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South Shore Mental Health and Children's Hospital Boston Partner to Bring Family Talk to IHT
Since joining forces in 2014, Dr. William Beardslee's team at Children's Hospital and a group of dedicated SSMH clinicians have been busy adapting FAMPod's* Family Talk Preventive Intervention program for use with In-Home Therapy (IHT). T
he core program, commonly known as Family Talk, was designed for clinicians to
help parents identify the impact of their depression on their children and develop coping strategies to improve communication and resilience among family members.
Adaptions to the program for IHT began with completion of the core Family Talk training by the SSMH team. With their recommendations for adjustments to accommodate IHT, a new Family Talk training module was created. The new module, aptly named "Shifting the Focus" helps clinicians teach parents to consider the effects of their own mental health problems on a child in the family who has been treated at home for severe emotional disturbance.
The IHT module was also adapted to address post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions in parents.
"Our collaboration with South Shore Mental Health will allow for broader dissemination of the Family Talk Preventive Intervention," said Dr. Jackie Martin, a Clinical Child Psychologist at Children's Hospital Boston who is working closely with the SSMH team on the project. "With the completion of the 'Shifting the Focus' module, the hospital is looking forward to sharing the training with other agencies that provide In-Home Therapy to families across the state."
During the partnership, the SSMH team also contributed to the creation of a training video for IHT professionals. Working alongside actors playing family members, the clinicians portrayed therapists providing treatment for children and their parents.
To date, more than 70 South Shore Mental Health clinicians have participated in the Family Talk "Shifting the Focus" training for IHT. Training will continue in the spring for new staff with ongoing consultation from Children's Hospital.
A Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI), In-Home Therapy is available to MassHealth clients age 20 and under who are at risk of inpatient hospitalization, transitioning from acute treatment, or in need of support beyond the scope of outpatient services. Clinicians and therapeutic training and support staff work closely with families in their homes to strengthen parenting skills, promote effective communication, and achieve safety and stability. The SSMH IHT team makes home visits between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM seven days a week with on-call support available 24 hours.
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Children's Hospital Dr. Jackie Martin (center) with SSMH In-Home Therapy team members Erin Hourahan and Dan Vayda
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South Shore Mental Health's Minghui Johnson
Honored by the Association for Behavioral Healthcare
South Shore Mental Health's Vice President of Finance and Accounting Minghui Johnson was recently honored with the Association for Behavioral Healthcare's 2015 Excellence in Administration and Finance Award. Presented during the agency's annual Salute to Excellence event at the Westin Waltham Hotel, the award recognized Minghui for exceptional management of finances and operations at South Shore Mental Health where she began working in 1999.
"What sets Minghui apart is her passion for our clients," said Sherry Ellis, South Shore Mental Health's Vice President of Crisis and Rehabilitation. "She makes it a point to understand the personal way that her work affects both our staff and the clients we serve. It's not just about the numbers for Minghui. She knows the challenges our clients face, and she's committed to maintaining the fiscal health of our agency so that we can continue to aid our clients in the best ways possible."
During the event, which drew community-based behavioral healthcare professionals from across the state, Salute to Excellence awards were also presented in the categories of Mental Health Leadership, Peer Leadership, Emerging Leader, Exemplary Leader, Best Practices, Program Leadership, Lifetime Achievement, and Unsung Heroes.
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Minghui Johnson accepts her Excellence Award from
SSMH Vice President of Crisis and Rehabilitation Sherry Ellis.
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SSMH Welcomes Clinical Psychology Interns
Each year, more than 130 students from across the U.S. submit applications hoping for acceptance into SSMH's doctoral psychology internship program. After a lengthy application review, interview, and
National Match process, six students are invited to join the program. This year's group comes to us from Fielding Graduate University, St. John's University, University of Massachusetts-Boston, George Washington University, Regent University, and University of Indianapolis.
