Pamela Samaha

The Child and Family Institute of Fairfield County was formally known as The Center for Attention and Related Disorders (CARD). The name change occurred to reflect our growth into a full spectrum out-patient mental health center.

Founder and Executive Director

• Designed comprehensive out-patient mental health facility, specializing in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with social, emotional, and academic issues
• Provided clinical evaluations, treatment planning, individual, group, marital, and family therapy
• Collaborative work with community agencies and providers to enhance the care of patients
• Educational advocate for children and adolescents
• Provided in service trainings to school systems on ADHD, Anxiety, and Parenting
• Provided Clinical supervision and training to clinicians and internship students. Training included effective assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning, evidence-based therapeutic techniques, etc
• Expanded professional knowledge through ongoing continuing education and training opportunities in the field of clinical social work. Extensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical BehaviorTherapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma Treatment

B.O.O.S.T. Program (Building Opportunities for Our Students to Thrive)

Designed and implemented the B.O.O.S.T. Program, an intensive therapeutic wilderness program for children with social, emotional, and behavioral issues.

• Designed and implemented therapeutic curriculum for daily group therapy to enhance emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and social skills
• Developed individualized treatment plans addressing complex mental health issues.
• Responsible for training of entire clinical, educational, and wilderness staff
• Responsible for grant writing and procurement
• Responsible for program marketing, fundraising, and community relations