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Pathways is an emergency residence for adolescents experiencing behavioral issues and diagnosed with serious emotional disturbance, learning disabilities and/or co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses.

My clinician was always available to me, staff really listened and talked to me. I have been in lots of other programs, and none were like Pathways. I was able to learn how to communicate better, make healthy life choices and eventually move into a Pre-Independent Living program.

Pathways provides youth with a safe, highly structured, and therapeutic environment that meets each youth’s unique and individualized treatment needs. Our highly skilled and well-trained staff support youth in the development of effective coping and self-regulation skills.  Our master-level clinicians provide comprehensive assessments, highly individualized treatment planning, and individual, group, and family therapy. Because we are committed to maintaining youth’s connection to their community and school, youth attend school and/or vocational programs in the community, hold jobs, and remain involved in their home communities. We partner with community health and human service providers and primary, secondary, and higher education and vocational programs to meet youth and family’s needs across all life domains.

We help youth practice healthy coping skills and self-regulation strategies and develop productive relationships with their families and communities. We recognize that many of the young people we work with have been exposed to complex trauma, and many will need specialized care related to gender identity, sexual orientation, adoption, immigration status, and substance use. We pride ourselves on meeting our young people where they are at, providing them with the best care to suit their individual needs. When possible, we work closely with families and caregivers. Clinical work with caregivers focuses on depersonalizing youth behaviors, validating caregivers’ responses, and improving their ability to understand and appropriately manage their affect, resulting in stability, consistency, and permanency for youth.

Program Information

  • Location:  Amesbury, Massachusetts
  • Capacity:  12
  • Age of population: 13-18
  • Length of stay:  Variable
  • Agency and Stakeholders:  Department of Children Families

For more information, please contact:
Sean Carey, Program Director
SeanCarey@nafi.com
978-521-6868

The program utilizes the Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) treatment framework which allows Pathways to offer youth a supportive, safe and structured setting to move forward in their treatment goals.