Support for the whole family
At Alaska Behavioral Health, we provide a wide range of therapeutic services to children and adolescents and their families.
To access services, call 907-563-1000.
- Press 1 to schedule in Anchorage or via telehealth
- Press 2 to schedule in Mat Su
- Press 3 to schedule in Fairbanks
Our clinicians specialize in trauma-informed and trauma-focused practices with children, adolescents, and their caregivers. The Alaska Child Trauma Center at Alaska Behavioral Health is a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). Skill development services help children and adolescents thrive in their community. Families are offered training and support to create more successful family communication and healthy home living environments. Psychiatric care is offered through our Medical Department.
Evidence-based practices
We focus on evidence-based practices (read more below.) Our family navigator also offers parenting classes using the Common Sense Parenting curriculum.
ARC Framework
The Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) Framework is a flexible, components-based intervention developed for children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma, along with their caregiving systems. ARC’s foundation is built upon four key areas of study: normative childhood development, traumatic stress, attachment, and risk and resilience. Drawing from these areas, ARC identifies important childhood skills and competencies which are routinely shown to be negatively affected by traumatic stress and by attachment disruptions, and which – when addressed – predict resilient outcome.
Parent Child Interaction Therapy
When parent – child relationships are strained by challenging behaviors such as defiance, aggression and tantrums, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy can help.
PCIT is an evidence-based practice for treating anxiety and trauma in children ages 2 to 7. For young children, anxiety often appears as defiance, aggression and other behaviors caregivers find challenging.
This therapy is focused on learning effective ways to interact with young children. After a brief check-in, caregivers and children play together, while a therapist observes and coaches the caregiver
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that aims to help people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. During this therapy, the client recalls a distressing memory while moving their eyes a specific way or engaging in another form of physical stimulation. Dozens of clinical trials since EMDR’s development show this technique is effective and can help a person faster than many other methods.
More information: EMDR Therapy for Childhood Trauma – Child Mind Institute
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parents or caregivers. It is a components-based treatment model that incorporates trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioral, family, and humanistic principles and techniques. TF-CBT has proved successful with children and adolescents (ages 3 to 18) who have significant emotional problems (e.g., symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, fear, anxiety, or depression) related to traumatic life events.
MATCH
MATCH – ADTC stands for Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems. MATCH is designed to be flexible to provide a wide range of tools and supports, depending on the child’s strengths and needs. It is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. MATCH providers will work with families to customize treatment. Throughout the program, children and families learn skills and build a toolkit of scientifically proven strategies to help manage challenges that come up at home, at school, or with friends.
Parent-Child Care (PC-CARE) is a 6 session treatment program for families that are interested in improving caregiver-child relationships and are willing to learn new child behavior management strategies. It serves families with children ages 1 to 10 years.
Cognitive Processing Therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that has been effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD.
CPT helps patients learn how to challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. The patient creates a new understanding of the traumatic event so that it reduces its ongoing negative effects on current life.
Outpatient Clinic Services
Child & Family Outpatient Services include in-person services at our clinics in Anchorage, Wasilla, and Fairbanks. Clinicians work within select schools in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Nenana. Telehealth is offered to clients throughout Alaska. All of our evidence-based practices for children incorporate family therapy. Assessment and therapy services are provided by master’s level clinicians who receive training in our evidence-based practices to provide the highest level of care. When indicated, additional wrap-around behavioral health supports provided by clinical associates is available.
Little Tykes Therapeutic Services
Our Little Tykes program in Anchorage provides comprehensive wrap around services for children ages 3-5 and their families. Services are provided in a structured, safe, secure, nurturing environment led by mental health professionals. Group Therapy looks much like a typical pre-school, with an emphasis on social emotional learning. Children learn to express and manage their emotions, leading to healthier functioning in other areas of life including home, community, and school. Support services such as family therapy and caregiver group therapy help parents understand their children and master relationship and communication skills to help their child develop into happy, healthy children.
Intensive Services for Children & Teens
When children and teens are in acute crisis, weekly therapy may not provide enough support. Our Intensive Outpatient Program in Anchorage, and Partial Hospitalization Programs in Anchorage and Fairbanks provide daily opportunities for group therapy and skill building to help clients learn the skills to function well at home, school and in the community. These programs can help young people in crisis avoid the need for hospitalization or provide a step-down in care from hospital or residential treatment.
