TREATMENT

Martha S. Urbaniak
Clinic for Children & Families

Located in Durham, the Urbaniak Clinic is an outpatient mental health clinic serving children from infancy to age 21 and their families.

Our therapists use evidence-based treatments proven to be effective and healing for children and adolescents who’ve experienced trauma and young children with significant oppositional behaviors.

Symptoms & Behaviors

Many children and teens have been through adverse, traumatizing, or stressful experiences such as:

  • Violence at home, in school, or in the community
  • Intensive medical treatment/illness
  • Natural disasters
  • Neglect or physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse or assault
  • Separation from a parent or caregiver
  • Loss of a loved one

Everyone reacts to these experiences in different ways. Some children lash out while others are overwhelmed and withdrawn. These reactions may be child traumatic stress.

Other reactions can be:

  • Feelings of sadness, guilt, or loneliness
  • Social or emotional withdrawal
  • Acting younger than expected for age (bedwetting, thumb sucking, clinginess)
  • Changes in eating or sleep patterns
  • Nightmares
  • Flashbacks or being more worried and fearful
  • Difficulty getting along with family and friends
  • Trouble concentrating or paying attention in school
  • Verbal or physical aggression
  • Increased irritability or angry outbursts
  • Complaints of aches and pains
  • Problematic sexual behaviors

Treatment & Services

Licensed therapists work with a child’s family system to promote hope for their future through a reduction in symptoms and return to a healthy developmental path.

We use treatment models grounded in clinical research and proven to reduce the symptoms of child traumatic stress. Many services are offered in English and Spanish. There is no additional charge for services provided in Spanish.

All clinical services begin with a comprehensive assessment. Treatment is delivered in weekly outpatient sessions. Medication management by an onsite psychiatrist may be available.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is design to address the needs of children ages 3 to 21 with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, behavior problems, and other difficulties related to traumatic experiences. TF-CBT improves a child’s or teen’s functioning following stress or trauma, enabling them to manage worries and fears, sleep problems, and harmful behaviors. Parents or caregivers are involved in treatment to support their child and reduce their own stress.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

PCIT is designed for children ages 2 to 7 who display oppositional or aggressive behavior that may or may not be due to trauma. It places an emphasis on changing interaction patterns through play. Treatment sessions focus on parenting skills, using the parent-child relationship to increase the child’s pro-social behavior and decrease problem behaviors.

Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS)

SPARCS is for adolescents ages 12 to 21 who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events, or who are suffering from chronic stress. It builds on their strengths to identify purpose and create meaning in their lives. Adolescents learn how to solve problems, cope, and communicate so that they are better equipped to cultivate healthy relationships and a more positive self-concept.

Problematic Sexual Behavior Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT)

PSB-CBT is designed for children and adolescents ages 3-18 who display problematic sexual behaviors. PSB-CBT treatment focuses on rules and laws about sexual behavior, privacy and boundary rules, coping skills and impulse control skills, and social skills. Caregivers are involved in treatment and learn to distinguish normal from problematic sexual behaviors in children and youth, appropriate responses to youth’s sexual behaviors, ways to prevent problematic sexual behavior, effective responses to other behavioral problems, effective caregiver/youth communication strategies.

Online Referral Form

Preschool Referral Flyer

School Age Referral Flyer

Adolescent Referral Flyer

 

The Center for Child & Family Health does not provide the following services:

  • Psycho-educational testing or therapies for learning difficulties
  • Parental custody evaluations
  • Forensic investigation to determine abuse and neglect

Our services are not designed to assist families in making determinations about custody or visitation, or to assist families in resolving relational issues that stem from parental conflict, discord, divorce, or separation.

No person on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, indigenous heritage, sex, gender, or sexual orientation shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any services or activities of the Urbaniak Clinic.

Referrals

Status Advisory: December 17, 2021

Due to an unusually high volume of referrals over the last few months, the Urbaniak Clinic is not accepting new clients who require services in Spanish at this time.

We apologize for the effect this change may have on your family or a family in your care. Please check back here for updates on when we are able to resume accepting referrals for Spanish-speaking families.

If the child in need of services is covered by Medicaid, we recommend contacting Alliance Health or Cardinal Innovations Healthcare (or whatever Medicaid plan the child is enrolled with) for help in identifying an alternate provider.

To inquire about treatment for English-speaking clients, families or their professional care providers may complete the online referral form below or call the Clinic Administrator at (919) 385-0701.

Please allow 1 business day for a response from the Clinic Administrator. All referrals require phone screening between the referral source, legal guardian, and an Intake Coordinator.

Following the phone screening, a telehealth appointment may be scheduled for a comprehensive evaluation of symptoms to determine the appropriate course of treatment or an alternative referral.

Families may contact the Clinic Business Manager at (919) 385-0722 to discuss insurance and other financial concerns prior to your first telehealth appointment. For specific information on coverage and benefits, please contact your insurance provider.

Staff

Curtis Brownlee, LCMHC* Mental Health Clinician
Nikki Croteau-Johnson, MA, LPA Clinical Director PSB Program
Kiara Everett, LCSW-A, LCAS-A Mental Health Clinician
Elisa Ford, LCSW* Mental Health Clinician
Abe Hickey, LCMHC-S* Mental Health Clinician
Ebonie Holmes, MA, LCMHC Mental Health Clinician
Rachel Maid, LCSW Mental Health Clinician
Courtney Rohr, MSW, LCSW Mental Health Clinician
Judith Rose, LCSW Mental Health Clinician
Whitney Winslow, LCSW Mental Health Clinician, Bilingual English/Spanish

*Independent contractor providing services on CCFH’s behalf

Resources

Resources

Supporting Mental Health in Latinx Families

Childhood Trauma

Resources

Resources and Community Updates for COVID-19

COVID-19, Early Childhood, Evidence-based Treatment, Home Visiting

View All

 

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