About
Our Director, Dr. Ryan J. Madigan, founded BCSC in 2013 to provide better treatment outcomes for youth and families compared to “plain old therapy.” Dr. Madigan was also driven by a desire to expand access to cutting-edge treatment, training and research. Since that day, “treatment, training and research” has become the unofficial motto of BCSC.
Our Mission
We are committed to providing expert care to all families who need it. Our mission is to eliminate all barriers to effective care by:
- Disseminating evidence-based assessment and treatment through our collaborative team approach at the individual, group, caregiver, family, school, and community level.
- Increasing access to expert care through flexible, innovative, and culturally relevant delivery methods.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Meet the team behind our expert approach and commitment to patient-centric care.
Why Families Choose BCSC
At Boston Child Study Center, we provide comprehensive, evidence-based outpatient mental health care for children, teens, young adults, and families in an affirming and inclusive environment. We are committed to supporting individuals and families of all identities, including LGBTQ+ and gender expansive communities, neurodivergent individuals, and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
Our multidisciplinary team specializes in the assessment and treatment of anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, trauma, suicide, self-harm, mood disorders, disordered eating, substance use, learning differences, and other complex emotional and behavioral challenges.
Emotion-Focused Treatment
Emotions are neurological signals providing information about our core needs, not symptoms to eliminate. Our treatments teach individuals how to trust their brains, listen to their emotions, and live fuller lives.
Individualized, Specialized Treatment
Our clinicians are extensively trained in multiple evidence-based treatments, allowing for flexible and adaptive interventions that can treat the whole person by addressing a wide array of symptoms and complexities.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Treatment at BCSC is collaborative and involves coordinated care across all areas of an individual’s life. Our clinicians create change in the individual, family, social and academic environments to ensure change is pervasive and sustained.
Measurement-Based Care
We utilize real-time data about your symptoms and progress to inform every session. Ongoing progress monitoring is a key pillar of treatment at BCSC to track outcomes, address obstacles, and ensure treatment is effective.
Accessibility & Affordability
High-quality mental health care should be accessible to everyone. We strive to ensure effective, evidence-based care is within reach through flexible treatment options and sliding scale fees starting at $2 per session.
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Check Out Our Blog
Understanding Different Approaches to Trauma Treatment
The term trauma therapy is used frequently, but it can mean many different things. There are several evidence-based treatments for trauma-related symptoms, and they do not all look the same. Some focus on approaching memories or situations that have been avoided. Others focus more heavily on beliefs that developed after
Finding the Right Mental Health Care: What to Look for in Treatment
This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 4-10, 2026), so we are sharing some thoughts about how to find mental health care that fits your or your family’s needs. Deciding to look for mental health care can be a significant step. Figuring out what kind of care to look
When Reassurance Makes Anxiety Worse (and What to Do Instead)
“Are you sure I’m going to be okay?” “What if I fail?” “Do you think they’re mad at me?” “Promise nothing bad is going to happen?” When your child is anxious, reassurance is one of the most natural responses in the world. We want our kids to feel safe, and