Contact

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.

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

Behavioral Activation (BA) is an evidence-based therapy approach that encourages individuals to engage in activities that they most likely have been avoiding, especially activities that may bring joy or a sense of accomplishment. BA is most commonly used to treat depressive-related disorders, and can increase motivation, improve mood, and promote positive behavioral change. Families can benefit from this approach as it encourages participation in meaningful activities together, which can improve relationships and overall family well-being.

Behavioral Medicine describes the integration of psychological principles with medical treatment to address the interaction between physical and mental health. Behavioral Medicine addresses a wide range of medical and psychological concerns across developmental stages, including toilet training, sleep difficulties, bed-wetting, medical/medication compliance, picky eating, weight management, technology addiction, problematic sexual behaviors, pill swallowing, chronic pain, and more. These approaches can improve coping strategies, reduce stress-related symptoms, and support healthy lifestyle changes.

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. 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).

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.

Evidence-based Trauma Treatment involves various therapeutic approaches that are supported by research for effectively addressing trauma. These techniques include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). These treatments 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. Evidence-based Trauma Treatment can be provided in various forms, including individual, group, and/or family sessions, as well as parent/caregiver-specific coaching.

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 to help individuals deal with the physical and emotional aspects of medical conditions. These strategies utilize behavioral principles, executive functioning tools, and cognitive/mindfulness training to target specific goals associated with various medical conditions. These strategies are beneficial for managing pain, reducing anxiety, and improving adherence to treatment plans. Families dealing with chronic illness can use medical coping strategies to navigate the challenges associated with illness and support each other through difficult times.

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

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

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.

At BCSC, we offer most of our services via telehealth for your convenience. While cutting-edge research has identified highly effective treatments for anxiety, mood, and behavioral disorders, access to these specialists can sometimes be limited, especially for families outside major cities. Telehealth offers a powerful solution. Today’s technology allows you or your loved one to connect with expert clinicians trained in evidence-based treatments from the comfort of your home. Read More

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.

Have questions or want more information about any of our services?

We're here to help.

Contact Us