Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS)


Thank you for your interest in the Watson Institute’s Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS). We are not accepting appointments for written orders or new clients for IBHS at this time.


Effective January 17, 2021, the Watson Institute offers Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) for children, replacing Wraparound Services; also known as Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS). 

As part of our Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, the Watson Institute offers Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) for children and adolescents to age 21 with mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs. 

What are Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS)?

Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) are similar to wraparound services, in that they are designed to help children and adolescents with behavioral and mental health needs to live and thrive in their communities.

At the Watson Institute, wraparound services were provided to children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis whereas IBHS will be available to children and adolescents with a broad scope of diagnoses, enabling us to provide critical support to more families in our communities.

Also, your child will not be required to undergo a psychological evaluation performed by a psychologist or psychiatrist in order to receive IBHS services. Any individual with a qualifying license, such as a licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, or physician can provide you with a written order for IBHS.

What is the process to get IBHS for my child?

Once you have obtained a written order for IBHS from an individual with a qualifying license, you can contact the Watson Institute’s intake team. Once availability and eligibility are confirmed and intake is completed, Watson’s IBHS providers will conduct an assessment and use their findings along with the initial written order to recommend a treatment plan outlining the level of support needed for your child.

IBHS can be provided by a behavioral health technician (BHT), a mobile therapist (MT), and/or a behavior consultant (BC) at home, in the child’s school, or in the community.

The assessment results and the Individual Treatment Plan (ITP) will determine the level of support required for your child by each of the professionals in the support team.

The treatment plan will also outline the specific behaviors that should be addressed and will set goals to help your child work toward appropriate behaviors.

How do Intensive Behavioral Health Services work?

Watson’s Intensive Behavioral Health Services are provided to help children with exceptionalities develop skills and strategies that promote positive behaviors. Services help your child build social skills, learn coping strategies, and improve communication through therapeutic interventions, primarily provided in the home but could also be in school or in the community.

Examples of an IBHS strategy could include behavior charts that can be used to motivate your child to work towards earning rewards by practicing appropriate behaviors. The Watson Institute is available to provide individual services in your child’s home and/or community setting.