Our Story

More youth are in need of therapeutic care than ever before: in December 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General acknowledged this by issuing an advisory on the crisis of youth mental health. The American Pediatrics Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Children’s Hospital Association have also declared a National Emergency for Children and Adolescent Mental Health. The most recent Vermont Youth Behavior Risk Survey, conducted every two years highlights the current status of youth mental health and the negative impact on youth development.

An effective therapy space needs to feel safe, engage the five senses, be consistent, and establish structure and boundaries. Green Mountain Mobile Therapy was established in 2021 to ensure that quality space by meeting children where they are physically, socially, and emotionally.

Using a first-in-the-nation model, Green Mountain Mobile Therapy is a mobile therapy office that allows children to access mental health care - regardless of the physical limitations of their school, youth organization, or community. This structure reduces the burden of space allocation on schools – allowing for different types of therapeutic services – and is a safe, confidential, and consistent space for children who are in need of that stability.

By reducing barriers and building supportive models so youth can access mental health services, Green Mountain Mobile Therapy is making youth mental health care more accessible, equitable, and sustainable. Currently we provide mental health and social emotional services for youth attending;

• 3 Elementary Schools

• 1 Middle School

• 2 High Schools

In addition we partner with youth-based organizations for out-of-school services during breaks and summer months. Our services provide the following;

• 100 direct service hours per month

• Preventative social emotional skills to 500 youth annually

• Supportive guidance to 50 families

• Collaboration with 2 school districts, 3 pediatric offices, 1 community youth-based organization and State of Vermont agencies

Goals

In addition to providing psychotherapy for youth with little to no access to such services, Green Mountain Mobile Therapy aims to engage and collaborate with schools and community organizations focused on youth development to provide onsite mental health services within a trauma-informed practice perspective by:

• Reducing the stigma of mental health services

• Providing a consistent space and structure for clients to feel safe and engage in therapeutic processes

• Developing social-emotional structures and mindfulness practices to increase resilience in youth

• Building a platform for equitable access to mental health services for children and adolescents

• Collaborating with other service providers, including state agencies to support and protect youth

• Support, guide, and advocate for mental health and wellbeing services for youth and families