The agency provides individual and family therapeutic services.  The interventions include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Integrated Treatment for Complex Trauma (ITCT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Informed Play Therapy (TI-PT), and individual treatment for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems (CSBP).   The agency also provides group programming for children, adolescents and caregivers including Families Learning About REcovery Strategies (FLARES) and group treatment for children and adolescents with Sexual Behavior Problems (CSBP, AISB).   Both offices are conveniently located near public transportation and offer both evening and Saturday hours.  Most clients will be seen weekly; however, clients may be seen either more or less frequently as their treatment plan indicates.

The purpose of CASGSL’s Psychiatric Services program is to provide St. Louis County CASGSL clients with both psychopharmacological services and therapy services from a psychiatric-mental health advanced practice nurse (PMHAPRN).    PMHAPRN providers who work in collaboration with psychiatrists provide an ideal solution to the lack of available psychiatric services.  Clients with PTSD may present with disabling symptoms, as well as with comorbid psychiatric illnesses. The clients may already be receiving pharmacological interventions for comorbid conditions or for symptoms related to PTSD. Alternatively, their current symptoms may be so disruptive as to lessen or impede the effectiveness of psychotherapy.  CASGSL activities and interventions will include evaluation of current medications for efficacy, side effects and potential drug-drug or drug-food interactions and provision of prescriptive services when symptoms are interfering with psychotherapy effectiveness.  The PMHAPRN provider will also provide therapy, allowing her to be maximally effective both in the provision of psychiatric services to clients and in collaborating with the other clinical staff.  The client will have an assigned therapist who, during his/her initial evaluation or throughout the course of caring for his/her client, may make a referral to psychiatric services for pharmacological intervention. The PMHAPRN will collaborate with the referring therapist to obtain the presenting problem, assessment results, symptom history, medication use and diagnostic impression. The PMHAPRN will also meet with the client and client caregivers to obtain further information regarding behavior, symptoms and side effects (if taking medication).  A brief problem-focused physical exam, including an evaluation of physical signs of adverse effects will take place. Once the assessment is complete, the PMHAPRN will meet with the referring therapist to discuss a treatment plan and present the plan and psychopharmacology education to the caregiver and client, as appropriate. Communication with primary care physicians and other involved healthcare providers will also take place.