Structure, Rules, and Parent Training That Works at Home and School
George Damous explains that child behavior and emotional struggles are showing up at younger ages than many parents expect. He notes that problems once seen most often in mid-teen years now appear in children as young as three and four. His message is that earlier support matters, because early intervention can change the path for a child and for a family.
He saw more children struggling with behavior, emotions, and learning, but not enough programs that addressed those needs in a complete way. He chose South Charleston so families could reach the office with ease, and so the practice could serve the community from a central location.
One building focuses on outpatient therapy, with sessions that often occur weekly or every other week. That program includes assessments and therapy, supported by a team that includes licensed counselors, psychologists, nurse practitioners who provide medication management, and a psychiatrist. The second building houses an intensive program that runs for eight weeks, from 8:00 to 4:30, five days a week. Children continue academics during the day, so they do not lose school credit. The program also includes group therapy, individual therapy, and parent training.
The process starts with an intake interview that covers birth history through current life, including social history, academics, emotional functioning, and behavior. If needed, the practice completes a full evaluation to understand the child’s level of functioning and to choose the right interventions. They use tools such as intelligence and achievement testing to look for learning disorders and to see how different skill areas line up. Some children benefit from approaches that are structured and based on clear cause and effect, rather than methods that rely on reasoning skills the child may not yet have.
When the focus is behavior, he describes a structured approach built around behavior plans and parent coaching. He emphasizes natural and logical consequences. Privileges like screens, toys, and phone access connect to following rules at home. He addresses a common conflict in families: children believing they run the home or set the terms. His position is that adults set the rules, and children earn privileges by meeting expectations. The goal is for the child to function across settings, including home and school, and for parents to feel equipped to lead with clear structure.
He also explains why some families may need a higher level of care. Some in-home services exist, but he points out that consistency can be an issue. The intensive program can help the child learn the structure directly, which then makes the parent strategies more likely to work at home. He states that the practice offers a full set of outpatient mental health services, including medication options, therapy, evaluations, and an intensive program that the practice has operated for about 20 years. He notes that results vary, but reports a success rate in the 75% to 80% range, with many children returning to school and avoiding further trouble.
If a parent is dealing with behavior, emotional stress, or school problems, the next step is simple. Call Damous Psychological Services at (304) 720-3835 to schedule an intake interview. The intake is meant to be informative, with no obligation, and it helps clarify what services fit the child’s needs.