Adult Services
Alliance Health Center's adult psychiatric programs provide treatment for those
with moderate to severe mental disorders.
Acute Care Unit
This unit provides treatment for those with moderate to severe mental disorders
such as paranoia or schizophrenia.
When someone you love is affected by a moderate or severe mental illness and
is in need of psychiatric help, it's hard to know where to turn or who to talk
to. In a totally private setting, our team of specialists work toward helping
the patient and family return to the healthiest, happiest life possible.
As part of the admission process, patients receive a complete physical examination.
After admission, a full psychiatric evaluation provides an in-depth understanding
of the patient's history and includes components such as psychological testing
and analysis of social and family history.
Using information gathered during assessment, the treatment team is able to
create a plan unique to the patient. Components may include:
- Group and individual therapy
- Independent living skills
- Medication compliance
- Family therapy
- Activity therapy
- Stress management
Because family and social relationships are critical to effective treatment,
it is important that family members be actively involved in the therapeutic
process. A vital component of family therapy is education. Our counselors educate
family members on the patient's needs and treatment goals, and assist them in
working through their own feelings about the patient's behavior. And, during
treatment, weekly calls provide updates on the patient's progress.
Typically, patients with mental disorders cannot live outside a structured,
supervised environment. However, with compliance to medication therapy, those
who are experiencing mental disorders may be able to move to independent living
centers or function normally within a family environment. All patients in the
adult psychiatric program are encouraged to learn independent living skills,
ways of coping with their illness, and the importance of medication compliance.
In turn, family members learn to understand the patient's behavior and to relate
to each other in a constructive, nurturing way.
Alliance Health Center's treatment team includes psychiatrists, psychologists,
nurses, social workers, activity therapists and counselors, all working together
to help individuals and families live a normal, functional life.
Specialized Unit
These days, in our fast-paced, high-pressure society, depression and stress
are becoming more and more a fact of life. Sometimes difficulties at home, worries
at work, financial problems, or grief at the loss of a loved one become so severe
that professional intervention is needed. If you, a friend or a family member
are experiencing these difficulties, Alliance offers a specially designed program
in a separate home-like setting.
This program begins with an assessment to determine the issues in the patient's
life, as well as the social, educational and family history. This assessment
forms the basis for development of an individual treatment plan, with goals
to be carefully monitored for treatment success. This multi-faceted therapy
program includes process, focus, educational, and nursing therapy groups to
provide a clearer and more in-depth understanding of the individual's issues.
Individual counseling, relaxation techniques, journaling, time management and
the establishment of personal priorities are additional areas of emphasis in
the treatment course.
The goal is to help each patient learn ways of dealing with depression, grief
and stress. Utilizing activity therapy such as exercise, arts and crafts, the
program also teaches how different forms of recreation can be useful in reducing
stress.
Family support is important to the success of this specialized program as well.
At Alliance, we encourage family members to take an active role in the treatment
process, opening channels of communication, changing stressful situations, and
healing relationships.
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