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Specialized Treatments

Our faculty at BCSC are expertly trained in the leading evidence-based approaches to treat a wide range of mental and behavioral health difficulties. Below are descriptions of the many areas of our expertise. Connect with our team if you have questions or would like to learn more!

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based treatment that encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling controlled by them. ACT emphasizes values-based actions and mindfulness, and helps individuals to align their behaviors with their core values, which can lead to improved mental well-being. This therapy is particularly useful for individuals struggling with issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic pain, as it provides them with tools to manage distress and build a meaningful life despite ongoing challenges. In addition, ACT can be highly beneficial to parents and caregivers by helping to clarify parenting values, increasing flexible thinking, and reducing stress and self-criticism. Read More

At BCSC, we understand that every child on the Autism Spectrum is unique. That’s why our Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment and treatment are both led by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Disruptive behaviors (e.g., hitting, swiping, noncompliance, etc.) will be analyzed through various measures, observations, and interviews. The results will be used to identify the maintaining variable or function of these behaviors. Your BCBA will be your child’s champion. They’ll begin by conducting a comprehensive behavioral and developmental assessment. This personalized approach ensures we target the areas where your child can improve and build upon current strengths. Thereafter, the information compiled will be presented to parents and caregivers in an effort to support the entire family system. Read More

Biofeedback uses technology to monitor the body’s physiological responses, such as heart rate and muscle tension, and teaches individuals to change or control these responses. Biofeedback has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of muscle tension and chronic pain. Individuals and families can benefit from biofeedback by learning to manage stress more effectively, which can foster a more supportive and calming home environment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used, evidence-based treatment that focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and behaviors. Through CBT, individuals learn to identify and understand their emotions, reframe biased patterns of thought, and change their behaviors to more effectively manage difficult emotions. Our CBT approach incorporates a range of evidence-based strategies, including Behavioral Activation, which helps individuals re-engage in activities they may have been avoiding — particularly those that foster joy, mastery, and connection. Behavioral Activation is especially effective for depressive disorders and can increase motivation, improve mood, and promote positive behavioral change. Research has shown that CBT is highly effective for treating a range of conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, trauma, anxiety/phobias, school avoidance, tic disorders, trichotillomania and other repetitive behaviors, selective mutism, and anger management difficulties. CBT can help families understand and support each other’s mental health needs by fostering constructive communication and problem-solving skills.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness strategies to help individuals regulate their emotions, manage distress, and improve interpersonal relationships. Originally developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used to treat various mental health issues, such as depression, disordered eating, substance abuse, trauma, and difficulties with suicidality and nonsuicidal self-harming behaviors. DBT is a multifaceted, evidence-based treatment that focuses on emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. DBT has been shown to be particularly helpful to parents and caregivers through effective communication tools such as validation, strategies for managing reactive emotion experiences, and behavioral strategies to help guide parental decision-making. DBT is offered in various sub-specialties, including DBT for Substance Use, DBT-Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), DBT for PTSD, Radically Open DBT (RO DBT), and DBT for Children (DBT-C). Read More

Dialectical Emotion Therapy (DET) focuses on identifying, understanding, and accepting emotions, while also learning strategies to manage emotion dysregulation. This form of therapy is useful for people with mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, and anger management difficulties and can enhance emotional intelligence, mindful decision-making, and values-based action. For families, DET can provide tools to navigate emotional conflicts, improve compassion and empathy, reduce parent/caregiver burnout, and strengthen family bonds by promoting a better understanding of each other’s emotional experiences.

At BCSC, we offer a comprehensive Emotion-Focused and Executive Functioning program that is designed to provide structured, evidence-based strategies for managing emotions in the context of academics — and replace ineffective planning and organizational strategies with highly adaptive executive functioning systems. This unique program pairs and integrates emotion-focused coping tools with executive functioning techniques. In addition, our program’s staff are experienced mental health clinicians, which in some cases may allow for the reimbursement of the cost of services from families’ insurance providers. Read More

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a gold-standard, evidence-based form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ERP involves (1) developing collaborative treatment plans where individuals practice being exposed to distress-provoking stimuli and (2) helping individuals resist engaging in their usual compulsive responses that aid in avoiding uncomfortable emotions. ERP can benefit individuals and families by reducing anxiety symptoms, enhancing agency and resilience, providing a structured way to confront fears in a supportive environment, and increasing individuals’ ability to reconnect with their values. In ERP, parents/caregivers learn about effective strategies to support their children while reducing ineffective accommodations within the family system.

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) combines psychotherapy with ketamine, a medication shown to have rapid antidepressant effects, impacts on brain neuroplasticity, and increased flexible thinking. KAP utilizes ketamine to support and advance ongoing psychotherapy, especially for individuals who may feel “stuck” or that they have “plateaued” in their previous course of psychotherapy. KAP can be highly efficacious for a range of treatment-resistant problems, including depression, trauma, anxiety, OCD, substance use, and significant cognitive rigidity. In addition, KAP can provide relief when other treatments have been unsuccessful, and may serve as an ideal alternative to more intensive treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), or deep brain stimulation (DBS). For individuals and families dealing with severe and/or treatment-resistant disorders, KAP may offer a new, innovative avenue for treatment, potentially alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life. Read More

Medical Coping strategies involve evidence-based techniques grounded in behavioral medicine to help individuals deal with the physical and emotional aspects of medical conditions. Our approach draws from principles of Behavioral Medicine, integrating psychological and behavioral strategies with medical care to support overall health and functioning. We utilize behavioral tools, executive functioning supports, and cognitive and mindfulness-based interventions to target specific goals related to pain management, anxiety reduction, treatment adherence, and adjustment to illness. Families navigating acute or chronic illness can also use medical coping strategies to address illness-related stress, build effective coping skills, and support one another through challenging experiences.

