School Based Services - Student and Family Care

Where you are is where we begin.

At MOSAIC Family Counseling Center, Inc., we are committed to providing high-quality, accessible mental health services to children and families in our community. Our goal is to meet children where they are—both physically and emotionally—so they can thrive academically and personally.

To that end, we provide two School Based Services, 1) School Based Mental Health Services, provided as a normal therapy appointment in the schools & 2) Student Assistant Program Services Directly through the school.

SBMH Encompasses services provided in the school setting. Service locations are flexible for students and families who prefer to meet in the office outside of school hours.

*Spanish Speaking Services Available - Servicios en Espanol

Growth.

Clarity.

Support. Compassion.

School Based Services

School-Based Services at MOSAIC Family Counseling Center, Inc.

At MOSAIC Family Counseling Center, Inc., we are committed to providing high-quality, accessible mental health services to children and families in our community. We understand that attending appointments outside of school can be challenging for many families. To help reduce barriers to care, we offer two school-based service options:

School-Based Mental Health Services

Through our School-Based Mental Health program, licensed therapists are embedded on-site at select schools to provide therapy directly to students during the school day. This allows students to receive consistent mental health support in a familiar and convenient setting.

Services are billed to the student’s insurance (private or Medicaid) or available through private pay.

These appointments are equivalent to traditional outpatient therapy sessions and are coordinated in collaboration with school staff and families.

School-Based Mental Health Services

MOSAIC Family Counseling Center, Inc. (MFCC) is proud to partner with the Des Moines Public School District (DMPS) & The West Des Moines Public School District (WDMPS) to provide school-based mental health services at select schools. We are committed to offering the same high-quality care you'd expect in an outpatient setting, in a way that’s convenient and accessible—right in your child’s school.

Our licensed therapists work onsite, collaborating closely with parents, teachers, and school staff to support each student’s emotional growth, healing, and success. Services are billed through self pay OR the student’s health insurance (private or Medicaid) and are designed for ongoing mental health support to address symptoms, build coping skills, and improve daily functioning.

Participating Schools:

Stilwell Junior High School (West Des Moines)

Perkins Elementary School (DMPS)

North High School (DMPS)

Windsor Elementary School (DMPS)

How It Works:

Therapy sessions are held during the school day at the student's school.

Parents play a vital role in their child’s progress. Therapists will maintain regular communication and invite collaboration.

MFCC is an independent mental health agency. While we partner with the schools, our therapists are not employees of the school district.

Getting Started:

To begin school-based therapy services, please follow these steps:

Call our office at 515-724-8920 to schedule an intake appointment with a therapist.

Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The intake appointment may be held either:

At your child’s school, or

At our office:
6200 Aurora Ave., Suite 305E
Urbandale, IA 50322

A parent or legal guardian must be present at the intake appointment.

Complete intake paperwork must be submitted directly to MFCC before the appointment.

Please do not return paperwork to the school. This helps us protect your child’s confidentiality and ensures accuracy.

Is School-Based Therapy Right for Your Child?

If your child is struggling with anxiety, depression, behavior challenges, or other emotional concerns, school-based therapy may be a helpful and convenient solution. Let us support your child in a familiar environment where they spend much of their day.

Intake paperwork includes:

A copy of your child’s insurance card

A copy of a parent’s ID

Service agreement

Financial agreement

Email agreement

Release of information to your child’s primary care physician (optional but helpful)

Release of information for Des Moines Public Schools (mandatory for scheduling and coordination of services only, unless you wish there to be more info shared)

After the initial assessment, your child will begin receiving services during school hours at their home school. Therapy services continue at school during breaks or you may choose to see the therapist in the office.

Not sure if or what type of help your child needs? See our Contracted Services through the Des Moines Public Schools below.

Student Assistance Program

In Partnership with Des Moines Public Schools

MOSAIC Family Counseling Center, Inc. (MFCC) proudly partners with the Des Moines Public School (DMPS) system to offer free, confidential behavioral health services to students and their families through the Student Assistance Program (SAP).

* Spanish Speaking Services Available

What Is SAP?

