About Us

Overview

Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Services (AFBHS) was founded by Dr. Valencia Agnew.  It is a private group practice with 3 Michigan locations in Grand Rapids, Holland, and Saginaw which provides clients with the support, tools, and structure that will assist them in living life verses just existing. AFBHS provides mental health/counseling services specifically tailored to the needs of individuals, adults, kids, adolescents, families, and couples through the use of evidence-based approaches.  The practice is comprised of mental health professionals of diverse ethnicity, backgrounds, education, and training who specialize in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 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.  We are 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.

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 Motto is “Compassionate counseling on your journey to emotional wellbeing.”

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

As a group, we are committed to supporting the community in bringing awareness of suicide and prevention by establishing our own interactive event You Matter Too: 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.  Did you know that Black/African American children ages 5-12 are 3 times more likely to take their lives by suicide than White children?  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.  Learn about our non-profit organization, Live Better U, here.  Read our Response to Social Injustice.

Meet The Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board Members

Schedule and Appointment with one of our therapist online or call the
office (616) 719-0194

In The News

Read what the press has said about Dr. Agnew.
Grand Rapids Business Journal Article
West Michigan Woman Magazine, March 2016, Where There’s Breath, There’s Life 
Grand Rapids Press interview about newly married couples managing holidays

Awards

• Winner March 2017 – Grand Rapids Business Journal’s Top Women Owned Businesses, Read article
• Winner February 2018 – Giants Eugene Brown Medical Service Award, Read article
• Winner March 2018 – 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan
• Finalist October 2019 – Grand Rapids Chamber Small Business of the Year Epic Award
• Finalist 2020 - MPWRD Influential Business Awards Nominee
• Winner September 2021 - Brilliance Award Woman of the Year

Forms of Payment

Here you will find the list of insurances I accept.  On the About page of each therapist you will find a list of their accepted insurances.
Insurances List

Presentation

We have done a variety of presentation for the community, schools, physicians, agencies, webinars, and conferences.  

Specialty Training

It’s important to us to continue our education regarding topics that will keep us knowledgeable and trained in the areas that best serve you. On the therapist’s about page you will find areas we specialize in and continue to maintain a high level of expertise.
To see a detailed description about specialties, click here.

Professional Affiliations

We have chosen to be affiliated with specialty organizations because they provide research and trainings that are pertinent to our areas of expertise. On the therapist’s About page you can view a list of membership organizations.

Contact Us

[email protected]

Emergencies:
If you are experiencing an emergency or if your need is of an urgent nature, please call 911 or go to your local hospital. Contacting us does not constitute a client therapist relationship unless you are a regular client who is being treated in this office.

• Inform the 911 operator that this is a psychiatric emergency.
• Ask for police officers and first responders trained in crisis intervention or trained to support people and families experiencing a psychiatric emergency. 

US Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988

1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

1-888-SUICIDE (1-888-784-2433)

1-877-SUICIDA (1-877-784-2432) (Spanish)