Types of Treatment

Parent-Child Interactive Therapy

This is an evidenced based treatment with specified, step-by-step coaching sessions with both the parent / caregiver and the child. Parents learn skills during coaching sessions. Using a transmitter and receiver system, the parent/caregiver practices specific skills as he or she interacts with the child. The emphasis is on increasing positive parent/caregiver child patterns of behavior.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This is an approach for children and adolescents who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties related to traumatic life events. Children and parents learn new skills to help with thoughts and feelings related to trauma and enhance safety, growth, parenting skills and family communication.  

Motivational Interviewing

This is an evidence-based treatment intervention with a focus on factors that motivate clients to change, by addressing mixed feelings and values about changing.  This method does not impose change that may be inconsistent with a person's own values, beliefs, or wishes; but rather supports change in a manner in line with the person's own values and concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based talk therapy. Youth and their parents work with a mental health therapist in a structured way that helps increase awareness of inaccurate or negative thinking.  As a result, they can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way.

Play Therapy

This is a structured therapy that builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children. Therapists utilize play therapy to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. In play therapy toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language. Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills and learn a variety of ways of relating to others. Play provides a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development.

Family Therapy

Nevada County Behavioral Health includes the family when treating children. Family therapy is a type of psychological counseling provided to help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts. It may include all family members or just those most able to participate. Your specific treatment plan will depend on your family's situation. Family therapy sessions can teach you skills to deepen family connections, get through stressful times, and improve troubled relationships with your spouse, children, or other family members. You may address specific issues or your family may pursue family therapy along with other types of mental health treatment.

Child Psychiatry

Nevada County Behavioral Health offers child psychiatry with a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Children are first seen and treated by a child psychotherapist. If the family and the therapist think an evaluation for medication would benefit the child an appointment is made with our Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.


Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

The Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and the treatment of disorders of thinking, feeling and/or behavior affecting children, adolescents, and their families. Initially, a comprehensive diagnostic examination is performed to evaluate the current problem with attention to its physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, cognitive, educational, family, peer, and social components. The child and adolescent psychiatrist arrives at a diagnosis and diagnostic formulation which are shared with the patient and family. A child and adolescent psychiatrist is a licensed physician who is a fully trained psychiatrist and who has two additional years of advanced training beyond general psychiatry with children, adolescents and families. As physicians, child and adolescent psychiatrists can prescribe and monitor medications.

Network Providers

Individual Private Psychotherapists who see children and families in the community.

Wraparound Treatment

Wraparound is usually done with a treatment team approach. Team members may include the children's therapists, parent advocates, behavioral specialists and child psychiatrists. Treatment typically lasts for 12-18 months. Nevada County's Wraparound treatment provider is Victor Community Support Services.

Family Preservation

Family Preservation is a team of professionals that offer parenting education and treatment to children in the family's home for up to six months. These services are usually twice a week, and are provided by Stanford Sierra Youth and Families.