SAP is a no-cost, short-term intervention service designed to help students and their families manage challenges that may impact emotional well-being, academic success, or family functioning. Services are intended to be barrier-free, confidential, and quickly accessible.

Our team of mental health professionals is available to support students and their family members through brief, solution-focused care—typically over 3 to 5 sessions.

Who Is Eligible?

Any student enrolled in a DMPS school

Family members living in the same household as the student

How Are Services Provided?

To ensure flexibility and access, services can be provided in the following ways:

In person at the student’s school

In person at our office

By video (telehealth)

No referrals or insurance billing are required for SAP services.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Your privacy is protected by law. No information is shared without your written consent. If you would like our therapists to coordinate with school staff or other providers, we will provide the necessary Release of Information forms.

What Happens After SAP?

If additional support is needed after SAP services are complete, we offer a smooth transition to ongoing care through our:

School-Based Mental Health Program, or

In-office therapy services

This ensures continuity of care with a familiar provider.

Ready to Get Started?

If you're interested in SAP services, please complete the form at the bottom of this page, and a member of our team will follow up with you as soon as possible.

Let us help you and your child take the next step toward healing and success—in school and at home

Common Issues Addressed In SBMH Services

Emotional Regulation and Coping Skills
Helping students manage anxiety, anger, sadness, and other strong emotions in healthy, age-appropriate ways.
Behavioral Challenges in the Classroom
Addressing issues like impulsivity, defiance, inattention, or difficulty following directions that impact learning and peer relationships.
Social Skills and Peer Relationships
Building confidence and competence in making friends, navigating social situations, and resolving conflicts.
Academic Stress and School Avoidance
Supporting students who feel overwhelmed by academic pressure or are struggling with motivation and attendance.
Family Stress and Life Transitions
Providing support during family changes such as divorce, separation, illness, incarceration, or relocation.
Grief, Loss, and Trauma
Helping students process traumatic events or losses and develop tools for healing and resilience.
Self-Esteem and Identity Development
Supporting positive self-image, personal growth, and understanding of identity during critical developmental years.

What to expect From Our School-Based Teams

Professionalism and Clinical Expertise
Our licensed therapists are trained in practices to specifically assess the issues and committed to delivering ethical, culturally responsive care.
Master Prepared Interns, supervised by licensed therapists work with students through the Student Assistance Program to help bring much needed assistance to students.
Consistent, Student-Centered Support
Therapists meet regularly with students during the school day to provide ongoing, individualized mental health care tailored to each child’s needs.
Collaboration with Parents and Guardians
We actively involve caregivers in the treatment process through regular communication, updates, and support for continued care at home.
Partnership with School Staff
With appropriate consent, we coordinate with teachers, counselors, and administrators to support student success within the school environment.
Respect for Confidentiality
All services are provided in compliance with HIPAA and FERPA guidelines. Information is shared only with written permission.
Flexibility in Service Delivery
Sessions can be provided in person at school, and initial intakes may occur at school or at our office—whichever is most convenient for the family.
Timely Response and Crisis Support
When urgent concerns arise, our staff will respond promptly and help connect students and families to appropriate resources and follow-up care.

Therapeutic Approaches We May Use

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifies unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and replaces them with more accurate, workable strategies to improve mood and daily functioning.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Builds skills for expressing emotions, navigating life transitions, and strengthening communication and relationships that impact mental health.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A CBT-based approach that teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness; offered in individual sessions and, when appropriate, groups.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores how past experiences shape current patterns, increasing insight and freeing up new choices in the present.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): An eight-phase, trauma-focused treatment that helps the brain process distressing memories and beliefs, often using bilateral stimulation (e.g., guided eye movements or tapping) to reduce symptoms and support healing.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): A goal-oriented, strengths-based approach that highlights exceptions and small, doable steps toward your preferred future.
Play-Based & Art Therapy: Primarily used with children, this developmentally appropriate approach uses play as a medium for expression, problem-solving, and emotional processing when verbal communication may be limited.
Sand Tray Therapy: A creative, experiential method often used with children, adolescents, and adults. Clients use miniature figures in a tray of sand to symbolically express internal experiences, explore relationships, and resolve emotional conflicts in a safe, nonverbal format.