eclaiming ives R L A P U B L I C A TION OF C ENTE R S TONE
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)? Combating Co-Occurring Disorders Spotlight on Life Coaching
I S S U E El e v e n
A Lifetime
Commitment to Recovery
meet Matt
Reclaiming Lives
A PUBLICATION OF CENTERSTONE ISSUE TEN www.centerstone.org
IN THIS ISSUE
Cover Story A Lifetime Commitment to Recovery 1
Managing Editor Mindy Tobin
Associate Editor Jenn Wade
Spotlight on Life Coaching at Centerstone 4
Feature Centerstone’s Crisis Call Center 5
Philanthropy in Action 6
Editor in Chief Ramona Rhodes
Contributing Editors Linda Garceau Natalie Stone Freya Potempa Contributing Writers Susan Gillpatrick Mindy Tobin Jenn Wade
Graphic Design Michael Rivera Centerstone of Tennessee Board of Directors
Physician Spotlight 8
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)? 9
Combating Co-Occurring Disorders 10 Health and Wellness The Good News about Stress 11 News and Notes 12
Lee Ann Ingram, Chair Janet Ayers, Vice-Chair Jim Sweeten, Secretary Joan Sivley, Immediate Past Chair Dr. Richard Baxter Brenda Corbin Kelly Crockett Ansel L. Davis Father Fred Dettwiller Vincent W. Durnan, Jr. Mark Faulkner R. Parker Griffith Christa N. Holleman Lavinia Johnston Albert Menefee III Dana Oman Dr. Carmen Reagan Steve Saliba Sperry Bell Stadler Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate Dr. Robert N. Vero about centerstone
Reclaiming Lives is winner of the 2009 Gold Hermes Creative Award.
Reclaiming Lives is winner of the 2008 APEX Award for Publication Excellence.
Centerstone, a not-for-profit organization, has provided a wide range of mental health and addiction services to people of all ages for more than 55 years. Through more than 50 facilities and 160 partnership locations across Middle Tennessee, Centerstone serves 50,000 children, adolescents, adults and seniors each year. Centerstone is accredited by CARF International. For more information about Centerstone, please call 888-291-4357 or visit www.centerstone.org.
A Lifetime
Commitment to Recovery
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tanding at over six feet tall, with the frame of an NFL linebacker, Matt Cline is an imposing figure. He appears to be the kind of man that no force could shake. However, what you don’t see on the surface of this now happy, charismatic, 36-year-old man, is that for nearly 20 years he was held captive by alcoholism and mental illness – a battle he still fights every day. “All of the staff in our outpatient clinic say he’s like a big teddy bear,” says Stacey Coulter, Clinic Manager for Centerstone’s Harriet Cohn Center, located in Clarksville, Tenn. “He is such a cheerful guy and always has the ability to make everyone smile. But Matt has come a long way since we first met him four years ago.” Matt started drinking when he was just 13 years old. Little did he know when he took his first drink
that it would eventually have such a hold over him for so many years and reveal a deeper mental battle. Just the Beginning When Matt made the commitment to come to Centerstone for treatment in 2008, he had hit his “rock bottom.” Consequently, he had just completed inpatient rehabilitation at a Middle Tennessee facility. There, he went through detoxification and without alcohol for the 24-day stay. Although this was a major, first step in his recovery, Matt and his new Centerstone support system knew that the hard work was only beginning. Because at just 32 years old, Matt had been an alcoholic for nearly 20 years. It was practically all he’d ever known. continues on page 2 RECLAIMING LIVES • ISSUE ELEVEN
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“I think in the back of my mind I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. The drinking helped me forget this feeling.”
