The Family Center envisions a future where all New Yorkers thrive in secure, healthy communities. TFC provides holistic care and support to individuals and families affected by life-altering events to create a path to healing, stability, and a fulfilling future.
About The Irene LeeKong Wellness Institute
- Play therapy services and specialized techniques for addressing mental illness in young children
- Trauma-Focused, CBT Certified counselors
- Dedicated services proven to engage teenage clients in their therapy sessions
- Full-time Clinic Director, Psychiatrist and Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LCSW, LMSW and LMHC), all possessing significant expertise working with children and adolescents
- Bilingual services in French Creole and Spanish
- Immediate assistance with familial crises
- Individual therapy for parents and/or caregivers of minor children
Irene LeeKong’s Story
The Irene LeeKong Wellness Institute was founded over a decade ago and is named after Aren’s grandmother, Irene LeeKong, who was a beacon in the Brooklyn community and helped create a safe refuge for children. Since its inception, the Irene LeeKong Wellness Institute has served thousands of families and children in New York City.
Aren LeeKong & Ivy Gamble Cobb, Executive Director of The Family Center, at the opening of the Irene LeeKong Wellness Institute in 2013
Aren & Aliya LeeKong at the opening of the Irene LeeKong Wellness Institute in 2013
LeeKong Wellness Institute: By The Numbers
In 2023, The Irene LeeKong Wellness Institute served 200 individuals
Clients involved in foster care or the criminal justice system
Of clients self-report improved daily functioning and the new acquisition of new life skills
Reduction in mental health symptomatology among youth and their families
Of clients report strong social connections and relationships
Program Spotlight: Rize Up!
Rize Up is a Saturday group program designed to enhance mental health treatment for youth. Through experiential and project-based learning, Rize Up helps participants build self-awareness, respect for themselves and their families, and develop critical social connections. By honoring family and individual history and providing diverse, inclusive experiences, Rize Up empowers its participants to reach their fullest potential.