other programs. Comprehensive Therapeutic Nursery has been in operation since 1974 and has a good record of helping children return to regular child care programs or to enroll in public school.
Infant Home Visiting
Parents who are worried about how their infant is developing or worried about their own parenting skills may be visited at home weekly by an experienced infant parent therapist. Visits are scheduled for the family's convenience, in the daytime, between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Individual Therapy (play therapy)
Children, 2 to 6, who are emotionally disturbed or at risk but who do not need an intensive daily program may participate in weekly individual play therapy sessions led by a child therapist. Sessions are held in one of the play therapy rooms in the Family Center, 4101 Macdonald Avenue, in Richmond. Parents, foster parents, or other caregivers also receive counseling. Play therapy is usually scheduled for an hour between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, but evening appointments are sometimes available.
Read about One
Child's Story, a four
year old who came to ECMHP when a
local day care center decided it could
no longer handle his violent tantrums.