Community Counseling & Mediation (CCM) is proud to announce the grand opening of our Bond Child and Adolescent Article 31 Mental Health Clinic, a new facility dedicated to serving the behavioral health needs of youth and families in Brooklyn. The clinic will officially open on Thursday, May 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM, at 9 Bond Street, 6F in Brooklyn, NY 11201, and we are honored to welcome New York Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan, CCM’s President and CEO, and myself, Carmen Collado, Chief Operating and External Relations Officer, for this exciting occasion. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at our new location in Downtown Brooklyn. Community partners, elected officials, and supporters are warmly invited to attend. If you’d like to attend, please send your RSVP to Sophia Romero-Benz at sromero-benz@ccmnyc.org by May 1. This opening marks a significant step forward in our mission to ensure that all children, adolescents, and young adults—especially those from underserved communities—have access to high-quality, culturally responsive, and affordable mental health care.
Why a New Clinic? Why Now?
Across the country, young people are facing a growing mental health crisis. Rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide ideation among adolescents are at an all-time high, with particularly alarming trends among Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ youth. The contributing factors are complex and multifaceted—from the impact of social media and cyberbullying to fears about climate change, political instability, school safety, and economic hardship. Social determinants of health—such as poverty, housing insecurity, systemic racism, and limited access to quality care—further exacerbate these challenges.
At CCM, we recognized the urgent need for a dedicated space that could respond to these realities head-on. Our new Bond Street Clinic is designed to meet this moment, offering evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally affirming care in a welcoming and accessible setting.
A Comprehensive Array of Services
The Bond Clinic will offer a wide range of services tailored to the emotional, psychological, and social development needs of children and adolescents, including:
- Individual Therapy
- Family and Couples Therapy
- Group Therapy, including:
- Anger Management
- Bereavement Counseling
- Parenting Support
- Child and Adolescent Counseling
- Play and Art Therapy
- Conflict Mediation
- Psychiatric Evaluations
- Medication Management
- Psychosocial Assessments
In addition to ensuring the social and emotional wellbeing of our clients is paramount, our clinicians use a wide variety of treatment modalities, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), person-centered therapy, solution-focused therapy, and psychoeducation. We emphasize flexible and accessible care, with extended weekday hours (9 AM to 7 PM) and Saturday sessions (9 AM to 5 PM). Telehealth options are also available for clients ages 10 and up.
A Culturally Grounded Approach
What truly distinguishes CCM’s clinical model is our deep commitment to cultural humility and competence. We believe that effective mental health care must be grounded in an understanding of the client’s lived experience—including their racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities. Our assessments, treatment planning, and therapeutic interventions are informed by a strengths-based lens that prioritizes the voices and values of the young people we serve. Through collaborative goal-setting and inclusive clinical conversations, we aim to foster a sense of safety, trust, and empowerment for every client.
Engaging Community: Breaking Stigma and Building Trust
We know that mental health stigma continues to be a significant barrier—particularly in communities of color and immigrant communities. That’s why CCM is also committed to community engagement, education, and outreach.
Through partnerships with local churches, schools, and grassroots organizations, we are actively working to raise awareness, destigmatize mental health treatment, and equip families with tools and knowledge to support their children. This includes offering Mental Health First Aid training, educational workshops, and peer-led support groups. Our goal is not only to treat mental health issues but to create a community culture where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength.
Building on a Legacy of Care
CCM has been serving Brooklyn and Manhattan for over four decades. Since our founding in 1982, we’ve reached more than 60,000 individuals and families annually, delivering an integrated continuum of services in Mental Health, HIV/AIDS and Substance Use Treatment, Supportive Housing, Youth Development, and Family and Youth Peer Support.
The Bond Clinic is an extension of that legacy—an investment in the future of our youth and our communities. We are deeply proud to be expanding our footprint in Downtown Brooklyn and to be offering a safe space where young people can explore their emotions, strengthen their resilience, and receive the care they need to thrive.
Looking Ahead
As the mental health needs of our youth continue to grow, we believe that access to high-quality, culturally resonant care is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. The opening of the Bond Child and Adolescent Clinic represents more than just a new program. It is a call to action: to listen to our youth, to support our families, and to build systems of care rooted in equity, inclusion, and compassion.
We look forward to welcoming the community on May 9, 2025, and we invite everyone to stand with us in championing mental wellness for Brooklyn’s children and adolescents. Together, we can ensure that no young person feels alone in their struggle—and that every child has the opportunity to grow, heal, and reach their full potential.
Douglas Brooks, LCSW-R, serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, and Carmen Collado, LCSW, is the Chief Operations Officer and Chief External Relations Officer at Community Counseling & Mediation.
Learn more about Community Counseling & Mediation at www.ccmnyc.org. For inquiries, call (718) 802-0666, email info@ccmnyc.org, or visit us at our main office: Elm Place Clinic, 25 Elm Place, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
For more information about Community Counseling & Mediation’s Bond Street Clinic, contact Carmen Collado, LCSW, COO and Chief of External Relations of CCM at ccollado@ccmnyc.org, or Sophia Romero-Benz, Communications & Marketing Coordinator at sromero-benz@ccmnyc.org or (718) 802-0666 ext. 231. You can also visit the clinic at 9 Bond Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
