Behavioral Health | Cleveland Clinic Children's

Overview

Cleveland Clinic Children's offers comprehensive psychological care for children, adolescents, and their families. Our services address a wide range of developmental, behavioral, and emotional challenges. Many of our behavioral health providers are integrated with local primary care practices for easier access. In addition, we offer specialized testing and support for children with medical conditions. Our specialty clinics are conveniently located throughout Northeast Ohio, including downtown Cleveland.

Through collaboration with the Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cleveland Clinic Children's Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health offers a full range of psychological services.

To schedule a consultation, please call 216.444.5437(KIDS).

What We Treat

Academic concerns (learning disability, executive functioning)
ADHD
Adjustment to life events (loss, separation, moving)
Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, selective mutism, OCD)
Developmental delay/autism spectrum disorders
Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, ARFID)
Feeding disorders and failure to thrive
Forensic assessments
Gender and sexuality concerns
Genetic disorders
Hair pulling
Mood (depression, bipolar, anger/aggression)
Pain (headache, stomach pain, concussion, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, POTS, fibromyalgia)
Weight issues (obesity)
Sleep disturbance (insomnia, nightmares, narcolepsy)
Substance use/abuse
Tics and tourette’s disorder
Toileting (nighttime and daytime)
Trauma
Vocal cord dysfunction

Pediatric patients benefit from our multidisciplinary approach, where psychologists work in pediatric specialty clinics and departments. Conditions treated include:

Programs

We offer programs to help support you and your child. Through these programs, you can learn about many services we have, including ADHD evaluation, pediatric psychology, the Gender Understanding, IDentity and Expression (GUIDE) Pediatric Program, learning evaluations, pediatric feeding disorder care and more.

ADHD Center for Evaluation and Treatment (ACET)

ADHD Center for Evaluation and Treatment (ACET) is a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment service that informs children and adults about the presence of symptom criteria for ADHD.

Center for Autism

To schedule an appointment for your child, please call 216.448.6440. A variety of services are offered through the Center for Autism to include diagnostic evaluations, follow-up care evaluations, behaviorally-based treatments, speech / language therapy, occupational therapy and outreach training and consultation services. Additionally, the Center for Autism has a robust federally funded research program where families may participate in clinical research which may be of benefit to children and their families.

Pediatric psychology for acute and chronic illness

The Pediatric Psychology Team at Cleveland Clinic Children's provides both inpatient and outpatient consultation services to children with acute and chronic health conditions. Diagnoses include, but are not limited to, organ failure and transplant, Diabetes, hematology and oncology diagnoses, treatments requiring PICU admission, and NICU stays. This team includes interdisciplinary consultation with other providers on the child’s medical and psychosocial team, and can assist with discharge planning.

Behavioral Treatment for Headache

Behavioral Treatment for Headache teaches children cognitive and behavioral strategies (i.e., “changing the way you think and act”) that can successfully minimize the pain and distress associated with headaches.

Gender Understanding, Identity and Expression (GUIDE) Pediatric Program

The Gender Understanding, Identity and Expression (GUIDE) Pediatric Program provides an evaluation and wide range of support and intervention for youth (childhood through adolescent years) who are gender questioning, gender non-confirming, gender fluid, or transgender, or who are struggling with any other issues around gender. Sometimes they are trying to figure out gender identity, or how they want to express gender; sometimes they may just feel like their gender assigned at birth doesn’t fit quite right. Our team works toward the goal of finding a path that is right for your individual child and family.

Learning Evaluation Clinic

The Learning Evaluation Clinic provides psychoeducational assessments and consultation for children with learning and developmental concerns. Concerns may include academic underachievement, giftedness placement, difficulties with a specific academic subject of skill, or general concerns with his or her ability to understand or process information.

After the evaluation, the Learning Evaluation Clinic provides recommendations to enhance the child’s learning potential. The clinic services children aged 5 through 18, although referrals outside this age range are considered on a case by case basis.

