Child and Adolescent Services

The BHA is completed by a therapist and designed to help identify behavioral health problems and assist the nurse practitioner and/or psychiatrist in figuring out the best way to address them. The BHA provides the nurse practitioner and/or psychiatrist with a complete picture of a person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, symptoms and stressors.  An important goal of the assessment is to identify any current or potential concerns that may affect a person’s daily life, relationships, school, or work.  The assessment will include the therapist talking with the individual and asking questions to determine possible treatment options, plan of care and diagnostic impression. 

Walk-in Assessments available at our Outpatient Clinics 5 Days a Week.

Crisis intervention services are intended to provide care to the individual seeking help while experiencing thoughts of harm to self or others. Crisis services may also address individuals who are unsafe to care for themselves, at the moment, due to unmanaged mental health or substance use symptoms. The goal of crisis intervention is to ensure safety through de-escalation and safety planning or by linkage to a higher level of care such as hospitalization. Crisis intervention is available to individuals 18 and above at the Legacy Behavioral Health Crisis Center and for all ages at one of the Legacy Outpatient clinics during normal business hours.

Physician Services may be provided by a Psychiatrist or Nurse Practitioner.  This service begins with identification of psychiatric issues by reviewing the BHA, conducting mental examinations, asking questions, and ordering blood and/or urine lab tests.  Ongoing care consists of repeated assessments and monitoring of an individual’s response to treatment with medication and clinical services. Referrals for other types of services, both at Legacy and outside of Legacy, may also be provided if needed.

Nursing Services are provided to all enrolled individuals at least once a year and are intended to allow the ability to assess, monitor and coordinate care for the physical, nutritional, and psychiatric needs that may arise during an individual’s course of treatment. This includes monitoring an individual’s response to medication, educating the individual and family about diagnoses and medication and its possible side effects, and training for self-administration of medication. Assessment of physical health may include vital signs, screenings, documentation of a complete health history, medication and allergy lists, and collecting blood and/or urine lab tests.  Nurse also provide care coordination which allows for identification of opportunities for education and/or physical health referrals such as primary care providers, specialists, dentists, etc.

Individual therapy involves meeting with a therapist one-on-one to discuss thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a safe and confidential space. Therapists use evidence-based practices to help the person understand their issues, develop coping skills and make positive changes in their life. Goals of individual therapy can be to improve quality of life, overcome obstacles, increase positive feelings, learn skills for handling difficult situations, make healthy decisions, and to reach personal goals. Individual therapy may also address specific topics such as parenting, shoplifting, and gambling.

Group services involve one or more therapists treating a small group of individuals together to address personal, relationship, or societal issues. The therapist uses evidence-based practices to create a safe space for individuals to share their experiences, learn from other people, and build a sense of community and support. The goals of group therapy can include relieving distress, changing unwanted behaviors and habits, and building coping skills.

Family Services may include process sessions or skills and training sessions with identified members of the family unit working with the therapist. The family is viewed as a system where the actions and behaviors of one member can affect the whole family. The therapist uses evidence-based practices to provide a supportive, nonjudgmental, and safe environment that allows the family to talk openly. The goals of family therapy include improving communication, resolving conflicts, strengthening relationships, and promoting the overall well-being of the family.

Apex is a state-funded program dedicated to providing school-based mental health services to children, adolescents and their families. Our staff work closely with school staff to identify the needs of students and link them to the appropriate services.

CSI services are provided to youth in order to promote stability and resiliency while building towards age-appropriate functioning in their everyday environment. Community Support Individual services provide linkage to necessary community resources. The service assists in development of interpersonal/social skills, recognizing emotional triggers, and behavior self-management.