Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Community Healthcare - (Page 55)

Helping Families in Crisis Behavioral Health Services at St. Catherine Hospital goes above and beyond to aid patients By AngelA Moore “Last year, my daughter was a patient in Behavioral Health at St. Catherine Hospital. While there, she and our family had the good fortune of meeting Chaundra Lyles, LCSW. A true patient’s advocate, she went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that while on her watch, the continuity of my daughter’s care would not be broken. I know in healthcare continuity of care is pretty standard, but when dealing with a chronic mental illness, the chain is often broken. When we first met Chaundra, we handed her five years of unrecognizable bits in a tattered box with a hole in the bottom; and she figured out how to mend the box, find the missing pieces and meld the bits together so my daughter would finally get the help she needed. To this day, my daughter is benefiting from Chaundra’s hard work. You have made a difference in our lives, and we will be grateful, forever.” his thank-you letter was written by the mother of a patient successfully treated by the staff at Behavioral Health Services of St. Catherine Hospital. The experienced staff tailors treatment to each individual, working through the complexities of mental health to meet each patient’s needs so he or she is made whole again. The 23-bed inpatient treatment center at Behavioral Health specializes in adult psychiatric care for patients age 18 and older, and provides 24-hour care for those who need close medical supervision. A treatment day consists of individual and group psychotherapy, medical management, family sessions, recreational therapy and spiritual care. Focusing Group therapy sessions are one of the many services held at the outpatient Daybreak Center for Behavioral Health at St. Catherine Hospital. Daybreak coordinator Carmen Rodriquez, ACSW, LCSW (center), facilitates the group where participants learn coping skills and alternative techniques for pain control and can relate to others who struggle with chronic pain. on each patient’s individual needs and requirements, the Behavioral Health team helps them first heal, then integrate back into family life, the workplace and the community. In addition to inpatient care, Behavioral Health Services also offers therapy, counseling and support on an outpatient basis. Outpatient Centers fOr family treatment Daybreak Outpatient Behavioral Health Services of St. Catherine Hospital provides both individual counseling and counseling in a group setting. Because Daybreak is based at St. Catherine Hospital, patients can be easily referred to medical specialists within the hospital to achieve a complete, well-rounded treatment plan. An example of group therapy is family counseling for parents and guardians who may be struggling with the child/ family relationship. Participants in this group learn communication techniques, discipline with the use of natural and logical consequences, conflict resolution and other techniques for effective parenting. “Anger can be a problem, especially with teenagers,” says Carmen Rodriquez, LCSW, Daybreak coordinator. “We can offer parents and guardians ways to identify triggers and cycles of anger, and provide ways to manage through it.” Group therapy requires a physician order and can be an important part of a patient’s overall physical and mental healing. Other group therapy and support groups available through Daybreak include pain management, parenting, anger management, grief and violence, heart disease, substance abuse and many more. T Call To learn more about the services and therapy groups available through Behavioral Health Services, call 219-392-7722. Vim & Vigor • WI NTER 2011 A Helping Hand 55

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
Community Briefs
A Future of Lullabies and Good Nights
Exceeding Your Expectations
Back in Action
Supplementary Knowledge
Keys to Survival
Clearing the Air
Mark Harmon of NCIS fame makes 60 look good
This One’s for the Girls
Life After a Loss
Do Your Diabetes Homework
Healthy Returns
Beyond Blue
Spotlight on St. Mary Medical Center
Spotlight on Community Hospital
Spotlight on St. Catherine Hospital
Helping Families in Crisis
The Real Sims: Unleashed

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Community Healthcare