“When Matt made his first appointment at Centerstone, it was prior to his inpatient rehabilitation,” said Stacey. “He never showed up for that appointment – or the next, or the next. But after he got sober, something changed in him. It was as if he knew that he had only just scratched the surface of his road to recovery, that it would be a lifelong commitment and that he couldn’t do it alone.” Matt started working with his support team at Centerstone to get to the root of his addiction. The Heart of the Matter When Matt was in his early 30s and still battling alcoholism, he admitted to his regular physician that he was, and been for some time, experiencing overwhelming feelings of sadness and emptiness. Feelings that he medicated with drinking. Feelings of deep depression. “I was adopted when I was born, and I think knowing this left a void in my life,” says Matt. “When I was little, I always seemed to be searching for the 2
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right group of people or the right activities to get involved in. I became a chameleon and tried to adapt to whatever situation was around me. I think in the back of my mind I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. The drinking helped me forget this feeling.” By age 16, Matt had dropped out of school and was consuming alcohol regularly. He was working odd jobs, stealing from family, friends and employers and hurting himself and those around him through his addiction. Fast forward through 20 painful years of self-medication, several jobs lost to alcoholism, numerous DUIs, incidents with the law and deteriorating physical and mental health, and Matt had finally had enough. He was ready for change and ready to heal. As he began his treatment with Centerstone in 2008, he started to see that his struggle with alcoholism went much deeper and that it was merely a bandage for his depression.
Matt started attending a weekly dual-diagnosis class at Centerstone. Someone who has a dual-diagnosis, or a Co-Occurring Disorder, has both a substance abuse issue and a mental illness. According to reports by the Journal of the American Medical Association, roughly 50 percent of people with severe mental illness are also affected by substance abuse. Centerstone taught Matt that although he was sober, he had to treat his depression or he would continue to crave the ability to self-medicate with alcohol. In addition to the dual-diagnosis class, Matt attended regular Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and individual therapy sessions at Centerstone. “I learned about triggers and what my specific triggers are,” says Matt. “Previously, I thought there were things that set me off and drove me to drink – like some lady cutting me off in line at the grocery store, or someone getting my order wrong at the drive-thru. It would make me so angry and upset – and I’d drink. But through my group therapy at
Centerstone and through individual therapy sessions with Stacey, I learned that those weren’t the real issues. It was the depression.” At Centerstone, Matt learned coping skills to deal with his depression. He learned how to talk about his feelings and to use outlets like his support system or physical exercise when he felt his depression creeping in. “I know it would have been easier for Matt to pick up the bottle,” says Stacey. “But through his work with Centerstone, he’s learned how to think through things before he reacts. He’s able to process things in a much different, more positive way. This is a skill he’ll always use, because those triggers will always be around him.” Although the last four years of sobriety have been a constant struggle, Matt has remained sober and never relapsed, crediting Centerstone and Stacey with saving his life. “I describe my depression like a cell phone that’s been taken off its charger,” says Matt with a smirk. “At first, the phone is charged and strong. But after a day or two, it starts to slow down, gets weak and eventually dies. That’s what I feel like if I go too long without my support system. Centerstone and Stacey saved me, and continue to help me along this journey.”
“It’s a lifetime of work, but I know what I’ve got to do – and now, thanks to Centerstone, I have the tools to do it.” It is this strong will that Matt will have to rely on for the rest of his life during good times and bad – particularly during times that would have previously driven him to seek comfort in alcohol. In September of last year, Matt leaned on the skills he obtained at Centerstone when his mother passed away. During a time that previously would have left him vulnerable and without a means to cope, he remained a solid rock for his family members to lean on during this time of grief. A Brighter Tomorrow Holding a framed display of his AA tokens, each demonstrating another milestone in his recovery, Matt is proud. He appreciates how far he’s come, but knows the journey that still lies ahead of him.
He’s focused on his health – both mentally and physically. He’s lost over 30 pounds – although he knows the physical weight pales in comparison to the mental burden he’s shed during recovery. Matt is stronger, clearer and more committed. He’s even helping lead group sessions on sobriety and recovery in his community. “Each day can bring a new temptation and a new challenge,” says Matt. “But I know what to do now. I have learned the coping skills and the steps to avoid the behaviors that sent me into that spiral. It’s a lifetime of work, but I know what I’ve got to do – and now, thanks to Centerstone, I have the tools to do it.” n
Relapsing is very common in recovering alcoholics. But Matt knows that his disease not only affects him, but everyone else around him – so he says that he refuses to let it happen to him. He says it’s this mindset that drives him to continued sobriety and healing. “I just tell myself that death is in the next drink,” says Matt, shaking his head. “I don’t know how I made it as long as I did without killing myself or someone else. So every morning I live by the mantra, ‘don’t drink – and turn it over to God.’” RECLAIMING LIVES • ISSUE ELEVEN
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spotlight on Life Coaching at Centerstone
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o you need help discovering your strengths? Do you wish you were better able to prioritize your time and accomplish more? Are you adjusting to a life, career or relationship change? Or, do you just need help finding balance in your life?
