The Cullen Center
Resource Details
The Cullen Center offers outpatient pediatric behavioral health assessments, counseling and group support (no psychiatric services). We are a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).
We have a community that has the knowledge, resources, and commitment to support children, teens and their families who have experienced traumatic events. Our vision is to help them to heal and reclaim their lives. Several examples of trauma are:
Physical, sexual, or psychological abuse or neglect
Witnessing violence in the home, school or community
Sudden or violent loss of a family member or friend
Victim of crime
Serious accidents or life-threatening illness
Accident, fire, injury or other disaster
Natural or technological disasters or terrorism
Bullying/cyberbullying
Military family-related stressors (e.g., deployment, parental loss or injury)
Without treatment, repeated childhood exposure to traumatic events can affect the brain and nervous system and increase health-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking, eating disorders, substance use, and high-risk activities). Research shows that child trauma survivors can be more likely to have long-term health problems (e.g., diabetes and heart disease) or to die at an earlier age. Traumatic stress can also lead to increased use of health and mental health services and increased involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Adult survivors of traumatic events may also have difficulty in establishing fulfilling relationships and maintaining employment.
The mission of The Cullen Center is to recognize the family as an expert and develop mutually respectful and equal partnerships among trauma survivors, families and professionals. Part of our job as experts is to find the best possible tools available to help families reclaim their lives. We accomplish through evidence-based and best practice trauma-focused counseling and education. A therapy model is considered evidence-based when it has been tested and proven to improve children’s performance and reduce children’s trauma-related symptoms.