Clinic / Therapy Services
Physical Therapy
The ability to move plays a crucial role in any person’s development and daily living activities. If physical development concerns are suspected, parents and caregivers should consider a physical therapy evaluation for their child.
A physical therapy evaluation at HCA will assess the following factors:
- Muscle tone, strength, and flexibility
- Posture
- Balance and coordination
- Motor skills
- Breathing patterns
- Need for assistive devices
If concerns are found in any of these areas, HCA will recommend the appropriate physical therapy treatment, tailored to each individual’s needs.
Our physical therapists will then build on the movement skills a child already has, seeking to diminish factors that interfere with functional movement. Through play and physical handling techniques, children experience new movements and develop safe and efficient movement patterns.
HCA physical therapists also teach parents and other caregivers how to encourage the physical development of their child for optimal function and learning.
For more information about HCA’s physical therapy services, please contact the OT/PT Department Coordinator at (607) 798-7117 x332.
Occupational Therapy
Movement and exploration and processing of the environment are an important part of development and learning. If small motor, self-care, or sensory processing development problems are suspected, parents and caregivers should consider an occupational therapy evaluation for their child.
An occupational therapy evaluation at HCA will assess the following factors:
- Upper body muscle tone, strength, and range of motion
- Fine motor skill development
- Eye-hand coordination
- Visual-Perceptual development
- Activities of daily living (i.e., dressing, eating, hygiene)
- Sensory integrative functioning
- Need for assistive devices
- Environmental adaptations
If concerns are found in any of these areas, HCA will recommend the appropriate occupational therapy treatment, tailored to each individual’s needs.
Our New York State-licensed occupational therapists and certified occupational therapist assistants provide treatment sessions in the classrooms and in our clinic settings.
We also encourage family members to observe therapy sessions and participate in their child’s individual treatment program through hands-on learning, observation, team meetings, and regular communication with our therapists.
For more information about HCA’s occupational therapy services, please contact the OT/PT Department Coordinator at (607) 798-7117 x332.
Speech and Language Pathology
Speech and language skills are an integral part of an individual’s social interactions and educational development.
A speech language pathology evaluation at HCA will assess the following factors:
- Receptive language – understanding what is said
- Expressive language – use of language to express ideas
- Articulation/Phonology – speech sound production
- Fluency – disruptions in the flow of speech
- Voice – determination of appropriate vocal quality, pitch and intensity
- Oral motor – inspection of mouth to determine structural/functional adequacy for speech production
- Non-verbal communication methods – incorporating sign language, communication boards and electronic devices
If concerns are found in any of these areas, HCA will recommend the appropriate speech therapy treatment, tailored to each individual’s needs.
Our certified and/or licensed speech/language pathologists provide both individual and classroom therapy sessions.
We also encourage an interdisciplinary approach, educating and coordinating with the child’s family/caregivers, teachers, and other therapists.
For more information about HCA’s speech and language pathology program, please contact our Clinical Director at (607) 798-7117 x311.
Behavioral Health Services
HCA’s behavioral health team is committed to being compassionate, confidential, accepting and approachable in our communications. We honor and celebrate ability, race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and presentation. Our clinicians provide person-centered, automonmy affirming serivces to indivdiauls of all ages, who have established OPWDD eligibility.
Article 16 Clinic Mental Health Counseling (psychotherapy)
Would you like a safe and compassionate person to talk to? HCA’s Article 16 Clinic counselors are available to help individuals who are interested in improving their mental health. Counselors are able to work with you to learns skills to navigate relationships and life stressors, explore patterns in lifestyle and behavior choices, or simply listen. If desired, individuals may invite members of their circle of support to participate in therapy sessions. Counseling offices are located at 18 Broad Street, Johnson City. Virtual appointments may be available. Sessions are provided by team memers under the supervision of an LCSW and will be billed from the individual’s insurance.
Behavior Supports
When an individual struggles to express themselves, for any reason, behavior becomes the primary means of communicating that there is an unmet need or something is not working for them. The goal of Behavior Support program is to assist households in identifying the unmet needs an indiviudal is expressing through behavior. This is a brief, solution-focused intervention program operated under the OPWDD Family Support Services Grant. A referred individual (of any age) must have a behavior score of 50 or above and live with a full time, non-paid caregiver. A member of our behavioral health program partners with the household to understand the role and source of behavior that is causing distress. Together, the team works to identify patterns, antecedents and consequences of the behavior to develop a game plan to meet the unmet need and improve the quality of life within the household. There is no cost to the participants.
To learn more about our programs or referral process, please contact Jessica Cornell, Director of Clinical Services, j.cornell@hcaserves.com or 607-798-7117 x311.
Meet Our Team
Heather Leigh Kessler
Heather Leigh Kessler, Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), earned her Master’s in Social Work at Binghamton University. As a therapist she specializes in working with adolescents, adults, and families using Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Heathers guiding philosophy is to consider a human’s total existence (meaning their mind, body and soul) in treatment to help reduce their suffering.
Some of Heather’s areas of interest include teaching executive functioning skills, evaluating nutrition for mental health, and helping people understand themselves and their interactions more clearly. Heather has experience working with individuals who experience anxiety, depression, mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, personality disorders, trauma-and stressor related disorders, feeding and eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Amy Kennicutt