Project STRONGER

Project STRONGER (Supporting Trauma Recovery Opportunities & Nurturing Growing Emotional Resilience) increases availability of evidence-based trauma treatments for children and families exposed to trauma, with a particular emphasis on those children exposed to child maltreatment, interpersonal, and community violence, and promotes policies that support trauma-informed care. STRONGER partners with children and families across the Greater Rochester, NY area, including Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, and Wayne counties.

Depending on an individual’s needs, STRONGER provides several trauma treatments to children and their caregivers: Child-Parent Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents, Trauma-Systems Therapy for Refugees, and Tuning Into Kids/Tuning Into Teens.  Please contact Director, Alisa Hathaway with any questions.

Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP):  A strong caregiver-child relationship is key to preventing maltreatment and building healthy families.  the Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) Program specifically focuses on the relationship between caregiver and child (birth – 6 years).  The role of trauma is discussed as it relates to parenting and the child and parent/caregiver’s family relationships as well.  Within this intervention, therapists meet with both the caregiver and child weekly for 10-12 months to facilitate positive caregiver-child interactions using play and sensitivity to the child’s developmental level.  Weekly CPP sessions are conducted in the family’s home, at the Center, in a location of the parent/caregiver’s choosing (if deemed appropriate), or via telehealth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Our Cognitive Behavioral Therapy programs provide child-focused interventions for ages 3-18 using evidence-based therapies with focuses in trauma (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, TF-CBT), depression, anxiety, and conduct. Treatment is adjusted for each child’s developmental level to identify and address these challenges. We utilize cognitive behavioral techniques to help children develop skills in identifying and expressing their emotions appropriately and understanding the links between their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and consequences. We also work toward building problem solving, relaxation, and other coping skills tailored to their individual needs as they process the impact of their stressful or traumatic experiences. A therapist meets regularly with the child at Mt. Hope Family Center, their school, their home (if deemed appropriate), or through telehealth.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A): IPT-A helps adolescents/teenagers identify their symptoms of depression, understand how their relationships affect their depression, and how depression influences their functioning. By learning to cope with personal struggles and understanding their connection to depression, adolescents/teenagers develop better relationship skills, ways to manage depressive episodes in the future, and improve social functioning, problem solving, and overall mental health. Therapists providing Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression work with adolescents ages 12-18 for a duration of 14-16 weeks. Sessions are conducted at the Center, in the child’s school, or in another appropriate location of the child and parent/caregiver’s choosing.

Trauma Systems Therapy for Refugees (TST-R): The goals of TST-R include reducing symptoms of trauma and improving coping skills in response to refugee and immigrant core stressors. TST-R is a multi-tiered adaptation of Trauma Systems Therapy for refugee youth ages 10-18 and their families. Support can be offered in individual or group format, as determined through assessment of need. Therapists meet regularly with the child(ren) at Mt. Hope Family Center, their school, their home (if deemed appropriate), or through telehealth, depending on the format of intervention.

Tuning Into Kids/Teens (TIK/TINT): The goal of TIK/TINT is to improve the emotional attunement for parents/guardians with their children. TIK/TINT is an 8-session closed group structure geared toward parents and guardians of children ages 4-12 (teen version for ages 11+), that provides peer support, enhanced learning, and efficient service delivery. Groups are facilitated by lead therapist and co-facilitator and are held on zoom.

Project Director & PI

Alisa Hathaway, Ed.D., LCSW-R

Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)