The Center for Children and Families—a counseling clinic under Cy–Hope—opened its doors Jan. 2, offering counseling, training and consultation to young children, adolescents, parents and entire families. The office—located at 17401 Village Green Drive—now houses both the new center and the existing Cy–Hope facilities and services under one roof.

"[The center] is focused on assisting children and families," said Tom Stevens, clinical director. "With our mode of treatment, we're able to see children as young as 18 months. There are very few places that focus solely on children and families. We want to be a clinic open to any situation, and we plan to be out in the community as much as we are in the office."

Under the clinic's three-tiered system—counseling, training and consulting—staff members and volunteers are able to not only assist during therapy sessions, but also throughout the community by training and consulting with schools, churches, groups and organizations, according to Stevens.

"We also want this to be a center focused on specializations," he said. "We have therapists with backgrounds in special needs, grief and trauma, parenting and parenting skills, and therapists that have worked with adolescents. Keeping the same team is really the key to counseling."

For young children dealing with life's struggles, the care center has therapists trained in "play therapy," which allows children to play out their feelings. Adolescent therapy takes a more formal approach and often includes sessions with the entire family.

"Play therapy is similar to adult therapy, but takes place in a child's world," Stevens said. "It helps them process information better. Children play it out and feel better."

The center also features group sessions where guest speakers offer lessons in parenting, discipline, special needs children, troubled teens and family stress. Topics range from basic overviews to in-depth analysis of various topics and typically last one to three hours.

The official grand opening of the Center for Children and Families is slated for 5-7 p.m. Feb. 27 and will feature information tables, food and drink and a ribbon cutting with the Cy–Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce.