The Innercept Young Adult Program offers a continuum of services, including a safe, continuously supervised and low stimulus environment for the initial assessment of individuals being considered for placement within the Program. Oftentimes individuals referred to Innercept are either in psychiatric hospital settings or are experiencing personal crises. These individuals may first come to the Innercept Assessment and Stabilization Unit in lieu of hospitalization. This initial placement affords the individual time to stabilize, become acquainted with their therapist and oriented to the Innercept Program and it’s personnel. Initial placement in the Assessment And Stabilization Program also allows the Treatment Team the opportunity to identify needed physical, emotional and medical supports for the individual’s initial entry into the mainstream Young Adult Program. It should be noted that not all individuals who enroll at Innercept require initial placement in the Assessment and Stabilization Unit. Only those individuals provisionally admitted to Innercept under crisis conditions require this option.
A second function of the Assessment and Stabilization environment is to allow Innercept Young Adult residents who enter a crisis a needed quiet, safe and unstimulating environment to stabilize while they plan for their successful return to the mainstream Young Adult Program. Individuals may enter a crises for a variety of reasons. For example, they may have had an interruption of needed medications, developed a conflictual relationship with a peer or staff member, or they may be experiencing the extremes of a mood episode. Regardless of the cause of the individual’s crisis, Assessment and Stabilization provides a safe place to recover from a crisis while learning more effective ways of solving problems. Crisis recovery in the Assessment and Stabilization occurs in three phases:
- Initial Stabilization: The resident focuses on recovering from the emotional upheaval of the crisis situation. In this phase the individual is encouraged to to self-soothe through quiet contemplation, relaxation techniques, reading and other self-soothing techniques identified by the resident that may have been successful for them in the past.
- Problem Identification: During this phase the individual identifies what went wrong, with an emphasis on what part he or she played in precipitating the crisis. In this calm setting, and while temporarily removed from the situation that precipitated the crisis , the resident is asked to examine their thinking and feelings leading up to the crisis.
- Solutions: Prior to returning to the mainstream Young Adult Program, the resident formulates a plan to maintain safety and effective functioning. This plan is constructed with the close collaboration of the individual’s therapist. A commitment to follow this plan usually signals the resident’s readiness to return to the mainstream program.
Facts About Assessment and Stabilization
- The physical location of the Assessment and Stabilization program is geographically remote from other Innercept Program locations
- Low stimulus means that electronics such as TV, recorded music, video games and telephones are generally unavailable to the resident. Food is nutritious but not gourmet. The resident is expected to devote their time and energy to their treatment.
- Twenty-four hour wake staff are present and available to the resident.
- The individual’s therapist meets with them at least four times per week and communicates treatment progress to parents.
- Outside activities, such as school or work, may be temporarily suspended while the individual stabilizes.
- Assessment and Stabilization is intended to be a short term
