Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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| Where
is Robert A. Pascal Youth and Family Services located? |
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Robert A. Pascal Youth & Family Services, Inc. is located in Park Plaza in Severna Park at 570H Ritchie Highway.
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 How does one access the services of Robert A. Pascal Youth and Family
Services, Inc.? |
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One
can call the agency at 410.975.0067 to speak with a staff member,
and provide some background information. A therapist will then contact
you to set up an initial intake appointment. |
What type of problems does the staff normally work with? |
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A. Family Conflict/Blended
Family Issues: families in transition, communication issues, parenting
skills, parent/child conflict, marital/partner conflict
B. School Problems:
poor academic performance, truancy, peer conflict
C. Substance
Abuse Prevention and Treatment: individual and family education
and counseling, addiction assessment and intervention, urinalysis
screenings
D. Physical
and Sexual Abuse Intervention: service coordination and referral
to Child Protective Services, individual and family therapy, teenage
survivors of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, relationship
violence
E. Suicide Prevention
and Intervention
F. Crisis Intervention
G. Other Problem
Areas Addressed
- Difficulties
with moods: unipolar and bipolar depression, anxiety and stress
- Self esteem
issues: life transition, career issues
- Sexuality:
sexual orientation, gender identity
- Developmental
issues: autism, aspergers, Pervasive Developmental Disorder
- Grief and
bereavement
- Codependancy
- Eating disorders
- Anger and
control problems
- Compulsions
and obsessions
- Juvenile
deliquency and conduct issues
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What age groups does the agency serve? |
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The
agency serves children from five and older, and adults over the age
of eighteen. |
How is the issue of confidentiality handled at Robert A. Pascal
Youth and Family Services, Inc.? |
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Every
effort is made to ensure confidentiality for all clients of Robert
A. Pascal Youth and Family Services, Inc. In order to release information,
written permission from the client must be obtained, which includes
the reason or reasons for the release. There are several circumstances
that will mandate the disclosure of certain information to certain
agencies, such as if a client threatens to harm themselves or others.
In the event that the referral source, such as the Department of Juvenile
Justice, mandates disclosure of certain information, a release will
be signed prior to the commencement of treatment. Confidentiality
is one of the basic tenants of effective therapy and Robert A. Pascal
Youth and Family Services, Inc. strives to safeguard this principal
at all times. |
What insurance companies do Robert A. Pascal Youth and Family Services
accept? |
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Maryland
Health Partners/Managed Care Network, United Health Care, Americaid,
Free State Health Plan, JH Priority Partners, Med Star Physician Partners
(formerly Helix), JAI, Maryland Physician Care, Prime Health, CareFirst,
Blue Cross/Blue Shield |
How is therapy paid for? |
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Robert
A. Pascal Youth and Family Services Inc. offers clients who do not
have insurance coverage the ability to lower their session fees based
on their Gross Family Income by use of a Sliding Fee Schedule. The
standard fee for the initial therapy session or Intake Session is
$120 and $80 for each additional session thereafter. RAPYFS also accepts
many Blue Cross and Blue Shield policies which may cover full or partial
payment of the therapy session. The insured may be required to pay
co-pay based on the individual insurance policy, RAPYFS also accepts
Medical Assistance, which generally covers the entire cost of therapy
session. |
How long does therapy take? |
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Well,
that depends on how deeply you want to experience health. In four
to six weeks, after assessing your specific issues with you, we can
provide you with skills and tools you can use to manage these situations
of conflict and stress. These ideas may help you simply solve your
immediate problems. However, some individuals and families choose
to go a little deeper in their understanding of how mental health
is created and maintained. They choose to take time to grasp the fundamentals
of how their thoughts create their individual perceptions of life
experiences. These are clients who choose to spend three to twelve
months grasping the understanding at the heart of mental health. The
clinicians at Robert A. Pascal Youth and Family Services, Inc. will
accommodate whatever the frame you and your family choose. Even after
individuals and families complete their work with us, there are some
who return for various time intervals for a "booster shot"
of encouragement and support or on occasion, to work through difficult
crises. |
How long does a session normally last? |
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The
length of a session varies depending upon the type of session. The
initial intake session usually takes 90 minutes. A regular individual
session is 50 minutes long. A group session lasts anywhere from 60
to 90 minutes. |
How do I know if my child needs counseling? |
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Indications
that a child may benefit from counseling include excessive anger,
worry, sadness, fear, excessive shyness, low self-esteem, behavior
that interferes with making friends, problems with eating or sleeping,
problems at school, difficulty adjusting to family changes, divorce
or separation of parents, death of a close family member or friends,
or a traumatic experience. |
What do I do if my child is talking about drugs, sex/sexual identity,
suicide or other serious problems, such as problems at school? |
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First and foremost,
listen, listen and then listen some more. It is often difficult
and may feel impossible not to want to "help" one's child
by immediately saying or doing the right thing. Sometimes the right
thing is to listen more and talk and do less. Often times a parent
or guardian does not know the "right" thing to do or say.
Certainly, if it is a topic that is uncomfortable, it is safe to
redirect the child to an appropriate adult, professional or peer.
Try not to judge, criticize, lecture or "fix" the problem.
Provide the child with feedback about the feelings heard, not necessarily
the content of the message heard. Assure the child that they are
not alone in what they are feeling and that there is someone they
can talk to who will be able to provide more expert guidance. Being
the parent or guardian automatically precludes that person from
being an expert. Always seek professional help, even if the child
is resistant to doing so. Lastly, remember, too, that you are not
alone. You also cannot possibly have all the answers; you deserve
the support and guidance of professionals, as well.
In the event
that a child is talking about harming themselves or someone else,
do not wait, seek help right away. Call 911 if necessary and/or
take the child to the nearest emergency room for evaluation. |
What is play therapy? |
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Children
do not have the cognitive maturity to benefit from talking through
their problems like adults can. Play is the child's natural way of
developing, learning, and expressing feelings. Play therapy offers
the child a chance to use the power of his or her creativity and imagination
to heal and grow. Play therapy takes place in a special playroom equipped
with the toys, art supplies, and games that empower children to create
a world they can master through play. |
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