Press Room
Social Skills Group Forming Now!
The next 6-week social skills group (for boys, ages 4-6) will begin the 3rd week in September. Please contact Anne Arena, MA, CAS at The Family Center for registration information.Spring Social Skills Group Now Forming!
The Family Center utilizes computer games to "Retrain the Brains" of young clients.
Ellicott City, Maryland, March 28, 2011- The Family Center now offers two cutting edge therapies, Neurofeedback and Cognitive Training. Children and adolescents work through game scenarios, view computer images of their brain activity and receive musical feedback in programs that are resulting in long lasting changes in brain function. The Family Center's psychology associate, Anne Arena, MA, CAS, works with clients, developing a comprehensive non-medical treatment plan with these new therapies, to address their unique issues. Her clients are having tremendous results; children that have been told for years to "pay attention" now have a plan and are learning how.
The latest computer based therapies address anxiety, depression, ADHD, brain injuries and more at The Family Center.
Janet Bradley Joins The Family Center!
The Family Center is very pleased to welcome a new member to our professional staff. Janet Bradley, a graduate of the Pastoral Counseling Program at Loyola specializes in the treatment of family systems issues, marital issues and the issues facing teens at risk. Ms. Bradley will also assist Anne Arena in expanding neurofeedback services at The Family Center. We are very fortunate to have Janet join us!Winter Social Skills Group Beginning Feb. 2nd!
The Family Center's SNOW POLICY
The Family Center follows the Howard County Public School System re: closings due to inclement weather. If you have a scheduled appointment on a day in which Howard County Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, please assume that you're appointment is cancelled. Some providers may choose to come into the office, despite school closings. In those instances, your provider will contact you to provide you with the option of keeping your appointment.
*Please note that if schools open late or close early due to weather related concerns, The Family Center will be open as usual.
Stay warm and safe this winter!
Dr. Gordon Livingston featured on The Early Show on CBS
Our own Dr. Gordon Livingston was interviewed by Bill Plante on CBS News this morning on the passing of his long time friend, Elizabeth Edwards. Click on the link below to view the interview.http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20025095-503544.html">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20025095-503544.html
The next Social Skills Group at The Family Center will begin on Wednesday, November 10th!
Groups will be held weekly from 5:00PM to 6:15PM. Alison Dunton, Psy.D. and Anne Arena, MA, CAS will conduct a series of 6 consecutively run group sessions.
Please contact Dr. Dunton with any questions and/or to confirm your child's participation in the group!
Spaces are limited.
New Groups Offered at The Family Center!
The Family Center is excited to offer the following new GROUPS!!*Teen Girls Body Image Group
*Support Group for Parents of Teens
*Stay-at-Home Moms Group
*Stress Management Group for Teachers
*Support Group for Parents of Children with ADHD
The following ongoing groups are also offered:
*Social Skills Group for Children
*Teen Girls Group
*Teen Boys Group
*Clergy Support Group
Stress Management Group for Teachers
Elementary and middle school teachers are invited to join a six-week
stress reduction group developed specifically for teachers.
Topics will include strategies for:
** Relaxing
** Coping with stress
** Balancing work/life/everything else
** Managing your classroom
** Dealing with the work environment
** Goal-setting
** Other issues, as requested by group members
The group will meet one evening per week. Groups now forming!
The Family Center is launching a multicultural outreach initiative!
The Family Center recognizes the growing diversity of our community. We are happy to announce that our staff is growing. We are planning several upcoming events focused on celebrating diversity in our community.
Check back soon for more information!
Social Skills Group
Social Skills Groups
Children (ages 5-9) with
● ADHD
● Autism Spectrum Disorder
● Anxiety
● Shyness
● Difficulty Making Friends
●Series of 6 group sessions co-led by Alison Dunton, Psy.D. and Anne Arena, MA, CAS
●Groups continuously forming.
● For more information, please call
Dr. Alison Dunton at The Family Center
(410-531-5087).
Family Center Psychiatrist, Dr. Gordon Livingston, featured in Baltimore Sun
Dr. Gordon Livingston is well known throughout Howard County, and indeed, Maryland, as a psychiatrist who can really relate to his patients. In this recent article in The Baltimore Sun, Dr. Livingston reminds us that psychiatrist are people too.http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bal-gl.hs.myturn18feb18,0,6083352.story
Dr. Gordon LIvingston speaks about marriage
Dr. Gordon Livingston, renowned author and psychiatrist, recently spoke in Columbia, Maryland about marriage. Dr. Livingston, a psychiatrist at The Family Center, is the author of:
- How to Love;
- Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now;
- And Never Stop Dancing: Thirty More True Things You Need to Know Now; and
- Only Spring: On Mourning the Death of My Son
The Family Center employs many marriage counseling practitioners at its Howard County, Maryland location, including therapists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers.
To watch a clip of Dr. Livingston's presentation, view the video below.
Parent Empowerment Training (PET) Introduced
Parent Empowerment Training (PET) is a program developed to assist parents in setting effective limits with their young children. The program uses a naturalistic format in which parent and child interact in a play setting and are observed via a two-way mirror by a licensed psychologist. The psychologist coaches the parent from the adjoining room via an earpiece, which permits live parent coaching in how to communicate more effectively, establish appropriate behavioral limits, and increase behavioral compliance. PET enhances parent-child communication, improves behavioral compliance, promotes self-regulation, improves frustration tolerance, strengthens sibling and peer relationships, decreases family stress, and empowers parents to better guide and mentor their children.
The Family Center was featured in the Baltimore Sun
The Family Center was featured in the Baltimore Sun showcasing their Animal Therapy. Click the link below to read the full story.http://tiny.cc/0P14X
The Mind/Body Program for Infertility
The Mind/Body Program for infertility is a unique 10 week program to help women who are experiencing the emotional impact of infertility. The program is designed to provide women with strategies and skills that will allow them to manage stress, get support from others and enable them to take better care of themselves. The goal is to help increase the chance of conceiving through positive lifestyle changes.
Animal Assisted Therapy
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) introduces Lady, a 16-month-old rough coated Collie, into the therapy environment. Lady works alongside the therapist to treat a variety of presenting concerns, including: anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-esteem issues, memory deficits, grief/loss, and abuse. Animal Assisted Therapy provides individuals with the opportunity to observe and interpret the animal\'s behavior, assist in animal care, give proper affection, receive acceptance from the animal, practice teaching new behaviors,and generalize animal behavior to human circumstance. Lady\'s presence adds an invaluable element to the therapy experience!