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Bringing positive change to adolescents, military families

  • Published
  • By Military Health System Communications Office
  • Health.mil
WASHINGTON --  An undergraduate Intro to Psychology course at Villanova University intrigued Kasi Patterson and set him on a 20-year journey to improve the lives of troubled teens. Patterson is the director of the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization (CAPH) program at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Virginia, which provides comprehensive mental health services for TRICARE-eligible teenage patients in a structured day-treatment setting. The program is designed to help young people struggling with a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders.

"One of the biggest issues many military children face is lack of consistency when it comes to having one or both parents around because they're being deployed, or staying in the same school or school system for several years," said Patterson. "Many adolescent children go through three or four different schools while they're in junior or senior high, and it's hard for them to adjust to a new environment or make new friends."

Looking back at that undergraduate psychology course, Patterson says, "I found analyzing the mind, how it works, and understanding how to help improve one's mental health very intriguing. I've always wanted to do something that has a positive impact on young people, which is why I had an interest in studying pediatrics. So it just made sense to go into the field of child psychology."

Patterson's professional career began with work in an adult inpatient setting in Pennsylvania before transitioning to Washington D.C. where he worked for the Child and Family Services Agency. He also worked the District of Columbia Public School system as a clinical psychologist in a similar capacity before entering private practice for several years.

As chief of the CAPH program, Patterson said bringing positive change to the lives of adolescents and military families is the most rewarding aspect of his current position. "To be able to help young people adapt to new surroundings without fear or worry, or help provide a solution for any personal or family problems they may have is what makes my job worthwhile," he said. "The CAPH program aims to improve the mental health and well-being of our patients and their families by providing quality health care services with compassion and skill."