Family & Child Counseling
Our Program
About the Program
The Up Center offers trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health outpatient counseling to help children, individuals and families manage the stressors of life. Individual, family and group services are offered to people of all ages dealing with a variety of life’s challenges, including:
- Grief and loss
- Depression and anxiety
- Divorce and separation
- Relationship conflicts
- Child and adolescent behavioral problems
- School and work difficulties
- Trauma and abuse
- Interpersonal violence
- Substance use, and
- Other psychiatric issues.
Our Clients
We provide trauma informed services to children as young as two years old, adolescents, adults and their families, as well as active duty military and their dependents and veterans. We provide short-term evidence-based treatment to employees from a variety of Hampton Roads companies through their Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). Services are also available to individuals who are referred by the court to participate in anger management, batterers intervention groups or a co-parenting class. We accept most health insurances and offer a sliding scale for those individuals who are uninsured.
What Makes Us Different
Our team of counselors are trained in a variety of brief, short-term evidence-based interventions, including:
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution Focused Treatments
- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) – a specially designed therapy to help children, adolescents and families overcome the negative effects of a traumatic experience
- Play and Art Therapy
Our Impact
Access to professional counseling can be a transformative experience for families and children facing emotional or behavioral challenges. Family & Child Counseling at The Up Center helps individuals navigate difficulties, strengthen communication, and build resilience.
In 2020, we provided:
of mental health counseling
to individuals and families
of group counseling
True Stories
“The Up Center didn’t give up on me even in trying circumstances such as the pandemic. They made resources to still see clients via video conferencing. They really care.”
—Mr. S., Outpatient Mental Health Counseling client
“We have noticed drastic changes in the home and his teacher asked what we have been doing differently.”
—Mrs G., PCIT counseling
“I am surprised how much I have improved over a short period of time.”
—Mr. F., Individual and Family Counseling
Info Sessions
Some group sessions are currently being held via telehealth. Please check our calendar for availability. Groups include:
For Children’s Sake
For Children’s Sake is a co-parenting workshop designed to provide parents with the necessary skills to protect and shield their children from the conflict of a separation or divorce.
Anger Management & Batterer’s Intervention Groups
Anger Management and Batterer’s Intervention Groups help inhibit violent behavior by improving social skills and impulse control while teaching empathy and compassion for others. Both groups are offered in the evenings at our Norfolk and Portsmouth offices. Fees range from $20-$25 per group depending on the number of sessions.
Substance Use Recovery Groups
The Up Center provides a free substance use recovery group counseling to adolescents and adults and addresses prevention, addiction, and recovery. The goal of these groups is to reduce problematic use of substances through a psychoeducational counseling approach.
Seeking Safety Group
Seeking Safety Groups provide research-based support for men and women who may have experienced substance abuse and trauma including those who have been abused, victimized by crime, or distressed by war or natural disasters. Participants learn positive coping skills. This group is free.
Women’s Assertiveness Group
This eight-week class is free and open to any woman 18 and older who wants to learn to be more assertive in relationships.
Social Skills for Children Diagnosed with Autism/Parent Support Group
A skill building for children with normal-to-high IQ and verbal skills will practice improving their social interactions in a group of their peers. While the children are working on these skills, the parents will participate in a support group to share experiences, give and receive practical feedback and enhance parenting skills to further respond to the unique needs of their children.
Contact Us
Location: Telehealth appointments are available as well as in-person appointments at these locations:
- Portsmouth: 1805 Airline Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23707
- Norfolk: 222 W 19th St, Norfolk, VA 23517
- Suffolk: 109.5 Clay St, Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 965-8622
If you are a veteran, service member or a military family member, please call our Military Family Clinic at (757) 965-8686 to schedule an appointment. Click here for more information.
Our Mission
We are committed to partnering with children, families, and communities to improve lives and outcomes through prevention, intervention, and support services.
