The Bridge Youth & Family Services
Mission: To help young people and their families achieve social and emotional health.

Early Childhood Program

Building Bridges

Since its inception in 2006, the Early Childhood Behavioral Health Program has served hundreds of children six years of age and under. 

The program provides counseling and therapy services to treat the many emotional and behavioral problems that face preschool-age children (through kindergarten) and their families, including:

  • Explosive or emotionally reactive behavior
  • Family Conflict
  • Behavioral Problems
  • Post-Traumatic Stress
  • Anxiety/Depression/Mood Disorders
  • Anger Management
  • Transition (divorce, death of a loved one, etc.)

This program includes child assessment, play therapy, and family counseling.  After the child has been assessed by a trained therapist to identify behavioral problems and their causes, the family and therapist work to create an individualized plan that includes treatment, referrals and follow-up.

Play therapy is essential when dealing with preschool-age children who have yet to develop the cognitive ability to use traditional talk therapy as a means of exploring and resolving internal conflicts.  It creates a non-threatening, fun environment where children can feel comfortable with the therapist and the therapeutic process.

Family counseling is necessary to ensure a child’s ongoing success.  Parent and siblings participate in family play therapy to enhance parent-child interactions and parental understanding of how children communicate.

Children and their parents can benefit from the Bridge’s Early Childhood Behavioral Program.  Parents learn from therapists how to:

  • Manage difficult behaviors (tantrums, hitting, etc.)
  • Encourage positive behavior and self expression.
  • Break any negative bonds between the parent & child and develop positive ones.
  • Prepare their child to be successful in school.

Many mental health issues are preventable or minimized when the caregivers have the proper tools and support, so parent education and training is an important part of the Early Childhood Behavioral Program.

The program serves residents of the Palatine Township,
regardless of ability to pay.