Mental Health Treatment

St Joseph Institute offers a secluded, peaceful campus where clients can focus on their mental health without distractions from the busy outside world.

St. Joseph offers mental health treatment services for adults struggling with various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more.

Components of Mental Health Treatment:

The objective of mental health treatment is to alleviate symptoms, enhance emotional well-being, bolster coping mechanisms, and foster comprehensive mental wellness. Tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of each person, treatment can vary in intensity, duration, and approach.

Mental health treatment is highly individualized, meaning that what works for one person might not work for someone else. With this in mind, each client at St. Joseph works closely with their counselor and other providers to develop a personalized care program.

In our mental health program, clients receive treatment from extensively trained professionals who utilize a mix of individual counseling, group processing sessions, educational components, pain and stress management techniques, and physical fitness activities such as yoga.

Mental Health Treatment Specializations:

Anxiety & Anxiety Disorders: Anxiety is a normal and common human emotion that everyone experiences at times. It’s the body’s natural response to stress, danger, or situations that require heightened attention. However, when anxiety becomes excessive, overwhelming, or persistent, it can develop into an anxiety disorder.

• Types of Anxiety Disorders: There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobias, and more. Each type has its own unique symptoms and triggers.
  • Symptoms: Symptoms of anxiety disorders can vary but commonly include excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, and physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate and sweating
• Depression: Depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD), is a common and serious mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities.
  • Types of Depression: There are different types of depression, including persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bipolar disorder (where depressive episodes alternate with manic or hypomanic episodes), and more.
  • Symptoms: Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but they often include persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbances, fatigue or lack of energy, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide.

Complicated Grief: also known as prolonged grief disorder or persistent complex bereavement disorder, is a condition that occurs when the process of grieving after the loss of a loved one becomes particularly prolonged, intense, and debilitating.

• Persistent and Intense Symptoms: Complicated grief is characterized by persistent and intense symptoms that extend beyond what is considered a normal grieving period. These symptoms can include:
• Preoccupation with thoughts, memories, or images of the deceased.
• Intense emotional pain, sadness, or anger related to the loss.
• Difficulty engaging in regular activities or finding joy in life.
• Social withdrawal and isolation.
• Feelings of emptiness and meaninglessness.
• Difficulty accepting the reality of the loss.
• Intense and pervasive yearning or longing for the deceased.

Mood Disorders: Mood disorders are a category of mental health conditions that involve disturbances in a person’s emotional state or mood. These disorders can significantly affect how an individual feels, thinks, and behaves, often leading to disruptions in daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Bipolar Disorder: where depressive episodes alternate with manic or hypomanic episodes.
• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
• Cyclothymic Disorder
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
• Other Specified and Unspecified Mood Disorders:
  • Bipolar Disorder:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event or series of traumatic events.

• Traumatic Event: PTSD is typically triggered by exposure to a traumatic event, which can include situations such as combat, natural disasters, accidents, physical or sexual assault, abuse, witnessing violence, or other life-threatening experiences.
• Symptoms: PTSD symptoms can be grouped into four main categories:
  – Intrusive Thoughts: Individuals may experience distressing memories, flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts related to the traumatic event.
  – Avoidance: People with PTSD often avoid reminders of the traumatic event, including places, people, activities, or conversations that trigger distressing memories.
  – Negative Alterations in Mood and Cognition: This category includes symptoms such as persistent negative beliefs about oneself or the world, feelings of detachment from others, difficulty experiencing positive emotions, and problems with memory and concentration.
  -Increased Arousal and Reactivity: Individuals with PTSD may experience hypervigilance, irritability, difficulty sleeping, exaggerated startle response, and difficulty concentrating.

Our holistic treatment modalities encompass mind, body, and spiritual growth, with a focus on:

1. Cognitive-behavioral Groups: Group therapy led by a master’s-level counselor helps individuals learn more about their depressive or anxious thought patterns and behaviors. Through guided topics, clients learn proven techniques to help them better cope with their symptoms. Learning effective coping strategies is crucial for managing anxiety. These may include deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, grounding techniques, and challenging negative thought patterns.
2. Mindfulness/Meditation Groups: In this process group, clients learn how to focus on the here and now, rather than ruminating on past problems or worrying about the future. Clients look for cues from the mind and body that indicate stress, depression, and other mood changes and learn how to redirect these negative feelings.
3. Emotional Wellness Group: These groups help clients adapt to stressful situations by addressing the emotions tied to these events head-on. Topics include building resilience, coping with loss, and practicing mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness techniques and relaxation exercises can help individuals manage anxiety by promoting awareness of the present moment and reducing stress. Complementary therapies like yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and aromatherapy may also help alleviate anxiety symptoms for some individuals.
4. Seeking Safety Group: This evidence-based therapy program allows clients to deal with trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and emotional dysregulation. Strong emphasis on creating a safe and non-judgmental space where participants can openly discuss their experiences, feelings, and challenges without fear of stigmatization. Seeking Safety offers a range of practical coping skills and strategies that participants can use to manage distress, cravings, triggers, and other challenges associated with both trauma and substance use. Discussion topics include knowing when to ask for help, increasing compassion for others, and healing from anger.