Counseling
When a child becomes seriously ill, the entire family has to navigate uncharted waters — filled with physical, emotional, relational and financial challenges. To help find balance, we provide free, confidential, counseling and support services to children and their families.
Focusing on the children and families of Children’s of Alabama, we stand with children, parents, siblings and their extended family to help them navigate the sea of emotions that are normal when facing this type of health-related adversity.
Some common feelings families often experience include
- isolation
- strained relationships
- low self-esteem
- loss and bereavement
- depression
- anxiety
- anger
- jealousy
- fear
SETTINGS
At The Harbor Family Center we offer a safe space for bonding, growth, and healing. Every individual and family has unique needs. We understand this and provide multiple settings to accommodate individual needs and preferences.
Our counseling services can be held in a private office at The Harbor Family Center which is connected to Children’s of Alabama, inside the patient’s hospital room, outpatient clinic, community or other setting. We meet individuals and families in a space that is most suitable to bring about positive change.
You will always be treated with respect, compassion and kindness.
TYPE OF SERVICES
Our team of licensed professionals are trained to work with a wide variety of individual and relational concerns.

Individual Counseling
Everyone responds a little differently to stress and concern. This one-on-one private environment allows individual family members to identify, understand and process emotions as well as develop positive coping strategies.

Couples, Marriage, and Relationship Counseling
For married or unmarried couples; or pairs experiencing communication, relationship, or other difficulties. Recognize and resolve conflicts in your relationships.

Parent Training
Learning how to communicate, cooperate, and listen are valuable skills needed to problem solve and change behaviors. We work with parents, legal guardians, and caregivers and their children to help develop a relationship of understanding, warmth and respect.
Each family is a unit that is uniquely different with its own set of values and strengths. The family unit is like a link chain on a bicycle. A break anywhere in the link can immobilize the whole family. Family counseling will provide you with the space and skills needed to work through conflict and come together as a family.

Support Groups
Provided for people in similar circumstances, groups can develop new relationships and allow for sharing methods for coping and encouraging one another.

Telehealth Services
We have extended our counseling and education services through utilizing telehealth sessions through Zoom, FaceTime, and over the phone. We are grateful to have the technology that allows the families we serve to stay connected and to continue receiving the services they need.
Confidentiality
No matter the setting, our team upholds the highest standards and ethics in regards to your confidentiality and the privacy.
Get Connected
There are several ways to get connected to us. You may be referred by a physician, a medical team member, or a family member
Call (205) 638-6123 or come by The Harbor Family Center. We’re located inside Children’s of Alabama on the 2nd Floor (Main Street) at 1600 6 Avenue South Suite 200.
Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday – 8:30a.m. – 5:00p.m.
(after-hours appointments can be arranged, based on need.)