Community Clinical Services

Providing outpatient services and promoting optimal developmental support to children and families prenatally through 10 years old, with groups for those up to 12 years old.

The Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health (CAECMH) at Montclair State University offers community clinical services that provide a continuum of coordinated developmental support and outpatient psychotherapeutic services to children and families prenatally through 10 years old, with group options for those up to 12 years old. Through family-centered, play-based, multidisciplinary services, we aim to foster the developmental and psychological well-being of children and families, and to support and enhance the relationship between children and their caregivers.

Influenced by the traditions established by Selma Freiberg, Thea Bry, Stanley Greenspan and Eliana Gil, all clinical services are rooted in the interdisciplinary fields of study of infant and early childhood mental health, family play therapy, interpersonal neurobiology and a developmental approach, and supported by theoretical education, research-based methods and best practice application.

Clinical Services

•  Play-based individual, dyadic and/or family therapy
•  Interventions for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum or with other developmental challenges
•  Infant-parent (dyadic) therapeutic services
• Support for pregnant mothers and families including Lamaze Childbirth Education
• Therapeutic groups, including groups for caregiver-infant dyads, children and parents
• Comprehensive assessments and evaluations

Clinical Staff

• Gerard Costa, PhD, IMH-E ® IV-C– Developmental Psychologist, Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor, DIR-Certified
• Kaitlin Mulcahy, MA, LPC, IMH-E ® IV-C – Licensed Professional Counselor, Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor
• Dayna Egan, PsyD, IMH-E ® III – Licensed Psychologist, Infant Mental Health Specialist
• Jennifer Faasse, MA, LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor
• Amy Clarkson, BCMT – Board Certified Music Therapist
• Jodi Huntington, PhD, OT – Neuropsychologist, Occupational Therapist (consultant)

For more information about our staff, including bios and contact information, visit our Staff page.

Fees

Insurance is not accepted at this time. Reimbursement documentation can be provided for families who have out-of-network coverage. The fee schedule is as follows, and a sliding scale applies to families who earn $70,000 per year or less:

Intake Process: $450.00

Our intake occurs in five parts:

1. Phone Screen: Initial conversation with the Associate Director to explain our services and schedule first appointment (on phone)
2. Initial Family Interview: Review developmental history of the child/family and presenting concerns (in clinic)
3. Developmental Screening Forms: Caregiver completes a group of paper-based checklists about the child/family’s development and current functioning (caregiver completes at home)
4. Play-Based Observation of Development and Interaction: An observation of how the child/family plays and interacts with others (in clinic)
5. Feedback: summary conversation of clinical impressions, treatment recommendations and feedback on next steps for services (in clinic)

Fees for the intake process are $450.00 in total, payable either at the beginning of the process in total, or in three equal payments of $150.00 at each of the three in-clinic appointments. Intake fees will be adjusted accordingly for families who qualify for the sliding scale fees.

Ongoing Treatment: $100.00/$75.00

Our sessions can be scheduled weekly, biweekly or twice per week, depending on treatment plan. Sessions can take place in the clinic, at the child’s school and/or in the home if clinically necessary (home visits carry an additional $25 fee). Each session is 45 minutes in duration. Fees are determined based on the level of clinician as outlined below. For families who attend two times per week, the second appointment may be discounted.

Level I: Licensed clinician (Psychologist, Licensed Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, Board Certified Music Therapist): $100

Level II: Student trainee (supervised by licensed clinician): $75

Consult Only: $50.00

We also provide a 60-minute consult appointment where we gather developmental history and observe play and interaction so as to provide feedback on further referrals or services that may be needed. The consult fee is $50.00. If services with our Center are recommended, the family then completes steps 2 through 5 of the Intake process, to which their $50.00 fee can be applied.

Contact

Referrals:

Kaitlin Mulcahy, MA, LPC, Associate Director
973-655-6692
caecmhclinic@montclair.edu

Other questions may be directed to Center for Clinical Services reception at 973-655-3600.

Groups

The Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University also offers a variety of groups for children. Click on the name of each group for more information.