Medication Management involves the prescribing and supervised use of medications to treat mental health conditions. At BCSC, these services are integrated with existing psychotherapy, and our team of expertly-trained providers collaborate to provide the most effective treatment plans. In addition, our therapists can support regular medication management through the use of evidence-based behavioral strategies as well as executive functioning training. Medication management can benefit individuals and families by ensuring that medications are used effectively and safely, with regular monitoring and adjustments as needed, to improve mental health outcomes.

Mindfulness Training involves practices that encourage individuals to focus on the present moment with acceptance, openness, and nonjudgmental perspectives. Mindfulness Training increases the ability to notice and observe, especially noticing what is happening inside of our heads. For individuals, mindfulness can reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall mental and physical health. For families, incorporating mindfulness can improve communication, decrease tension, and foster a sense of connection, as family members learn to be more present and compassionate with each other.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) focuses on improving the relationship between parents/caregivers and their young children through real-time coaching. Parents/caregivers learn to strengthen positive interactions with children, as well as manage their child’s challenging behavior more effectively. PCIT is helpful for families dealing with a range of difficulties, including disruptive behavior disorders, anxiety, selective mutism, trauma, autism spectrum disorders, and school avoidance. PCIT is a highly efficacious, research-supported intervention as it provides parents/caregivers with techniques to reinforce desirable behaviors and reduce problem behaviors, ultimately enhancing the parent-child bond. Read More

Evidence-based Selective Mutism (SM) Treatment involves various therapeutic approaches that are supported by research for effectively addressing selective mutism, an anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak in certain social situations, such as school, while speaking comfortably in familiar settings, like at home or with immediate family. Our approaches at BCSC include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Evidence-based SM Treatment is often provided in various forms, including family, individual, and/or group sessions as well as caregiver coaching and school consultation. SM typically emerges during the preschool years but at times can persist into adolescence and beyond. We strive to take an individualized and inclusive approach, considering family history, developmental stage, cultural context, and multilingualism when relevant. Read More

BCSC works with public, private, and therapeutic schools, as well as hospitals and community organizations across Massachusetts. BCSC is dedicated to improving the lives of children, adolescents, young adults, and families from diverse backgrounds through innovative, evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Treatments. Using these evidence-based interventions, BCSC clinicians partner with schools in the application of these skills in the school setting. Our goal? We want to create the ability for school staff to manage and promote positive mental health in children and adolescents. This means equipping them with the tools to address common challenges, nurture emotional well-being, and create a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are at the heart of our approach. We collaborate with schools to ensure our services are culturally sensitive and responsive to the unique needs of each student and family. Read More

SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is an evidence-based treatment developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center shown to reduce a broad range of child anxiety symptoms, including separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, OCD and related problems. This approach is unique in that it focuses on changing  caregivers’ behaviors instead of working directly with children, which can be especially helpful when a child is unwilling or unable to directly engage in treatment.  For children who are engaged in individual treatment, SPACE can be an effective adjunct to further reduce child anxiety and improve both individual and family functioning. At BCSC, our SPACE providers have been formally trained by Dr. Lebowitz and offer SPACE through individualized caregiver coaching sessions as well as caregiver groups. Both offerings focus on teaching caregivers new skills and supportive strategies while gradually reducing caregiver accommodations that may unintentionally maintain child anxiety symptoms.

BCSC offers four week-long programs that are designed to create a supportive, fun, and engaging summer experience for children and teens who may benefit from extra guidance. These programs focus on emotional regulation, social skills, and/or executive functioning training. Our goal is to make the joy of summer camp accessible and meaningful for youth navigating mental or behavioral challenges – without sacrificing play, creativity, and connection. All summer programs are currently only offered out of our Boston (Back Bay) location. Read More

Teacher-Child Interaction Therapy (TCIT) is a form of therapy that involves training teachers to use strategies similar to those in PCIT to foster positive interactions with children. This approach is especially beneficial in educational settings, where teachers can use these techniques to address challenging behaviors and promote emotional growth. TCIT can improve classroom dynamics, support children’s social-emotional development, and help teachers manage a diverse range of behavioral issues.

Trauma treatment at BCSC includes various therapeutic approaches that are supported by research for effectively addressing trauma. These treatments include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy – Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), Dialectical Behavior Therapy for PTSD (DBT-PTSD), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and others. These approaches can help individuals and families process traumatic experiences, reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and identify, understand, and manage emotions associated with past trauma, all of which are essential for long-term emotional well-being. Trauma treatment at BCSC is tailored to client needs and may involve individual, group, and/or family sessions, as well as parent/caregiver-specific coaching.

Values-based Exposure is a therapeutic approach that combines exposure therapy with a focus on personal values. It encourages individuals to not only face their fears, but to do so in alignment with what they consider most meaningful. This method helps people confront anxieties and distress while maintaining a sense of purpose, and it can be particularly helpful for families, as it promotes open communication and shared understanding of each other’s values and goals. Values-based Exposure is a core component of many therapies at BCSC, and is utilized highly as part of our therapeutic summer camp experience.

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