The CARE Center is Oklahoma County’s child advocacy center dedicated to preventing child abuse through education and providing healing resources to children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

The mental health program at The CARE Center has a mission to provide quality, trauma-informed care to children and caregivers in a timely manner, free of charge. We are a specialized program that is equipped to provide TF-CBT, PCIT, & PSB-CBT. We can provide up to 6 months (about 25 sessions) of therapy for clients who qualify for services. Exact length of services is determined by need, progress, and therapist recommendation. Qualification for services is based on a variety of factors, but if The CARE Center isn’t the right fit for your child, we will provide you with a referral to a trusted partner agency.

Therapy at The CARE Center consists of an initial intake session where we get to meet you and your child, fill out paperwork, and gather information about your family’s needs. Next, we dive into treating symptoms. We use evidence-based treatment to provide information, skills, and care to your child in a safe and supportive environment. It gives kids a place to process what has happened to them and build healthy coping, communication, and safety skills for the future. For many children, therapy is where healing begins.

While we believe all children can benefit from having safe, trauma-informed adults in their life, not every child needs therapy. We take several factors into consideration when making a recommendation for therapy, including your concerns and symptoms your child might be displaying.

All mental health services provided at The CARE Center are free of charge to our clients. If an outside referral is needed for additional support, assessment, or services, we will make every effort to aid your family in finding cost-effective options. However, we cannot provide payment to outside agencies for services provided. Each family who comes to The CARE Center receives information about Victim Crime Compensation as an option for service reimbursement.

Length of therapy is determined by your child’s needs. We take into consideration your concerns, your child’s symptoms and needs, their progress, and therapist recommendation when creating treatment plans.

The type of therapy your child receives depends on what they have experienced and what symptoms they are experiencing. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is often recommended for children with PTSD. Parent Child Interaction Therapy is sometimes recommended for younger children to increase bonding and attachment with caregivers and improve difficult behaviors. Problematic sexual behavior is often treated with a specific form of cognitive behavior therapy as well (PSB-CBT). Your mental health professional will help you determine what form of therapy is best for you and your family.

The CARE Center does not keep a waitlist. If we do not have availability to see your child, we will refer you to a trusted partner agency. Each agency is able to provide information on the length of their waitlist, but we work together with partners to keep waiting times as short as possible.

Yes! We partner with several local agencies that provide trauma-informed care for survivors of abuse and neglect. Please see the “local resources” tab for a list! As a reminder, The CARE Center cannot provide payment for services received at other agencies. Reach out to us if cost of care is a concern for your family.