For more information, please contact Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation at 216.448.6310.

Specialty assessment & consultation service

We offer extensive diagnostic evaluation, psychological testing/assessment, and treatment planning for children with complex developmental, genetic, medical, behavioral, learning, and/or psychological disorders; with specialty focus on those with complex autism spectrum disorders, issues of differential diagnosis, multi-system involvement, genetic and/or metabolic disorders, and disorders of sex differentiation or gender identity.

Services include consultation with families and professionals regarding decision-making regarding treatment options or for second opinion assessments regarding diagnosis.

Please call 440.516.8690 to schedule an appointment or for more information.

Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program

The Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program is an interdisciplinary program established for the evaluation and treatment of young children (age 0-11 years) with a variety of presenting feeding problems.

The Feeding Program integrates the perspectives of Psychology, Developmental Pediatrics, Occupational Therapy and Clinical Nutrition to comprehensively address feeding difficulties including:

Poor growth/growth faltering.
Dependence on supplemental tube feedings.
Aversive feeding behavior.
Inability to advance texture in the diet; and/or significant food selectivity.

The Feeding Team clinicians provide interventions designed to treat severe avoidant and/or aversive feeding behavior as well as oral motor and oral sensory skill deficits. In addition, significant parent guidance and support is also offered as key component of the Program.

For more information or to schedule an evaluation, contact us at 216.448.6024.

Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program

The Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program is a unique and innovative program designed for children and adolescents with chronic pain that interferes with normal activities (e.g., attending school or interacting with peers).

Our program focuses on helping children manage their chronic pain and restoring daily activity. It consists of inpatient and day hospital components and blends pediatric subspecialty care, behavioral health, and rehabilitation therapies in an individualized but coordinated manner.

For more information, contact us at 216.448.6253.

School consultation & program development for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This school-based service offers direct consultation regarding the specific needs of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including program development and teacher in-services.

For more information, call 440.519.3019.

Selective Mutism Program

The Selective Mutism Program offers diagnostic, assessment, treatment and consultation services for children who struggle with communication at school and/or select social settings. These comprehensive evaluations help to differentiate selective mutism from other disorders, to develop an intervention plan for home/school, and to provide consultation with a child's school team and other specialty service providers for optimum collaboration of care.

As a convenience to families who travel from a distance, the program offers a unique full-day assessment model where diagnostic interview, testing/assessment and comprehensive intervention planning can be completed by day's end.

For more information about the Selective Mutism Program, contact Dr. Kristen Eastman at 330.888.4000.

Sibling Outreach Program

The Sibling Outreach Program at Cleveland Clinic Children’s is designed to address the psychosocial needs of siblings who are touched by cancer or a serious blood disorder. An interdisciplinary team that includes psychology, social work, Child Life, art therapy, music therapy and medicine offers:

Distribution of education materials to parents and siblings to assist with adjustment and expectations throughout the treatment process.
Social events designed for siblings of different ages to interact with other siblings and to have fun.
Optional resource referrals for additional support.
Opportunities for therapeutic interventions through art therapy, music therapy, Child Life, psychology and social work.
Ongoing emotional and educational support during and beyond treatment.

Join a Group

ADHD Groups

ADHD Parenting Group

Parents may benefit from participating in the ADHD Parenting Group to better understand their child's diagnosis and treatment. This 4-week group meets once a week and provides the opportunity to learn strategies alongside other parents to better manage ADHD at home. Strategies include behavior management, understanding ADHD and the brain, compliance training and support.

For more information or to sign up, please call 440.930.6238.

ADHD Shared Appointment for New Diagnosis

To further develop an understanding of an ADHD diagnosis, parents can benefit from attending an ADHD Shared Psychological Appointment. The shared appointment will include other families with the goal of helping, supporting and educating all participants about ADHD and how to treat it moving forward.

Appointment information

To schedule an appointment on the east side, call 216.448.6310.
To schedule an appointment on the west side, call 440.930.6238, option 2.

