Outpatient Behavioral Health Services

For children and youth with special health care needs, behavioral health services can be critical to their progress and their ability to reach goals. At The Children’s Institute, we strive to offer psychology and neuropsychology that is both excellent and designed to put kids at ease. We offer behavioral health services for all inpatients, and for certain outpatient populations, including children and families who are already receiving services for chronic pain, concussion management or acquired brain injury. In addition, we have a brand new, state-of-the-art inpatient pediatric behavioral health unit for children with acute behavioral health needs - more information can be found by following this link. 

Because behavioral health services are so important, we make sure it is accessible and collaborative.

Our behavioral health specialists are an important part of our teams and they’re in constant communication with team doctors and specialists, other therapists, educators, social services providers and, of course, the family. What’s more, these therapists will work with the family, providing support and guidance as well as training, when appropriate.

At The Children’s Institute, our outpatient Behavioral Health Services include:

• Behavioral assessment and interventions
• Developmental, neuropsychological and academic testing
• Psychological evaluations
• Neuropsychological evaluations
• Psycho-educational evaluations (requested/referred by schools)
• Counseling/psychotherapy
• Stress management
• Behavioral therapy/Cognitive Behavioral therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Support groups
• School Consultation services (requested/referred by schools)
• Academic instruction: 

For inpatients, a Pennsylvania-certified elementary/special education teacher provides an assessment and teaches school-aged kids in our Cognitive and Behavioral Learning Environment (CABLE) classroom. Some children will continue with regular schoolwork, while others may have new learning programs developed for them. Instruction is one-on-one or in small groups. We also communicate with each child’s school district to ensure grade appropriate learning and to prepare both the child and the school for their return.

Download printable information here:
Behavioral Health Services

Our Pediatric Neuropsychologists: An impressive depth of understanding

These psychologists specialize in understanding the relationship between children’s behavior, brain structures and brain systems. They are experts in brain organization, brain development, and the effects of acquired and developmental brain-based disorders on child and adolescent development.

At our Squirrel Hill location, these specialists conduct individual neuropsychological evaluations. This full-day evaluation provides valuable insights for physicians, therapists and parents, including information about how a child thinks, learns and behaves in relation to his or her condition. It also serves as the foundation for recommendations about next steps and how to support and improve a child’s functioning and progress.
Areas of brain function that may be tested include:

• Intellectual Functioning
• Processing Speed
• Attention
• Memory
• Executive Functions
• Language
• Reasoning
• Visual-spatial skills
• Sensorimotor Functioning
• Adaptive Functioning
• Behavioral and Emotional Adjustment

Neuropsychological evaluations are covered by many major insurance providers as a medical benefit, if it is deemed medically necessary. Once a referral is made, we will work with you to determine if this is a covered benefit in your insurance plan.

The Children’s Institute is a participating provider with the behavioral health plan networks of Highmark, UPMC Health Plan, and Community Care Behavioral Health Organization (CCBHO is outpatient only).

Download printable information here:
Neuropsychological Evaluations