Director of Clinical Training Dr. Bruce Roberts oversees the psychology internship program which prepares doctoral students for careers in clinical psychology. "We're always excited to welcome our new intern class," said Dr. Roberts. "They represent the best and brightest in the field, they're already very skilled, and each will make great contributions to our work with clients during their time with us."
Throughout the program, interns work alongside experienced psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, clinical nurse specialists, and regional and renowned experts whose
multi-disciplinary approach to treatment offers insight that is ideal for clinicians in training. Clinical seminars, supervision by licensed staff, client casework, and agency-wide training also afford the students opportunities for learning and growth that are invaluable as they prepare for careers in the field.
"It's not unusual for interns to continue on with South Shore Mental Health for their post-doc year," according to Dr. Roberts. "Some even end up staying on with us as well-trained licensed staff. We view their internship as a full-year interview, so we know them quite well."
Two of this year's clinical psychology interns are on the adult track, which focuses on couples and clients over the age of 18. Three are studying child, adolescent, and family psychology, and one is concentrating on early intervention which is dedicated to newborns and children under the age of three with a variety of developmental delays.
Whatever their track, South Shore Mental Health's trainees will be in high demand, and most will go on to great achievements in the field, whether with us or elsewhere. This year, we are joined by Fanta Atkinson, Kristy-Lee Jean-Pierre, Marisa O'Boyle, Emily Ring, Aleksandra Wantke, and Kaitlyn Welsh.
South Shore Mental Health's clinical psychology doctoral internship program is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and has been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1963, making it one of the oldest accredited psychology internships in the country. For more information, contact Dr. Bruce Roberts.
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Coping with Fear of the Unknown
A Message from CEO Harry Shulman
The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as
"the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate..."
Incidents of terrorism in our world have become too familiar, too close to home, and for many of us, a source of high anxiety.
Statistically, we are unlikely to die at the hands of terrorists, but despite the odds, the threat weighs heavily on our minds.
When a horrific act is committed, our natural response is to think about the probability of becoming victims ourselves. The problem with this line of thinking, according to experts, is that we're likely to miscalculate risk based on several illogical considerations. Immediately following a terrible event, for example, people tend to overestimate the likelihood of similar occurrences.
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Making time to relax is one way to help keep anxiety in check.
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We often think that there is more risk when something very bad has just happened, according to Dr. Robert L. Leahy, Clinical Professor of Psychology at Weill-Cornell Medical School. "The recency of an event leads to increased fear of its reoccurrence," he says. Furthermore, we're likely to overestimate risk when an incident is dramatic and its graphic images are displayed over and over again in the news. "We do not see pictures of skin cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, car accidents, or the effects of
obesity
or alcoholism," points out Leahy. "Yet these illnesses are far more dangerous and kill far more people."
The randomness of terrorism also affects how we perceive its threat. "Its unpredictable nature instills people with anxiety over the lack of control in their fate," Anne Marie Albano, Director of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders, said in an interview. When we're not in control, we often feel vulnerable which can exaggerate our feelings of risk and anxiousness.
When it comes to coping with the threat of terrorism, mental health experts and law enforcement officials agree that maintaining normalcy and going about our daily routines is key. Other ways of coping include:
- Thinking rationally and reminding ourselves of the low probability of becoming victims
- Limiting our exposure to news and social media outlets that thrive on sensationalism
- Keeping stress levels low by eating right, exercising, and making time to relax
- Creating an emergency plan and sharing it with family (knowing that we probably won't need it)
- Talking openly with family, friends, and mental health professionals who can help us create a plan for managing our apprehension
Whether we struggle with anxiety or not, terrorism can disrupt the thoughts and routines of any one of us. As we strive to keep the threat in perspective, it may be inspiring to remember that by challenging our instinct to overestimate risk, we are ultimately helping to prevent a small contingent of bad people from achieving their goal to instill terror.
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SSMH Launches Patient Portal
South Shore Mental Health is excited to share the news that a patient portal has been added to the agency's Avatar ™ electronic health record. With this enhancement, clients who enroll can securely access information housed within their medical records. Clinical summaries, problem lists, medications, and demographic information is now available through the portal.
