Integrated Treatment Approach
Fairfax Hospital provides services to individuals of all ages affected by mental illness and serious emotional disturbance. The staff strives to deliver services in a responsive, efficient, non-stigmatizing, and most accessible environment that is respectful of a client, their family and loved ones, language, culture, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity. It is our goal to educate, individuals, families and the community about mental illness, treatment modalities and recovery. This critical mission is accomplished by working in partnership with other agencies, clients, families, providers and communities.
Values
- All people have the right to mental health and well-being
- All people must be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity in a culturally and linguistically competent way
- With effective treatment and support, recovery from mental illness is achievable
- Clients will actively participate in their own recovery and treatment goals
- Clients and their families will be at the center in the development, delivery, implementation, and evaluation of their treatment
- The system of care must have a structure and process for ensuring access to needed services for potential and current consumers
- All people must have access to the highest quality and most effective integrated services
Treatment Approaches
Fairfax Hospital provides acute care crisis stabilization services for patients with severe mental health issues. Fairfax uses a variety of evidence-based treatment approaches to move patients forward in their recovery. Our groups focus on teaching our patients more about their illness (psycho-education); how to relate to family and friends (Interpersonal techniques); and how to deal with the world around them (Skill building, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation and Mindfulness). Our goal is to help the patient get back into their lives and maintain a healthy way of living. In addition to Evidence Based Practices, Fairfax utilizes an innovative approach to treatment called the Developmental and Systems Approach (DSA) developed by Dr. Charles Wang, Director of Youth and Adolescent Services at Fairfax. This treatment approach is designed for the most difficult and troubled patients. With DSA, Patients develop an understanding of their own behaviors, including the role of medication, and proper inclusion of others to bring meaning to their lives.
Medication Management
The use of psychotropic medications is designed to provide medical support for mood and brain functions. Medications can help with mood stabilization and regulation and are an integral part of treatment at Fairfax. Fairfax Psychiatrists evaluate the patient’s current and historic symptoms and prescribe appropriate medications to support the patient’s stabilization and recovery.
Groups
Fairfax actively engages patients in their treatment through a variety of group activities. Groups are the principal means of psycho-social education designed to enable the patient to better understand themselves and better function in their own world.
Community meetings are held twice each day (mornings and evenings). to help orient patients to the unit, address milieu questions and concerns and provide an opportunity for patients to make suggestions. It helps to decrease isolation and increase the sense of community
The Goals Group is an important part of the patient’s treatment planning. The group assists patients in creating realistic and attainable goals that are consistent with the patient’s treatment plans and objectives. By involving the patient in this process it increases their ownership of treatment.
The Psycho-educational treatment group is designed to create a structure for the day addressing a daily theme. It is geared to increase the patient’s understanding of presenting mental health issues and disorders and increase coping skills through information and education.
In treatment group, the emphasis is on confidentiality and safety. Patients learn to build relationships through earned (demonstrated) group trust and cohesion. The group dynamic helps create healthy boundaries through discussion and peer feedback. This group is patient led and patient driven. The focus is on the here-and-now with daily topics based on patient needs.
The skill building group builds upon the daily theme groups. During the skills group the information presented prior is put into practice. An experiential approach is used to ally with patients strengths through practicing behaviors and provide resources for their ongoing recovery.
The Self Soothing Skills group provides an opportunity to begin to learn emotional regulation, self-soothing, grounding techniques, and mindfulness with regard to the here-and-now. Patients are assisted in brainstorming possible self soothing options and are coached in their practice. Self Soothing is designed to assist patients in increasing life skills pertaining to emotional regulation and impulsivity.
The Co-occurring Disorders group provides psycho-education regarding addiction from a biopsychosocial perspective. Relapse. Recovery education resources are also provided.
Recreational Therapy treatment group is designed to increase psychosocial health and well-being through structured recreational activities. Fairfax has an indoor gymnasium that facilitates these activities, rain or shine.
Family Support and Education Group
A weekly drop-in group provides support and education to families of patients currently hospitalized at Fairfax Hospital. The group is conducted by Clinical Therapist and includes a brief overview of the purpose of hospitalization, an overview of the various levels of care provided at Fairfax, and education on treatments provided at this facility. General mental health questions are also be addressed. Any specific questions about patients are re-directed to the case manager and the psychiatrist treating the patient.
This group also provides an opportunity for family members to meet other families who are experiencing similar issues and to gain knowledge about mental health treatment. The facilitators make recommendations and encourage the use of outside resources for further support.