Life Coaching at Centerstone can help. Our life coaches are licensed therapists with specialized training in the area of coaching. They work with individuals who want to improve their lives and are seeking support, insight and awareness in order to achieve their goals. Unlike therapy, which focuses on healing from the past, Life Coaching focuses on today and creating a successful, purposeful future. Available to adults and teens 13 years and older, Life Coaching is available via phone or in-person. With Life Coaching, you can: • Find life balance and purpose • Reduce stress • Improve relationships • Become more organized • Align your life with your values • Discover your strengths • Navigate a life transition • Rediscover hope in your life • Parent intentionally • Plan school and Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings • Set your own goals In addition, we also offer a wide range of workshops and trainings for schools and community groups. If you are interested in having a program tailored to meet your group’s specific needs, or interested in personal coaching for teens or adults, please contact us at 615.478.0688 or lifecoaching@centerstone.org. You can also visit http://centerstone.org/life-coaching for more information. n 4
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Centerstone’s Crisis Call Center is the First in Tennessee to Offer Crisis Chat Centerstone recently became the first organization in Tennessee to offer Crisis Chat, a collaborative service provided by a network of crisis centers across the United States. Crisis Chat is a new way for people to access and connect with mental health experts via the web, in real time. Crisis Chat is offered through Centerstone’s Crisis Call Center and is yet another way for us to reach people in need – particularly teens and young adults who are accustomed to accessing their information online. While some people may be hesitant to pick up the phone or walk into an outpatient clinic, Crisis Chat provides an outlet that may be more comfortable and accessible.
In order to offer Crisis Chat, our Crisis Call Center received a five-year accreditation from CUSA, which recognizes that Centerstone’s staff and leadership at the Crisis Call Center are maintaining the highest standards of delivery and service. This recent accreditation from CUSA is in addition to the call center’s accreditations from the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International.
Crisis Chat can be reached via Centerstone.org or CrisisChat.org and is currently in development throughout the United States. Right now, it is available from 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. CT, seven days a week. Eventually it will be available 24 hours a day as the national network grows.
Centerstone’s Crisis Call Center was established in 1992 and provides information, initial crisis assessment, referrals and de-escalation to callers throughout Middle Tennessee who are going through an acute psychiatric crisis. Located in Nashville, our 24-hour call center provides crisis call services for other organizations as well, receiving a total of more than 35,000 phone calls annually.
Crisis Chat is a service managed by CONTACT USA (CUSA), a national organization and network of crisis intervention centers across the nation. CUSA provides written standards and accreditation to these centers, including Centerstone.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, don’t hesitate to contact Centerstone’s 24-Hour Crisis Intervention Hotline at 800.681.7444. Or, you can access Crisis Chat services by visiting www.centerstone.org or directly at www.crisischat.org. n
A sample, “mock” chat demonstrating what the software looks like when Centerstone crisis experts provide initial assessment, de-escalation and counseling services via Crisis Chat.
Jennifer Armstrong, MSSW, LPC-MHSP is the Clinical Program Manager for Crisis Care Services and manages the Crisis Call Center and the new Crisis Chat service at Centerstone.
