Employee

A Wraparound Approach to Children’s Mental Health

Kaitlin Perkins is a master’s-level clinician intern in CHD’s In-Home Therapy program. Our agency’s In-Home Therapy and Therapeutic Mentoring services are part of the Massachusetts Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI), which connects families with teams of support staff to coordinate services.

In-Home Therapy delivers a wraparound approach to children receiving behavioral health care. Clinicians work with the whole family, as well as other important people in the child or youth’s life, such as teachers, doctors, caseworkers, and coaches, and extended family members.

Perkins originally wanted to be a special education teacher, and graduated with a degree in special education and psychology from Westfield State University. She did a couple of years of applied behavior analysis work, but desired a job that would challenge her every day.

She found it at CHD, and is now earning her master’s degree in mental health counseling at Cambridge College.

“I fell in love with in-home therapy,” said Perkins. “At the end of the day, we’re making a difference.”

Perkins said she lives for the days “when I see improvements in a family situation—that’s what keeps driving me to keep going back.” She recalls a situation with a defiant teen who went beyond the normal “testing the limits” phase that most adolescents go through. “He wanted nothing to do with his family,” she said. “He was fed up. He has younger siblings, who annoy him, in his opinion. So we worked on sitting down as a family and playing games together, and having family dinners together. We made some goals, and then, one time I walked in, and they were eating a meal together. Another time, I went to their home, and they were playing a game together. So, we had reached a goal.”

  • Know of anyone needing children’s behavioral therapy, including In-Home Therapy and Therapeutic Mentoring? Have them call 1-844-CHD-HELP.
  • Those interested in making a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families can apply for a clinician position in our In-Home Therapy program by clicking here.