Conditions We Treat

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage their emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. Individuals with schizophrenia may have thoughts or experiences that seem out of touch with reality. They may also exhibit disorganized behavior or speech. In addition, they also reduce participation in daily activities. At Sanctuary Centers, we specialize in working not only with clients living with schizophrenia, but also with schizoaffective disorder, thought disorders, and other more severe psychiatric problems as well. We aim to help all our clients develop life skills such as medication stabilization and compliance, achieve better insight and understanding of self, and build toward their educational, vocational, and career goals. The foundation of our schizophrenia treatment is built around a system incorporating cognitive therapies, psychoeducation, family intervention, social skills training, pharmacotherapy, and community integration. Our caring clinical team works with each individual and their families to come up with a treatment plan designed to help with the transition back into the world, as clients reintegrate into their family, work, and school environments.
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Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depressive disorder and sometimes referred to as bipolar affective disorder or bipolar spectrum, is characterized by separate and lasting periods of mania and depression, also known as mood swings. Depression is experienced as a sad, hopeless, low energy state. Mania lies at the opposite side of the mood spectrum, wherein the individual experiences a state of euphoria, elation, and often greatly increased energy. Sanctuary Centers offers both Mental Health Inpatient and Outpatient Care for clients struggling with Bipolar Disorder. Our caring team of trained clinical staff specialize in treating all types of Bipolar Disorder as well as depression and other mood disorders. Our proven approach includes psychosocial treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and family-focused therapy, employed in tandem with pharmacotherapy.
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We at Sanctuary Centers also offer treatments for Asperger’s, now classified as Autism Spectrum Disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. Individuals with Asperger’s demonstrate deficits in social communication and social interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Our approach to treating Asperger’s at Sanctuary Centers includes behavioral, developmental, social, and cognitive interventions, which then are coupled with individual and group therapies designed to provide a path toward educational and vocational pursuits. Additionally, we also treat Social Communication Disorder, which may apply to individuals who do not have the restricted interests or repetitive behavior you see in Autism Spectrum Disorder, but still have deficits in the social use of language.
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At Sanctuary Centers, we treat substance abuse disorders only as they co-occur with a mental illness. A substance abuse disorder is a recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs that causes significant impairment. These impairments can take the form of health problems, disability, and/or failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. We focus on treating addiction and substance abuse disorders at Sanctuary Centers by developing client treatment plans around mental health issues, with an eye toward relapse prevention by helping clients develop skills to manage cravings, triggers and other symptoms unique to individuals diagnosed with co-occurring disorders. Additionally, the expressive therapies (art, music, writing, poetry, etc.) are incorporated into our group and individual sessions.
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Trauma refers to psychological damage from stressful or traumatic life events or experiences, such as abuse. Trauma is at the root of many diagnosable psychological issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma and abuse are often devastating to a person’s psychological health, because they can harm an individual’s sense of self, lower their self-esteem, and disrupt their relationships. Trauma can manifest itself in many ways, including physical symptoms, somatic complaints, depression, or anxiety. Trauma can also take the form of self-injurious behaviors (such as substance use, cutting, and impulse control disorders), intense shame and suicidal thoughts or attempts. At Sanctuary Centers, our approach to treating trauma and abuse-related mental health issues includes: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), self-support techniques, family counseling, cognitive interventions, exploration of desensitization of trauma, emotional processing, and building “affect regulation” skills to increase positive feelings, maintain wellbeing, and regulate stressful feelings.
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Sanctuary Centers treats many anxiety disorders, including but not limited to generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks. Our experienced clinicians incorporate Exposure Response Prevention techniques into our therapies. We also utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral interventions, and other group therapies all designed to help reduce or eliminate symptoms and increase our clients’ quality of life. Additionally, the expressive therapies (art, music, writing, poetry, etc.) are incorporated into our group and individual sessions.
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Delusional disorder is a type of serious mental illness in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. The main feature of this disorder is the presence of delusions, which are unshakable beliefs in something untrue. These delusions usually involve the misinterpretation of perceptions or experiences. In reality, however, the situations are either not true at all or highly exaggerated. For example, someone may hold the belief that they are being followed, poisoned, deceived or conspired against. We at Sanctuary Centers utilize psychological therapies, including individual psychotherapy, group and individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
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Depression is often experienced as a sad, hopeless, low energy state. At Sanctuary Centers, our treatment for depression and mood disorders includes mindfulness-based interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and the expressive arts (music, writing, art, writing, poetry, etc.) which have been shown to improve concentration, lower anxiety, ease hopelessness, and improve mental, emotional, and physical well-being.. These tried and tested therapies are coupled with mindfulness meditation practices and pharmacotherapy. Furthermore, we work with our clients to improve their sleep habits, level of physical activity, and nutrition while also focusing on improving relationships at work, in the community, and in family environments. Our team has experience treating mild to severe depression that frequently occurs in conjunction with anxiety and other psychological issues, which we are also prepared to help our clients tackle.
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling and chronic psychological condition characterized by distressing, intrusive thoughts (obsessions), and/or repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions). Individuals struggling with OCD may report obsessions that include preoccupations with dirt or germs, worries that something harmful may befall them or others, and fearing that a routine behavioral act such as locking the door or turning off the stove was not done correctly. Individuals struggling with OCD also report concerns with order and symmetry. Our clinicians incorporate many therapies, including but not limited to: Exposure Response Prevention techniques, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral interventions, family interventions, education, and other group therapies, along with pharmacotherapy to help reduce symptoms and increase our clients’ quality of life.
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is persistent mental and emotional stress which develops in response to an actual or perceived traumatic experience. Examples of such traumatic experiences include wartime events, natural disasters, sexual assault, bodily injury or even psychotic episodes (including hospitalization). While it is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation, those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. Sanctuary Centers’ treatment approach to PTSD can include trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), cognitive restructuring and cognitive processing therapy, exposure-based therapies, psychoeducation, expressive arts therapy, group and individual therapies, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), all of which have shown real, measurable results in the treatment of PTSD.
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