Psychiatric Care
You will meet with a psychiatrist or physician's assistant by the second clinic visit. Visit frequency is decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the needs of the person being served. Usually visits are more often if the diagnosis is being clarified, or medications are being changed. Once care is more routine, follow up sessions are scheduled as often as needed, usually around the scheduled group time. Off hours coverage is provided on a rotating basis.
Treatment Approach
The ultimate goal is to help each person served move along the path of recovery. Specific goals are decided on by the person served in collaboration with their therapist. Care is person centered; however the standard treatment is weekly group therapy and medication management. Individual therapy and family sessions are targeted and usually time-limited. Other ancillary psychosocial treatments are offered at regular intervals, including psychoeducation, social skills therapy and expressive therapy.
Strategies employed in group come from a variety of psychosocial therapies including support, psychoeducation, cognitive behavior, dialectical behavioral, and acceptance commitment therapies.
The goal of group therapy is to help participants understand their illness, learn new ways of coping, discuss concerns and issues, give and receive support, and develop skills to facilitate job and career exploration.
Meeting in a group weekly with people who are dealing with similar problems decreases loneliness and can also be rewarding and beneficial in other ways as well. Having support, people to hold you accountable, and celebrating your successes provide a new perspective and clarity on how to move forward.
Group confidentiality is extremely important and emphasized, as trust is crucial to a supportive environment where people feel comfortable sharing.