Center for Child Counseling, Inc.
Renée Layman serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Child Counseling, Inc. since June 2013, leading the organization in alignment with its strategic plan and objectives set by the Board of Directors. Layman has been an active member of Leadership Florida and Leadership Palm Beach County since 2017 and 2009 respectively. In addition to these roles, Layman has held various positions within the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health, including Vice President and Chapter Chair. Previously, Layman owned a private practice from 2001 to 2013, focusing on therapeutic techniques for children and adolescents, and held clinical leadership roles at Mental Health America of the Palm Beaches and Parent-Child Center, Inc. Education includes a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University.
Center for Child Counseling, Inc.
Our Mission Center for Child Counseling is building the foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful living for children, families, and communities. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health has been the foundation of the Center for Child Counseling’s mission in Palm Beach County since being founded in 1999. We focus on the youngest children in our community because research shows that this period of life is one of critical importance, providing the foundation for health throughout the lifespan. We are fighting the immediate and lifelong impact of exposure to abuse and violence on children through an array of prevention, early intervention, and counseling services. This includes building awareness about the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences through our #FightingACEs Initiative. Our programs and expertise are grounded in research about early brain development and the impact of adversity and trauma on development. Violence, abuse, and neglect in the earliest years of life are forms of “toxic stress" that can fundamentally change the developing brain, in the absence of healthy relationships. Secure, stable, supportive relationships between children and caring adults in the family and community contribute significantly to children's healthy brain development by buffering the brain from the damage due to high stress.