The Youth and Family Counseling program offers short and long term counseling for young people (children under 21) and their families. These services are preformed by certified and licensed counselors on an out-patient basis, are available on a sliding scale, and are accessible to anyone regardless of ability to pay. Program staff offer extensive assessment services, substance abuse counseling, parenting skills assistance, anger management groups, and community referrals.
The main goals of the Youth and Family Counseling Program are to enable clients to recognize their issue(s), take the necessary steps to deal with their problem(s), and learn how to manage their mental health on their own. Furthermore, the program assists in identifying clients’ strengths, working from a treatment plan that accentuates these qualities. DYS counseling sessions not only address the needs of the individual client, but those of his or her family members as well. This directly relates to the agency’s mission in that the program seeks to strengthen the family as a whole. In addition, the program provides its clients with the tools to be productive members of society and to decrease the need for further professional intervention. Major long term outcomes that the program addresses are (1) clients will have an improved ability to work independently on issues, and attain a desired level of achievement; (2) clients will have continued increased awareness and ownership of their issues and relationships; and (3) clients will have an increase in positive behavior.
DYS Youth and Family Counseling combines cognitive based therapy with a family systems approach utilizing a non-medical model.
Contact: Joe Arconti, MS, LPC
Clinical Director
Joe’s Biography
Joe Arconti has extensive experience working with youth at all developmental levels as a retired, 36 year veteran teacher/counselor in the Danbury Public School System. Mr. Arconti fully understands and appreciates the Danbury community culture and diversity. He brings this experience into the clinical field while working at DYS.
(203) 748 – 2936 ex. 18
jarconti.dys@snet.net
Counselors Biographies
Elizabeth Cotter, M.S., N.C.C., received her Master’s degree in the Community Counseling Department at Western Connecticut State University. Elizabeth holds a B.S. in Dance Education from New York University. She is a nationally certified counselor. Currently, Elizabeth is the Outreach Counselor for Danbury Yourh Services. She works with children of all ages and their families. Ms. Cotter integrates movement and the creative arts in a wholistic approach to foster self esteem and effective decision making skills for her clients.
Kelley Hopkins-Alvarez, Counselor Intern, Masters in Education, Masters in Counseling Candidate who is in the final semester of the masters program at Western Connecticut State University. Kelley’s background includes a Masters in Education from the University of Bridgeport, and a State of CT teaching certificate. Counseling focus is a strength-based approach utilizing the family systems model, which incorporates play therapy and the creative arts.