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Philanthropy in Action
Centerstone Ambassadors Circle Event Focuses on Addiction Treatment and Research Recently, the Centerstone Ambassadors Circle gathering was hosted by Lee Ann Ingram and Orrin Ingram at Ingram Industries to talk about addiction treatment and research. The event was kicked off by Centerstone of Tennessee Board Member Lavinia Johnston of Chattanooga told the story of her own personal battles with alcoholism and recovery. Her moving tale of how she sought help and, with the assistance of others, turned her life around reminded the guests of how personal Centerstone’s mission can be. Ben Middleton, COO for Centerstone’s Clinic Services, then informed guests how Centerstone has created evidence-based treatment programs to
combat addictions in the outpatient and home setting. Guests also learned about an exciting new venture with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston. Centerstone and Centerstone Research Institute (CRI) are in partnership with MGH to find a genetic signature for responsiveness to the treatment for alcohol dependence. Like CRI, MGH has a long-standing investment and dedication to research, as well as teaching, and was the first teaching hospital associated with Harvard Medical School – a relationship it maintains today. It was an evening filled with poignant reminders of the good work Centerstone is doing every day to prevent and cure mental illness and addiction. For more information regarding the Ambassadors Circle, please contact foundation@centerstone.org. t l to r: Lee Ann
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Janet Ayers, Centerstone of Tennessee Board of Directors Vice-Chair, and Centerstone Research Institute Board Member and Jack Wallace, Centerstone Foundation Board of Directors ViceChair were the Capital Campaign Co-Chairs.
Ingram, Centerstone of Tennessee Board of Directors Chair and Centerstone Foundation Board Member; Ben Middleton, Centerstone COO for Clinic Services; and Lavinia Johnston, Centerstone of Tennessee Board Member and featured speaker of the Ambassadors Circle event.
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l to r, celebrating the capital campaign: Jack Wallace, Centerstone Foundation Board of Directors ViceChair; Orrin Ingram, capital campaign celebration host; Linda Garceau, Centerstone Foundation CEO; Lee Ann Ingram, Centerstone of Tennessee Board of Directors Chair and Centerstone Foundation Board Member; Dr. Bob l to r, celebrating the capital campaign: Michele Toungette, Junior Vero, Centerstone of Tennessee CEO; Janet Ayers, Centerstone of Tennessee League of Nashville President; Jillian Waters, Junior League of Nashville Board of Directors Vice-Chair and Centerstone Research Institute Board President-Elect; Martha Ingram; Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, Member; and David Guth, Centerstone of America CEO. Centerstone of Tennessee Board Member; and Patti Smallwood.
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Centerstone Celebrates the Close of Successful Capital Campaign Centerstone has celebrated the culmination of a successful inaugural capital campaign that met 102 percent of its goal. Started in 2007, the five-year campaign raised $12.5 million that will support the advancement of Centerstone’s research capabilities, fund the construction of the new state-of-the-art facility on the Dede Wallace Campus and assist in providing mental healthcare and addiction treatment for those who are unable to pay. The new building on the Dede Wallace Campus will be Centerstone’s first major facility built in Metro Nashville. It will house 37 clinician offices and serve children and families in one specialty clinic and older adults in another. Construction on the new facility is expected to begin in late summer of 2012. The capital campaign was chaired by Janet Ayers and Jack Wallace and made possible through a committee of dedicated board members and friends. To celebrate the culmination of the campaign and its success, a celebration was held at the home of Orrin and Lee Ann Ingram. n
Front:
Why Choose Centerstone as Your Philanthropy of Choice? Every year, 33 million Americans seek help for mental illness and addiction disorders. Unfortunately, over 70 percent of these individuals receive less than adequate care for their disorders, simply because they cannot afford services. Centerstone is committed to our patients, to cures and to assuring that everyone receives the quality treatment they deserve. Whether we are providing individual and family counseling, serving our nation’s returning warriors and their families, implementing foster care and adoption programs, helping families battle substance abuse and addiction or providing school-based counseling and prevention programs, we believe in hope and healing for everyone. We need your philanthropic commitment to: · Help ensure that costs will not prohibit treatment for individuals in need · Unlock innovative, evidence-based treatment solutions for our clients · Support our mission to prevent and cure mental illness and addiction
Back:
Please consider a gift to Centerstone today and discover how you can join us in making a difference. Give online at: www.centerstone.org/make-a-donation or contact us at 615.463.6645.
Artist renderings of the new facility on the Dede Wallace Campus.
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Physician Spotlight Michael D. Hill, MD
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r. Michael D. Hill is a boardcertified physician who has worked for Centerstone for over 20 years at the Frank Luton Center in Nashville, Tenn.
