Download Highland Hospital Outpatient Psychiatric Services Specialty Group

Highland Hospital Outpatient Psychiatric Services
Specialty Group Descriptions
Creative Art Therapy
Art therapy is a way for a client to express their emotions and
feelings without verbalizing them. In this way an individual
can process though emotions and feelings that cannot be expressed verbally or are too difficult for a client to express in
any other way. “Art Therapy” is a form of expressive therapy
that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The creative
process involved in expressing one’s self artistically can help
people to resolve issues as well as develop and manage their
behaviors and feelings, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem
and awareness.” Tuesdays 10:10am - 12:00 noon with a 20
min break in between.
Men’s Group
The Men’s Group is an active group and provides men with
opportunities to bring up their concerns in a safe environment. Examples of topics explored, gender role, self expression, fears, ambitions, aging and mental health. Various psychological perspectives are utilized to provide direction, support, and understanding to their varied backgrounds and experiences. The group is an open group. Tuesdays 11:15am -
1:35pm, with a 50 min break in between.
Women's Group
The Women's Group provides a safe setting for women to express their concerns on a variety of issues. This is an open
discussion group in which the participant's bring their topics
of concern to the group and staff and group member's lend
their support. The facilitator then draws out topics from the
initial discussion for further exploration from group members.
Topics which have been discussed include assertive communication, gifts women can give to themselves over the holidays,
and sensitive emotions which arise over the holidays. Tuesdays 12:55 - 1:35pm.
Cinema Therapy
Cinema Therapy provides another medium for clients to explore various interpersonal and mental health issues. Films
provide a different medium which create opportunities for self
Highland Hospital
1411 East 31st Street, B—2
Oakland CA 94602
For More Program Information please call the
following numbers.
(510) 437-4543 or (510)
535-7476
exploration through their identification with characters and their life circumstances. We endeavor to encourage emotional expression that can be difficult for clients to readily express in
a traditional group setting. Mondays 10:10am - 12:00 noon with a 20 min break in be-
tween.
Generations Program and Groups
The Generations groups provides therapeutic services to the aging population who may require more support, structure and a treatment focus more specific to the needs of the aging
population. We emphasize the importance of integrating the mental, physical, emotional, interpersonal, spiritual and later stage of life issues into our understanding of wellness. Mon-
days 10:10am - 10:55am and Thursdays from 10:10 - 12:00 noon with a 20 min break in
between.
Introduction to Special Messages Program
This program has been developed to address the needs of individuals who have had experiences often labeled as psychiatric illnesses associated with the word “psychosis.” This program recognizes that these types of encounters may be far more common than many people
imagine; they may coincide with traumatic or spiritual experiences. Furthermore it examines
coping strategies that may accompany medication.
Special Message experiences, whether infrequent or daily; natural or drug related; horrifying,
or wonderful may have led you at times to ponder alternative realities. They may involve
coded meaning or extra information attached to: Interpersonal interactions, Words, Symbols,
Serendipitous occurrences, Dreams, Television or radio shows, Voices, Visions, Entities, ESP,
Intuition, Or other unexplained phenomenon.
This program is based off an original curriculum that identifies universal components of
“psychosis” in way that encourage story-telling, reflection and a belief that there is a universal process that you may learn about.
Here, we will encourage you to learn to face up to your fears and communicate about these
experiences without being punished. Over the six years that this approach has developed
many have learned to make sense of these experiences in more flexible and resilient ways
that have helped catapult progress towards social goals. Fridays 10:10am - 12:00 noon with
a 20 min break in between.
Introduction To The W.R.A.P Program
This program is offered to participants who want to learn a consumer driven selfmanagement program created by Mary Ellen Copeland. Our facilitators have undergone extensive training in running this group in ways that optimize social empowerment and recovery. Indeed in order to run this group we have had the pleasure of using the system extensively to enhance our own wellness. Wednesdays 10:10am - 12:00 noon with a 20 min
break in between.
MICA PROGRAM
Our MICA program is offered to men and women diagnosed with a mental illness and a substance Related Illness. The groups welcome clients at various stages of change within a
harm reduction model. Some of the group topics that have been covered are relapse prevention, self-care, abstinence, motivation, trauma, mental illness, relationships, medication and
stigma . We recognize addiction is a process which involves how one thinks, feels, act, and
sees the world around them. Our diverse MICA Program provides a safe place for people to
explore the resulting consequences of substance use/abuse/dependence in a supportive environment. Wednesdays 12:50pm - 1:35pm. Thursdays Men’s Mica 10:10am - 10:55am.
Women's Mica 11:15am - 12:00 noon. Fridays 12:50pm - 1:35pm.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
DBT skills training group is focused on enhancing client capabilities by teaching behavioral
skills. The behavioral skills training curriculum includes; Mindfulness: the practice of being
fully aware and present in this moment, Distress Tolerance: how to tolerate pain in difficult
situations, and not change it, Interpersonal Effectiveness: how to ask for what you want and
say, while maintaining self-respect and relationships with others, Emotional Regulation: how
to change emotions that you want to change. The group is run like a class where the group
leaders teach the skills and assigns homework providing opportunities for clients to apply
what they learned in group to their everyday lives. Mondays 11:am - 1:35pm with a 50
min break in between.
Music Therapy
What is Music Therapy? Music Therapy is a form of Expressive Arts Therapy. What that
means is that it gives our Clients an opportunity to express their thoughts and emotions in a
different form, other than through traditional “talk” therapy. In our Music Groups, Clients
sing, dance and play percussive instruments in a safe and playful environment. Musical activities help to reduce anxiety, stress and control strong impulses, allowing such impulses to be
expressed and released in an appropriate way: whether its beating on a drum, dancing vigorously or singing along with others— or even soloing at the microphone. We also include a
short meditation and movement exercise before the music begins to help our Clients increase
their sensory awareness and get “centered”. Now, who can benefit from this? Everyone. Percussive activities can be done with little or no musical background, making it accessible to all,
leaving both Clients and Staff with a smile on their faces and a sense of well-being at the end
of every session. Thursdays 12:50 - 1:35pm and Fridays 12:50 - 1:35pm.
HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP
The group has been established to provide support and encouragement to Men and Women
who have contracted the HIV VIRUS. The goal of the support group is to provide a supportive environment to those seeking to decrease isolation and increase peer support and understanding of their Dual Diagnosis. The group meets monthly and the capacity of the group is
ten. Day and Times TBD.