Serving Hands. Caring Hearts. Fostering Hope.

COBYS therapists encourage individuals and families to work through problems and find healing in broken relationships.

 

COBYS client link to Therapy Portal:

   Therapy Portal    

Counseling

COBYS > Counseling

COBYS Family Services Counseling Center

The trained staff at COBYS Family Services offer professional psychotherapy and support to individuals, couples, and families at two locations in Lancaster County. COBYS therapists are providers for several insurance companies. Here are the types of issues that our therapists address:

  • Marital and couples’ therapy
  • Relational issues
  • Family therapy
  • Depression, anxiety
  • EMDR
  • TF-CBT (children ages 3 – 18) – see below for more information on this type of therapy.

 

We are now accepting daytime inquiries for children and adults at all locations. Please email counselingadmin@cobys.org for more information.

Unfortunately, we are not taking referrals for after school or evening hours at this time. Please contact your insurance company for other referral sources.

 

COBYS Counseling phone number is 717-661-3548.

For an overview of COBYS Counseling Center and the State of Mental Health in Lancaster County click here.

 

Touchstone Foundation provides funding to COBYS to support our efforts in equipping therapists to become licensed in their professional field.

 

Most of our therapists take the following insurances:

                                    

                                   

       

Aetna, Highmark, Capital Blue, Optum, Geisinger, Independence Blue Cross, Magellan, Quest, Medicaid (PerformCare and CCBH), Various EAP programs.

(We do not take Access.)

 

Specialized Services

We also provide some specialized services:

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is a short-term treatment intervention for children who exhibit behavioral or emotional symptoms as the result of having experienced a trauma. Both children and parents are involved in the treatment process.

TF-CBT primarily reduces symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterized by problems with managing trauma-related negative emotions and physical reactions caused by memories or reminders of the trauma that may lead to maladaptive coping such as avoidance of reminders. These reactions often interfere with functioning at home, in school, and in interpersonal relationships.

The specific components of TF-CBT are summarized by the acronym PRACTICE:

  • Psychoeducation is provided to children and their caregivers about the impact of trauma and common childhood reactions.
  • Parenting skills are provided to optimize children’s emotional and behavioral adjustment.
  • Relaxation and stress management skills are individualized for each child and parent.
  • Affective expression and modulation are taught to help children and parents identify and cope with a range of emotions.
  • Cognitive coping and processing are enhanced by illustrating the relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This helps children and parents modify inaccurate or unhelpful thoughts about the trauma.
  • Trauma narration, in which children describe their personal traumatic experiences, is an important component of the treatment.
  • In vivo mastery of trauma reminders is used to help children overcome their avoidance of situations that are no longer dangerous, but which remind them of the original trauma.
  • Conjoint child-parent sessions help the child and parent talk to each other about the child’s trauma.
  • Enhancing future safety and development—the final phase of the treatment—addresses safety, helps the child to regain developmental momentum, and covers any other skills the child needs to end treatment.

Learn more about the effects of trauma on children and TF-CBT at:
nctsn.org/resources/audiences/parents-caregivers
nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/tfcbt_general.pdf

 

Educational Support Groups and Classes

   Family Life Education Programs   

COBYS offers these group opportunities to empower individuals through evidence-based programs. See below for more information on each program.
•  Blues Program for Teenagers
•  Cooperative Parenting and Divorce
•  Incredible Years for Lancaster County
•  Parenting Autism
•  Kinship Workshops
•  Seeking Safety

 

Blues Program for Teenagers

The Blues Program is designed for teenagers (aged 14-18), teaching skills that strengthen your power to push back against anxiety, stress, and depression.  Learn how your thoughts, feelings and actions interact to take control of your moods.  Join other teens in an online educational group and make positive changes in your life.

A permission form and assessment form will need completed in order to make sure this program is a good fit for your needs.  Please contact education@cobys.org if you have any questions.
Learn more/Register.

 

Cooperative Parenting and Divorce

Divorce is a reality for millions of families. Co-parenting is an intentional commitment to put the children first.

Join other co-parents in this free skill building program as you navigate the challenges of co-parenting. Learn about tools that are proven to help parents:

  • Shield your children from parental conflict
  • Disengage from the former relationship
  • Manage anger
  • Establish a cooperative, long-term relationship with each other as co-parents
  • Develop effective communication skills
  • Negotiate agreements in a business-like manner
  • Increase co-parenting respect

Learn more/Register.

 

Incredible Years for Lancaster County

A free comprehensive program designed to support parents and their children (birth to 12 years old). Using the evidence-based Incredible Years Parenting Program, this 10-week program supports attachment and parent-child interaction, encourages positive parenting, and increases parents’ ability to promote children’s social, emotional, and academic development.  In addition to the weekly group sessions, educators will also meet with participants for weekly individualized 15-minute phone check-ins.
Learn more/Register.

(Approved program of the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency)

 

Parenting Autism

Parenting Autism is an educational discussion group for parents and/or caregivers raising children on the spectrum, providing education, advocacy, and support.  Join other families who are sharing the same experiences and challenges that you face every day.

Topics include: Navigating School, Homework Avoidance, Community Resources Available, Parenting Stress, Fears, Self-Regulation, Goal Setting.
Learn more/Register.

 

Workshops for Kinship Caregivers & Others

Are you raising a relative’s child?
Kinship arrangements are often unanticipated and can result in a range of unique household needs and challenges. Support is available!

Each month we will talk about topics that will be helpful to families providing care for children.  Connect with people in similar situations virtually on Zoom.com.  These workshops are open to anyone helping to raise or care for children – parents, caregivers, kinship parents – please join us!

Please see our Kinship page for more details and to register, or contact kinship@cobys.org.
Learn more/Register.

 

Seeking Safety

Seeking Safety is an evidence-based group therapy program that focuses on coping skills in the present moment.

Many people affected by trauma may turn to addictive behaviors to try to manage difficult feelings. Seeking Safety discusses tools to help you manage these symptoms and to cope effectively.

Learn to navigate triggers and successfully build a life of safety, security and wellbeing.  People do not share stories of their traumas, but instead look towards the future and practice new ways to cope, safely.

Topics include: safety, stress and trauma, healing from anger, grounding, when substances control you, recovery thinking, community resources, healthy relationships, and boundaries.

Seeking Safety is an open-enrollment, mixed gender group.  Participants may join the group at any point and receive a certificate after participating in 10 complete sessions.
Learn more/Register.

 

Making Sense of Your Worth

The program is designed for anyone desiring positive self-worth or secure attachment. Attendees participate in a series of sessions in a group format designed to help them understand how past life events have contributed to low self-worth. This program helps adults overcome their painful pasts so they can be free to be their best selves in all areas of life. This is a women’s only class. A discounted price is offered for foster moms.
Learn more/Register.