Adolescent & Child Treatment

Melanie Connell Melanie Connell
Melanie Connell is a provisional licensed professional counselor who joined WBI as a therapist in 2010, on the adolescent acute unit. Her experience includes working in private practice in Colorado, where she counseled individuals, teenagers, marriages, and families in the areas of depression, anger, anxiety, low self-esteem, communication, and conflict resolution. Also in Colorado, she developed a curriculum and taught a court-mandated parenting-after-divorce class and facilitated a divorce recovery group for children. Melanie also worked as a recreational therapist. She has a master's degree in counseling from Denver Seminary and a bachelor's degree in graphic design from Colorado State University.

Dana Alexander Dana Alexander, LPC
Dana Alexander, a licensed professional counselor, began working on Wyoming Behavioral Institute's adolescent unit in 2010. Her past experience in Casper includes working for Dr. Stephen Brown, psychiatrist, the Children's Advocacy Project, and previous employment with Wyoming Behavioral Institute. In Denver, Ms. Alexander worked for ACTION! Family Counseling, and in Oklahoma, she was a child and adolescent therapist at Oklahoma State University Medical Center. She obtained her master's degree in forensic psychology from the University of Denver. She has worked with adult offenders, children, adolescents, and victims of severe physical and sexual abuse. Ms. Alexander works with groups, individuals and families.

Zachary Bird, PCSW Zachary Bird, PCSW
Mr. Bird is a provisional licensed professional counselor who joined Wyoming Behavioral Institute’s staff in 2009. He obtained his bachelor's degree from Utah State University and his master's degree in social work from the University of South Carolina. Among his awards and honors is a child welfare scholarship. Mr. Bird has worked for North Platte Home Health in Casper as a social worker and Central Wyoming Counseling as a counselor for children in elementary school and their families. Mr. Bird is working on WBI’s children's unit.

Shane Harkins Shane Harkins, PPC
Shane Harkins received undergraduate and master's degrees in social work from the University of Wyoming where he graduated with honors. Shane's past experience includes working as a casework specialist for the Department of Family Services. Shane has 3 years experience working in early childhood mental health and is a member of the Wyoming Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association. Shane also spent time at WBI during his graduate practicum and was employed part time before joining our team full time to work on the adolesent and adult units.

Childhood should be filled with joy, fulfillment, growth and nurturing care. Unfortunately for many young people, growing up can be a stressful, traumatic and a painful experience. Help is available for children, pre-teens, and adolescents needing mental health treatment or intervention.

Program Philosophy

We believe that all children do well if they can. We also recognize that many of our youth have had significant trauma in their past lives. Our goal is to help children, teens and their families develop tools and strategies to be successful in treatment. All children and adolescents have unique strengths and talents. Their problems are opportunities for growth. Partnerships between staff and our young patients are predicated on the belief that it is essential that families and caregivers be involved. Maintaining an environment that is trauma informed and that promotes healing and respect for all is vital to successful outcomes for treatment.

Wyoming Behavioral Institute offers the following to children, adolescents and their families:

  • Highly-skilled admission staff
  • Free 24-hour information and referral service
  • Immediately available free assessments for families
  • Crisis stabilization
  • Accessible inpatient treatment

Wyoming Behavioral Institute's treatment components include:

  • Comprehensive evaluation and assessment
  • History and physical
  • Psychiatric evaluation
  • Psychiatric social evaluation
  • Nurse assessment
  • Full-spectrum care that focuses on the whole person, not just the illness
  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Recreational therapy
  • Medication Management
  • Case Management
  • Discharge planning

Education Program
Wyoming Behavioral Institute has a school on site for elementary, junior high, and high school students. Certified, experienced teachers and aides staff our school. We provide an educational component because we recognize that school is an important part of your child's life, however, the primary focus at WBI is in treating the emotional and or behavioral issues that resulted in hospitalization. Once these issues begin to stabilize, children often can begin to make progress in school. With your permission, our Education Coordinator will work with your child's school to coordinate their education needs.