Clinical Counseling Services

YFT’s Counseling Services operates from the basic premise that a resident is placed at YFT for presenting issues (i.e., specific issues and/or demonstrated problem behaviors). The staff identifies strategies/interventions to address the presenting issues, enabling the resident to manage and/or eliminate problem behaviors.  Much of the demonstrated behavior (e.g., drug use, depression, delinquent behavior patterns, chronic educational struggles, etc.) is symptomatic of environmental (e.g., family/community), emotional, and/or developmental problems.

YFT’s Counseling Services are under the direction of the YFT Director of Clinical Services. This program component consists of a structured approach including case management, therapist and intern development. Each resident participates in individual, group, and family counseling in accordance with the resident’s Individual Service Plan (ISP). Included in this approach are the placing agencies and legal guardian who are integral parts of the program.  Therapy is provided by a licensed Professional or qualified professional under the supervision.

Individual Therapy    

Individual Counseling: This one-on-one counseling session between the resident and their therapist gives more personal attention to the resident's issues. Our students take part in a minimum of one individual therapy sessions per week. Such frequent therapy sessions reduce the amount of time spent in counseling with an often greater rate of success

Group Therapy

All students attend daily group therapy in a structured format with a goal toward developing the necessary tools to manage daily stressors that they often find overwhelming.

Process Group Counseling: This service is facilitated by an YFT counselor and is topical by design.  Either the group or the counselor introduces issues for discussion. Emotional issues and behaviors are a topic of discussion in process group. The goal of the process group is to target issues that are confronting residents and, by so doing, encourage positive feedback and support for each group member. This method encourages disclosure and builds strength within this small group.  

Family Therapy    

Family Counseling: These individual family sessions involve the resident, parents/guardians and the resident's therapist. The goal is to target issue specific problems of the resident and within the family unit as a whole.

Family Group Counseling: Consists of two sessions; one session is comprised of residents and their parents/guardians, the other is comprised of parents/guardians only. Topical issues are raised for discussion along with role-playing and small group projects. The goal of Family Group Therapy is to encourage community dialogue between families and to dismantle the thinking that "our family is the only one with these issues.”

Specialized Therapy    

YFT’s Clinical Services offer specialized individual and group therapy depending on the needs of the client.  Specialized Groups include:

Anger Management Group: This group is designed to assist residents in understanding their anger issues; identify their inappropriate behavioral responses to anger; and, to learn new ways to deal with anger.  Anger Management follows a customized standardized curriculum based on an experiential model which is facilitated by an YFT therapist. A component to such counseling is exploration of alternatives to violence.

Chemical Education: This course is designed to educate residents about the dangers and risks of drugs, alcohol, and nicotine.  All residents who attend on-campus school are automatically placed into a chemical education class for one semester. The class is facilitated by a C.S.A.C. and the resident receives a certificate of completion for the course.

Substance Abuse Education and Prevention: Once a resident has been admitted into the program, he/she is given a Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) administered by a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (C.S.A.C.), to help identify individuals who have a history of substance abuse or dependence.

Overcomers Group: The purpose is to help the resident work through their illegal substance behavior and/or history; help them understand how it negatively impacts their life; and learn how recovery is defined and how to remain in recovery. This group is facilitated by a C.S.A.C.

Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous: Residents, when appropriate, participate in this on and/or off-campus, self-run recovery twelve-step support group(s).

Safe Place Group: This group is designed to assist residents in understanding and working through sexual abuse issues.  Currently, this is for girls only.

Grief & Loss Group: This group is designed to assist residents effectively process through difficult and /or traumatic losses in their lives.

Relapse Prevention Services: A community based group for males with a history of sexually inappropriate conduct who have successfully completed an out-patient or residential treatment program and are low to moderate risk level.

Case Management    

Full time professional Case Managers coordinate appropriate services for each resident and serve as the primary contact between YFT and the family and/or placing agency.  Case Managers attend FAPT, service planning and progress review meetings, and court hearings; maintain required documentation; and ensure participation of clients in individual, group and family counseling.  Case Mangers ensure clients maintain contact with their parent or legal guardian. Topics addressed with family and caretakers may include assisting the resident and parent or legal guardian with understanding the following: the effect on the resident of separation from the family; the effect of group living; maintaining the relationship between resident and family; future care preparation; and, utilization of community resources.  

The YFT Case Manager will:
•    Facilitate and monitor service plans, including the production of ISP’s and Quarterly reviews based on standard protocol input from services providers. Participation in /Evaluation Team decisions.
•    Assist in the maintenance of resident records and ensure compliance with Interdepartmental Regulations and generally accepted documentation principles.
•    Attend required meetings and participate in formal and informal professional training, and pursue professional development opportunities.
•    Be proactive in support on an on-going basis to the residential and education component team members.
•    Deliver follow-up and continued care protocols after discharge.  

Intern/Extern Development

Selection and use of student interns will be governed by their ability to provide specific services to the YFT program and assist with fundraising efforts.

YFT may utilize interns who are affiliated with a university or college who are seeking professional degrees or credentials in the areas of psychology, social work, education, criminal justice or a related field.

Interns are utilized in administrative, therapeutic, or educational roles for which they are qualified and have demonstrated adequate skills. The respective department heads will supervise interns.

Interns will not be used in place of professional staff to fill established professional staff positions nor be considered when calculating the staff to resident ratio. Interns will not be used to ensure provision of basic services. Interns are not authorized to administer medication or discipline residents. Interns will be informed of liability protection, if any, provided by YFT.