AMAZING IS POSSIBLEChildren's Behavioral Health Services

Restoring health to the mind, body, and spirit.

Mental and behavioral health is just as important as physical health. Our children's behavioral therapy team is here as a resource for children, adolescents, and young adults so they can get back to feeling amazing. Our therapists and Certified Nurse Practitioner work closely with each client and their family to develop skills to manage mood, thinking, and behaviors – making the move towards resiliency and healing, and becoming happier and healthier at home, school, and in the community.

Evaluations

Helping a child to reach their full potential requires a dynamic process of growth and change that comes from caring for the mind, body, and spirit. A thorough behavioral health evaluation gives us a baseline and understanding so we can develop the best plan for treatment and therapy.
 

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Medication Management

Psychiatric medications require careful medication management. Our Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) and psychiatrist are here to help monitor and adjust medications as needed so clients and their caregivers can continue on a positive path forward.
 

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Talk Therapy

Talk therapy – available in individual, family, and group sessions – helps to foster emotional resilience, build self-esteem, and enhance coping and social skills. We work together to reduce symptoms of stress, alleviate anxiety and depression, improve behaviors, and more so clients can meet their therapy goals.
 

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Additional Services

We are a support system to help clients gain self-awareness and achieve personal goals. That’s why we’ve developed a wide array of services to best support every amazing individual.

School-Based Behavioral Health Services

The school environment can be challenging. From struggles with peers to stress and worry over grades, it’s important to monitor students’ mental health. Learn how this program can enhance the social and emotional well-being of students.

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The focus of our care model is providing highly collaborative, evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment.

We deliver individual, group, family, and medication therapy within our clinic, schools, and via telehealth. 

We treat children, adolescents, and young adults presenting with symptoms that mildly or moderately interfere with or limit functioning within their family, school, or community activities. Please note, we are currently not resourced to provide treatment to children experiencing serious functional impairments that are substantially interfering with or limiting one or more life activities.

As part of the intake process, we screen interested clients to ensure we can develop a successful, family-engaged, therapeutic relationship. Our treatment focuses on supporting clients navigating life events, such as:
  • Trauma
  • Grief & loss
  • Academic performance
  • Social impairments
  • Stress
  • Family conflict
  • Life transitions
  • Attention & focus challenges
  • Relationship issues
  • Adoption & permanency
  • Gender identity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Loneliness & sadness
  • Anxious feelings
Please be sure to review our frequently asked questions for additional information.

Meet Our Team

Salim Chowdhury, M.D.

Salim Chowdhury, M.D.

Medical Director of Behavioral Health
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Melvin P. Melnick, M.D.

Melvin P. Melnick, M.D.

Clinical Supervisor of Behavioral Health
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Christina Jolley, CRNP

Christina Jolley, CRNP

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner
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Dana Buchko, M.A.

Dana Buchko, M.A.

Program Specialist
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Tia Bigos, M.S., NCC

Tia Bigos, M.S., NCC

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist I
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Tajonae Carrington, M.A.

Tajonae Carrington, M.A.

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist I
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Kaitlin Kennedy

Kaitlin Kennedy

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist II
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Katherine Macasek, M.S., NCC

Katherine Macasek, M.S., NCC

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist I
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Jenna McGinnis

Jenna McGinnis

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist I
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Jackie Preaux

Jackie Preaux

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist I
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Lori Sciore, M.S., NCC

Lori Sciore, M.S., NCC

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist I
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Brianna Strohmeyer, M.A., NCC, LPC

Brianna Strohmeyer, M.A., NCC, LPC

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist II
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Gemil White

Gemil White

Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist I
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Frequently Asked Questions

In the event of any kind of crisis or emergency, please call 911 or 988. You can also go to the nearest emergency department. If your neighborhood has other emergency or crisis resources, you can use these, too. Our team wants to be updated as soon as possible, but cannot respond to emergencies.
We treat children, adolescents, and young adults from ages 5-26. We also complete Written Orders for IBHS assessment for children as young as 18 months.
We provide treatment to clients presenting with symptoms that mildly or moderately interfere or limit their role or functioning within their family, school and/or community activities.

Please note that we are currently not accepting clients with a diagnosable disorder that causes serious functional impairment that substantially interferes or limits one or more life activity. For example, we are not resourced to treat clients who have ever been admitted to a residential treatment facility, have had multiple lifetime admissions to psychiatric inpatient treatment facilities, or clients who cannot engage verbally.
We are currently able to schedule new clients for medication evaluation appointments. You are welcome to join our waitlist for talk therapy appointments.
Our clinic operates on Mondays through Thursday  from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

However, since we provide treatment to children and adolescents, some who require timely follow-up, we cannot accommodate seeing clients only outside of school hours.

We are happy to provide a school excuse if your appointment interferes with your school day schedule. Please contact the scheduling department at 412.420.2447 for more assistance.
Please check your spam/junk folders. Our process is to send Zoom links at least one day prior to the appointment, so if on the day of the appointment (even if your appointment is later in the day), please reach out to us as soon as you can if you have not received a link by calling 412.420.2447.

Sometimes our days get busy, and we always want to be focused on our children and families, so the sooner you let us know, the better we’re able to respond and track down those links!
Our providers have limited unscheduled time throughout the week when they are not providing treatment. You are welcome to e-mail/call them, but for the most immediate response, please call the department directly (412.420.2447) and you can be scheduled (remotely or in person) to connect with your provider. As always, in the case of an emergency, please call 911, 988, your local crisis resource, or go directly to the hospital.
For therapy visits, you may reach out to your therapist or call 412.420.2447. For medication management visits, it is best to call 412.420.2447.

Please refer to our attendance policy in your consent to treat.
Our prescribers do their best to ensure enough prescriptions/refills are sent to last to the next visit. First, please call the pharmacy to see if something is on file. If the pharmacy doesn’t have what you need, please call 412.420.2447. Please note, that our team does not respond to automated pharmacy-generated refill requests.

Our team will respond to refill requests within 3 business days, so please reach out before you’re completely out of medication!
Please send the needed documents to your provider in advance. Our team members may take up to 5 business days for routine forms. For more extensive forms, or forms that require additional signatures, this timeline may be up to 14 business days. Any potential delays with processing paperwork will be shared with you.

Referrals & Appointments

We're here to help.
Amazing is possible. Our caring team is here to help with available in-person and telehealth appointments.
1

Get in Touch

For more information or to inquire about an appointment, please complete our outpatient behavioral health inquiry form.
2

Schedule an Appointment

You can also schedule an evaluation or appointment by contacting our friendly team at 412.420.2447.
3

Prepare for Your Visit

We've put together a few resources to help you feel comfortable and prepared for your first appointment, whether it be in-person or via telehealth.

Telehealth Therapy Tips     In-Person Appointment Tips

Where to Find Us

Contact us to schedule an appointment or learn more about our outpatient Behavioral Health Services.

Squirrel Hill Main Campus

1405 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

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