ADHD Social Skills Group

Children ages 6-14 years old can benefit from this group. It focuses on social skills training to assist children and adolescents who have difficulty having age appropriate interactions with their peers. Treatment goals are individualized for each child. Parent Coaching Groups are also offered simultaneously to help parents learn behavioral techniques and interventions based on a social learning and behavioral modification model.

To obtain information or an application, or call 216.448.6310.

Executive Functioning Skills Group

To assist with age appropriate executive functioning skills (e.g. organizing binders, using a planner, breaking down large projects, etc.), adolescents in grades 6-12 can benefit from Organizational Skills Training. Treatment goals are individualized for each adolescent. Parent involvement is expected.

To obtain information or an application, or call 216.448.6310.

Anxiety Groups

Calm Kids Group

Children may benefit from participating in this 4-week coping skills group to learn better strategies to manage their emotions and behaviors. This group is offered on a rotating basis using the Zoom platform to allow access to children and families across the region. Children and parents will learn together with peers of similar ages. Skills are taught in a hands-on, child friendly manner to teach kids to cope with anxiety and face fears. Parents also learn skills for supporting kids and increasing their independence.

Appointment information

To schedule at Avon Pointe, call 440.930.6250, ext. 2.
To schedule at the Westlake Rehab Facility, call 440.835.7400.

Behavior Groups

Rising to the Challenge Parent Group

This group is for parents of children with disruptive behavior concerns (tantrums, strong emotional reactions, noncompliance, arguing, etc.). Parents of children ages 3-6 years old attend seven meetings that are facilitated by Alison Moses, PhD. The group focuses on teaching behavioral parenting strategies, including: enhancing parent/child relationship through emotion coaching and child directed play, behavior specific praise, effective reward systems, limit setting/direction giving, planned ignoring and time out to calm down.

All groups occur in person (no virtual option) at the Strongsville Family Health & Surgery Center on Thursday evenings from 5-7 p.m. This group is for parents only; no childcare will be provided. All group sessions will be billed as CPT code 90849. Patients are responsible for checking with their insurance provider regarding benefits and co-pays for group therapy.

Sign up for Cleveland Clinic Children's Rising to the Challenge Parent Group.

Any questions, please call 440.878.2500.

Headache Groups

Behavioral Treatment for Headaches

Recurrent or daily headache pain is a burden for both children and their families. Headaches interfere with school performance and quality of life. Health behaviors like poor sleep, improper nutrition and exposure to headache triggers can exacerbate this pain. Factors like stress, fear, perfectionism or frustration can interfere with behaviors leading to good health. Children also find themselves engaging in a “habit” or pattern of behaviors which, healthy or unhealthy, they find difficult to change.

Behavioral treatment for headache teaches children cognitive and behavioral strategies (i.e., “changing the way you think and act”) that can successfully reduce the pain and distress associated with headaches. While the focus is on the child or teen, parents also learn about strategies to effectively monitor and support their child’s self-management of headaches and succeed in regular activities. These strategies are meant to complement the medical recommendations provided by the referring doctor.

There is a lot of research that support using these skills to prevent and treat headache. Additionally, data from our treatment program shows significant reduction in the number of severity of headaches children experience. The headache clinic is geared towards pediatric patients with 1 or more headaches per week that are seeking behavioral treatment in conjunction with medical treatment to manage headache symptoms. Patients will learn coping strategies to better manage symptoms and pain caused by headaches. Treatment is provided in group at convenient locations in Northeast Ohio as well—or you can join an internet-based program through telehealth and join the group from the comfort of your home.

To schedule or learn more, please call 216.448.6064. For insurance purposes, a referral from your primary care doctor or neurologist may be needed.

Please complete the Background Assessment Form before your child's first appointment to expedite enrollment.

