About AFBHS

Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Services (AFBHS) was founded by Dr. Valencia Agnew. It is a private group practice with three locations in Michigan, Grand Rapids, Holland, and Saginaw. We provide clients with the support, tools, and structure that will assist them in living life verses just existing to all ages, using evidence-based approaches. The practice is comprised of mental health professionals of diverse ethnicity, backgrounds, education, and training who specialize in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), who provide the highest quality of clinical services and training for clients, the community, and other professionals. We are the only private practice in the area to offer a comprehensive DBT program and the only practice in West Michigan to offer a Family Matters group and the only practice in Michigan to have participated in specialized DBT-Children's training. In addition to our practice specialties, each therapist maintains additional specialties and certifications.  Services available in Spanish.

Meet the Team!


Commitment

Our Mission

As a group of dedicated clinicians, we are committed to helping clients identify goals, overcome obstacles, and resolve problems that may be impeding their lives. We aim to help each individual, family, and couple achieve life-enhancing, enduring change. 

Our Values

We consider it a privilege and an honor to help every time a client walks in the door. We do not take your trust lightly as you are allowing us to walk beside you and view the world through your eyes. You ask us to witness your heartaches and joys, struggles and successes, as well as your strengths and weaknesses; our response to you is that it will be done with warmth, validation, and respect while incorporating evidence based approaches. Our commitment, dedication, empathy, and genuine concern is something we take pride in and aspire to maintain in every facet of our practice.

Community Education & Outreach

We are committed to supporting the community in bringing awareness of suicide and prevention by establishing our own interactive event You Matter: Putting Suicide Prevention Into Action as well as partnering with Community of Hearts, and participating in the West Michigan Foundation Stomp Out Stigma Walk and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of Darkness Walk. We are committed to ending racism as well. The impact of racism on mental health increases stigma and we, therefore believe with education & outreach we can equip the community with tools. In addition, we provide education in schools, doctor's offices, and community events to help decrease mental health stigma, and to bring increase to self injury awareness, and suicide prevention. Read our Response to Social Injustice.

Recognitions

We have over 20 years of experience and have been recognized by the community for our excellence and commitment.

2021 Brilliance Award Woman of the Year 
2020 MPWRD Influential Business Awards Nominee
2019 Grand Rapids Chamber EPIC Small Business of the Year Finalist
2018 Giants Eugene Brown Medical Service Award
2018 The 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan Award
2017 Grand Rapids Business Journal's Top Women Owned Businesses Award

recognitions