ADULT
Women's Treatment Program
Download Brochure (PDF) |
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Download Fact Sheet (PDF) |
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Referral Form (MS Word) |
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Pre-admit form (PDF) |
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Group Schedule (MS Word) |
Sherry Winternitz, MD, Clinical Director
Allison Berger, PhD,
Program Director
The Women's Treatment Program at McLean Hospital offers psychiatric and psychological services for women with Borderline Personality Disorder, histories of trauma and related disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. The program provides intensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy with a specialized emphasis on the treatment of self-destructive, impulsive behavior and emotional dysregulation as they present in trauma survivors. The program draws its strength from several schools of investigation: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills training developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD; clinical studies of trauma and recovery by James Chu, MD and other McLean Hospital researchers; and extensive work on the psychology of women conducted at the Stone Center at Wellesley College. Empathy, compassion, collaboration and empowerment are emphasized to help women build new strength and find new resources to regain command of their lives and functioning.
Treatment
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The Women's Treatment Program is a group-based program for women who need more structure and intensive treatment than is possible on an outpatient basis. The program can function as an adjunct to individual therapy or as a support during transition from inpatient hospitalization. The program offers both short-term residential and partial hospital levels of care. Women who need additional structure and support while participating in treatment utilize our residence, which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides day, evening, and weekend programming. Other women in the program attend groups during the day, Monday through Friday, and live at home or elsewhere within the community. Patients are expected to continue regular follow-up with their individual outpatient therapist. Each client has a case manager in the program who supports her in developing an individualized treatment plan and provides guidance in pursuing treatment goals. DBT coaching may be provided by case managers or by milieu staff. Psychopharmacology consultation is available as needed.
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Treatment occurs primarily in group therapies, which provide opportunities for skills acquisition, progress toward goals, healing and reconnection. Patients pursue symptom management, rehabilitative, educational and vocational goals in groups throughout the week and monitor their emotions and behaviors with diary cards. Group leaders teach and assist clients in practicing emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness strategies as a means of targeting symptoms and behaviors that interfere with effective coping. Topically focused groups are prescribed for individuals in need of specialized learning to manage anger, impulsivity, parenting and family challenges, transitions, substance abuse, eating disorders and recovery from trauma. By changing behavioral, emotional and thinking patterns, clients are able to move toward a life beyond symptoms and treatment.
Staff
WTP staff (from left) Sherry Winternitz, MD, Claudia Nolan, MEd,LMHC, and Melanie Richardson, APRN, BC.. |
The program is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of knowledgeable and experienced professionals that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, expressive therapists and community residence counselors. Numerous staff members have completed formal, intensive DBT training.
Insurance Information
McLean accepts many private insurance and managed care plans, Medicare, and Massachusetts Medicaid.
Contact
For further information, please call 617.855.2595, Monday through Friday, to speak to the intake coordinator, or visit McLean's website at www.mclean.harvard.edu. Although phone contact is preferred, prospective patients may also contact the program via e-mail at women@mclean.harvard.edu. A referral form must be legibly completed and submitted in order to be considered for admission. Referrals from treating therapists or psychiatrists are strongly preferred and may facilitate the admission process. Individuals with severe eating disorders or those who are medically unstable may not be appropriate for this program. Individuals with substance abuse will be considered on an individual basis; substance use is not permitted while in treatment. The referral form can be downloaded by clicking here: (www.mclean.harvard.edu/doc/patient/adult/wt-referralform-5.6.09.doc).
About McLean Hospital
U.S. News & World Report ranked McLean Hospital first among all freestanding psychiatric hospitals. McLean Hospital is the largest psychiatric facility of Harvard Medical School, an affiliate of the Massachusetts General Hospital and a member of Partners HealthCare.