Toileting Groups

Functional Constipation Clinic

The purpose of this shared medical appointment is to address the medical, emotional and behavioral factors that affect your child’s toileting difficulties. It's designed for patients being treated for constipation, who may also have fecal soiling accidents or delayed toilet training. Groups of up to five children meet for 90-minutes each week for a total of four consecutive weeks and then continue to return for monthly follow-up groups until they're ready to graduate from "Poop School!"

Providers

Colleen McNatt, CNP
Katherine Corvi, PsyD

Child Group Facilitator

Lianne Piorkowski, LPCC-S

Sessions are offered in-person and virtually. To learn more, please call 216.445.9765.

How to Enroll

If your child is between the ages of 3-7 years old and able to attend four consecutive Friday morning appointments:

Complete the intake packet online or by calling our program coordinator at 216.445.9765.
Once the intake form is received and reviewed, a member of our scheduling team will contact you to schedule your intake appointments with Colleen McNatt, CNP, and Katherine Corvi, PsyD.

Our Team

	Meagan Adley, PsyD Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Hilary Alexander, PhD, LPCC-S Clinical Therapist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Gerard Banez, PhD Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Samantha Bellinger, PsyD Psychologist Hillcrest Medical Office Building II
	Ethan Benore, PhD, BCB, ABPP Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation Hillcrest Medical Office Building II R Building - Cleveland Clinic Children's Outpatient Center
	Katherine Corvi, PsyD Psychologist Hillcrest Hospital Hillcrest Medical Office Building II
	Cara Cuddy, PhD Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Abby Demianczyk, PhD Psychologist Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
	Kristen Eastman, PsyD Psychologist Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center
	Kate Eshleman, PsyD Psychologist R Building – Cleveland Clinic Children’s Outpatient Center
	Hallie Fetterman, PhD Psychologist Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
	Catherine Gaw, PsyD Psychologist Willoughby Hills Behavioral Health
	Eric Geyer, MA, LPC Clinical Therapist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Vanessa Jensen, PsyD Psychologist Chagrin Falls Family Health Center
	Kathryn Jones, PhD Psychologist Independence Family Health Center
	Amy Lee, PhD Psychologist Avon Pointe Family Health Center
	Michael Manos, PhD Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Beth Ann Martin, PhD Psychologist Solon Family Health Center
	Kate McLean, PhD Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Allison Metz, LPCC Behavioral Health Outpatient Therapist Independence Family Health Center
	Alison Moses, PhD Psychologist Strongsville Family Health Center
	Emily Mudd, PhD Psychologist R Building – Cleveland Clinic Children’s Outpatient Center
	Ashley Penman, LISW-S Clinical Social Work Lakewood Family Health Center
	Lianne Piorkowski, LPCC Clinical Therapist Hillcrest Medical Office Building II
	Gina Rhodes, PhD Psychologist Fairview Hospital
	Pamela Senders, PhD Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Taylor Stephens, PhD Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	T. Shawn Sullivan, PhD Administrator Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
	Alina Vaisleib, PsyD Psychologist Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation

Education

We have many opportunities for advanced training in pediatric psychology in our Center. We provide advanced fellowship training in Pediatric Psychology and Pediatric Pain Psychology. We also offer an APA accredited Residency Program. Further, we also provide a number of clinical practica for 4th and 5th year graduate students.

Fellowship Information

Resources

Podcasts

Listen to episodes of Cleveland Clinic's podcast Health Essentials.

Managing School Anxiety During COVID-19 featuring Dr. Ethan Benore
Coping With Back-to-School Uncertainty and Anxiety featuring Dr. Ethan Benore
Parenting Strategies in the Time of COVID-19 featuring Dr. Kate Eshleman

Consult QD

Find helpful posts from Cleveland Clinic's site for physicians and healthcare professionals.

Other online resources

Locating and selecting a mental health provider
Cleveland Clinic Children's Healthcare Partners are a team of patients and family members who have had previous experience with Cleveland Clinic Children's services and programs. They work collaboratively with caregivers to promote and enhance safer patient care and improve the patient experience.