Mobile Therapy
Mobile Therapy (MT) services will be provided based on a clinical assessment of the therapeutic needs of the child and family. The Mobile Therapist as an experienced professional clinician will provide specialized counseling and emotional support services to children and adolescents. Psychotherapy is provided in a setting, other than a therapist or provider’s office and identified in the Treatment plan as the site where the child will benefit from therapy. Settings include the child’s home; however other potential settings for the mobile therapy include the school, member’s place of worship, a community center, a neighbor or extended family member’s home, and other community settings. Services provided by a mobile therapist vary according to the individualized needs of a child and family.
Appropriate roles and activities for Mobile Therapist include, but are not limited to:
* Assessment of strengths and therapeutic needs of the child and family using active listening, questioning, and exchanging information with the child and family.
* Inclusion of the child as a participant in all phases of his/her own treatment.
* Inclusion of parents/caretakers as members of the treatment team and as partners in treatment. Such inclusion requires that the family actively participate, in an ongoing manner, in the formulation, development, implementation, and monitoring of the treatment efforts. Such participation presumes the family’s broad knowledge about the child and their intention to contribute constructively to positive outcomes.
* Provision of child-centered, family-focused, individual and family psychotherapy, as agreed upon by therapist and family. In addressing defined problems, the Mobile Therapist will utilize a strengths-based approach.
* Specific formats for individual and family therapy will vary according to the individualized needs of the child and may include, school, home or community sessions with:
The child individually;
The entire nuclear family;
The family and a community resource;
The family and teachers, guidance counselor, principal, or other school personnel;
Subsystems of any of the above as clinically indicated and agreed upon.
* Collaboration with the child and family and other involved professionals to develop daily routines during times of crises and/or transition and a 24-hour crisis plan. Collaboration with other involved professionals and agencies in order to provide unified services and continuity of care to child and family.
* Provision of direct one-to-one interventions with the child alone and with his/her family and/or caregiver, as identified within the treatment plan.
* Identification of the child’s patterns of behavior, based on observations and interventions by behavioral health professionals and caregivers.
* Accompanying the child/adolescent and his caregiver (family, teacher, community program staff for example.) for pre-scheduled events such as field trips, when the child/adolescent’s inclusion in such events are clearly addressed in the treatment plan as in need of behavior management interventions for which the family or other caregiver does not yet have adequate skills.
Qualifications for Mobile Therapist
MT’s are: (1) a licensed mental health professional; or (2) has a graduate mental health degree and at least one year experience in a CASSP system. Additionally, if a MT is a licensed professional in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and/or a certified professional by an accredited organization, they will comply with all licensure and/or certification requirements including continuing education requirements.