Therapeutic Activities
Not all of the work happens in a therapy office. Art, music, movement, games and recreation give children and teens other ways to express themselves, build confidence, practice social skills and cope with hard feelings.
Activities run alongside talk therapy and medication management at the Children’s Hospital, not instead of them.
Recreational and creative programming is led by trained staff and woven into each child’s daily schedule. Activities aren’t a break from treatment. They are treatment, giving kids ways to work through feelings that don’t always come out in talk therapy.
The campus is built for it: a full gymnasium, dedicated activity and recreation areas, and secure, child-friendly outdoor spaces. Music and art programming is offered in partnership with the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art.
Along the way, children practice the exact skills their treatment is building: cooperation, frustration tolerance, self-expression, and confidence. For a lot of kids, an activity is where the breakthrough finally shows up.
The Walk-In Clinic is open 24/7 for psychiatric assessments, no appointment necessary. Call the Children’s Hospital at (270) 689-6800.
What to Expect
Therapeutic activities are part of every child’s structured daily schedule, balanced with therapy sessions, educational programming, meals, and rest.
Activities are matched to each child’s age, interests, and treatment goals, and the team adjusts them as your child progresses.
Other Children’s Hospital Services
Inpatient Services
Inpatient psychiatric care for children and teens ages 5 to 17 at our 80-bed Owensboro hospital, with an on-site school, family therapy and discharge planning.
Acute Psychiatric Inpatient
Short-term inpatient care for children and teens in psychiatric crisis: immediate safety, 24/7 monitoring, and a plan for what happens next.
Individual Group Family Therapy
Individual, group and family therapy for every child in the hospital, using TF-CBT, EMDR and DBT, with parents and caregivers part of the plan.
Medication Evaluation Management
Medication evaluation and management by child and adolescent psychiatrists, with parents in on every decision and daily monitoring during the stay.
Nursing Care Crisis Support
Registered nurses and behavioral health associates on the unit 24 hours a day, handling medications, health needs and de-escalation.
Behavioral Intervention Services
Behavior support planning led by a board-certified behavior analyst: find what a behavior is for, teach a better way to get the same thing, and coach the family on it.
Specialized Therapies
The STATE Program for autism spectrum disorder, the BIRCH long-term program for boys 12 to 17, and TF-CBT, EMDR and DBT across the hospital.