As use of the portal grows, clients will also be able to view lab results and check upcoming appointments, as well as schedule new appointments and connect with SSMH clinical staff via secure e-mail.
Stay tuned for news on more enhancements!
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Making a Difference!
Fourteen children and teens are wearing clean, warm jackets this winter thanks to the Braintree Knights of Columbus who donated more than a dozen new jackets to benefit some of our neediest clients. Pictured above (left to right): Margaret Carr, SSMH Director of Marketing and Development; Jay Nuss, Braintree Knights of Columbus, and Susan Baker, SSMH Marketing and Development Coordinator
Thanks to the generosity of the
Edwin Phillips Foundation,
six of SSMH's young clients experienced the joy of YMCA camp last summer. Dedicated to the needs of mentally and physically handicapped children, the Foundation's gift also provided clothing, educational toys, computers, transportation funding and other resources to help SSMH's deserving children access treatment and therapy.
During the busy holiday season, SSMH's Wareham Bayview Associates Counseling team was reminded of the kindness of strangers when a client was unable to cover her insurance co-payment. A thoughtful gentleman in the waiting room overheard her plight and not only took care of her co-payment, but also paid the outstanding $300 balance on her account. A true example of holiday spirit!
Every donation and every dollar counts! Please consider making a difference in the life of a child born with developmental disabilities, or a child, teen, or adult living with mental illness.
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SSMH in the News
In December, award-winning journalist Bree Sison spotlighted SSMH's Peer-to-Peer and Mental Health First Aid Training programs during her
Matters of the Mind series on WBZ-TV/CBS Boston. Many thanks to Bree and her team for helping us spread the word about these valuable client programs. Watch the Peer-to-Peer and Mental Health First Aid segments here.
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Team SSMH
Teaching,
Learning, Growing
South Shore Mental Health's Dr. Phil Quinn presented his workshop on "Grieving the loss of a loved one during the holidays" at Beth Israel Deaconness Hospital-Milton's ongoing community education series last fall.
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SSMH's Marina Bay staff listened and learned as National Alliance on Mental Illness
In Our Own Voice presenters Amy Tee and Eliza Williamson shared their inspirational stories of struggle, recovery, and living successfully with mental health issues. NAMI's
In Our Own Voice presentation challenges the attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes of mental illness. Pictured above (from left): Amy Tee, Eliza Williamson, and NAMI Executive Director Laurie Martinelli
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SSMH President & CEO Harry Shulman stopped for a photo op with (from left): Candra Cho, Sheila Shulman, Carol Moylan, and Susan Brierley at Netsmart's recent CONNECTIONS 2015 Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. The SSMH crew joined 1,000+ health and human service professionals gathered to learn more about the shift to value-based contracting and care coordination in the healthcare industry.
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Join Our Team!
We're always on the lookout for compassionate and dedicated people to join our teams in Quincy, Marshfield, Plymouth, Wareham, and throughout our service area.
Click here to view career opportunities.
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Save the Dates!
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Thursday, March 24, 2016
"Charitable Planned Giving Workshop"
South Shore Mental Health, Marina Bay
Presented by Gary Doodlesack of The Moody Street Group, LLC
Admission is free. Contact Margaret Carr to learn more.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Port 305 Wine Tasting Fundraiser hosted by Mix 104.1's Kennedy Elsey! Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Fifth Annual
Building Hope
Changing Lives
Fundraising Breakfast
Lombardo's, Randolph
Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our clients and pay tribute to long-time
Patriot Ledger &
Brockton Enterprise
Dowaliby, WBZ-TV's Bree Sison, and
P
r
esident & CEO of Eastern Bank Bob Rivers.
Like us on Facebook!
Help us share the news about the work we do to build hope and change lives for children born with developmental disabilities, and children, teens, and adults living
with mental illness.
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Our Mission
South Shore Mental Health is dedicated to improving the lives of children born with developmental disabilities, and children, teens and adults
living with mental illness.
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