Dr. Hill is also a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree before earning the “Quadravidium Letter” from Oxford University in Oxford, England. He later earned his M.D. from the University of Tennessee, Memphis. He completed his internship in General Medicine and Neurology at St. Thomas Hospital and his residency in Psychiatry and Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Have you experienced a significantly moving or rewarding experience in your practice at Centerstone? n
I see a great number of children, and it is especially rewarding to see a child progress from elementary school age to young adulthood and then be a productive citizen. Working at Luton for over 20 years has given me the opportunity to see many of my patients “grow up.” n What future advances in the
delivery of care excite you the most? I am especially excited about new developments in psychopharmacology in the area of treating psychosis. This will bring a bit of a shift away from 8
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the “dopamine-centered theories” in psychosis, to alternative neurochemistry. This is very exciting. I also long for the day when all Americans can have equal access to the same healthcare. What other healthcare professionals do you see as a mentor in your career? n
I was a pupil of Volney Gay, Ph.D., who is a psychoanalyst here in Nashville. He was profoundly instrumental in mentoring me. He still remains a mentor to me. Also, Thomas Ban, M.D., a Hungarian psychiatrist, was a mentor to me, especially in the treatment of psychotic patients, while I was completing my residency training at Vanderbilt over 20 years ago. What is the most satisfying aspect of your position at Centerstone? n
I really enjoy offering services to the less fortunate; especially those with little or no insurance. I do a great deal of medical work overseas, so I am passionate about helping those who may have nothing. It’s a very humbling experience.
and work in a general medical clinic in the Spice Islands. I read a great deal of ancient literature and am currently working on translating the ancient Latin comedy, “Persa,” by T. Maccius Plautus, from the original Latin into English. n What would surprise people to find out about you?
When I was a younger man, I did a great deal of adventure travel, including a solo-climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and was part of a successful expedition to the North Pole in 1997. I was also one of a handful of humans to ever to set foot on “Snowhill Island,” just off the coast of Antarctica, in 1995, where I helped excavate dinosaur bones and other fossils. Also, after graduation from college at Vanderbilt, I was accepted into a Ph.D. program to study astronomy in 1984, but chose medicine instead. I sometimes wonder how different my life would have been if I had become an astronomer. n
n What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I help manage my family’s cotton farm in Lincoln County, Tennessee, which has been in my family since 1811. I also travel extensively, for both pleasure and work. I’ve visited over 100 countries around the world and work for Doctors without Borders. I will be going back to Indonesia in October 2012 primarily to give vaccinations
Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
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evere, ongoing anxiety that interferes with everyday tasks may be a sign of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Although some level of anxiety and stress is normal and common for most individuals, people with GAD worry about things when there is no apparent reason to worry. Anxiety about simply making it through the day can be debilitating to those living with GAD. GAD often develops slowly and can onset as a child or an adult. Although symptoms can be similar to those of a panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, it is different from these disorders. However, GAD usually does occur with other mood disorders. Intensity of GAD symptoms may fluctuate. Sometimes worry is very specific, like worry over personal safety. Other times, the anxiety is a general, looming sense that something bad is going happen. Symptoms of GAD vary from person to person, but generally include: • Worry and obsession over everyday things • Inability to relax • Restlessness • Fatigue • Irritability • Trouble sleeping or staying asleep • Headaches, muscle aches or unexplained pains • Shortness of breath • Rapid heartbeat • Trembling or twitching GAD sometimes runs in families, but like with many other mental health conditions, its cause is not fully understood. Brain chemicals (serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine), genetics, life experience and stress are all likely contributors to the disorder. Worries sometimes go away on their own or can progress over time. Seeking professional help early on may make GAD easier to treat. The disorder is treated with medication and psychotherapy, specifically cognitive behavior therapy. Many patients benefit from some combination of both medication and therapy. If you are concerned about yourself, a patient or a loved one because of excessive anxiety and worry, Centerstone can help. Call us anytime at 888.291.4357. n RECLAIMING LIVES • ISSUE ELEVEN
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Combating Co-Occurring Disorders
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ccording to reports by the Journal of the American Medical Association, roughly fifty percent of people with severe mental illness are also affected by substance abuse – something commonly known as a CoOccurring Disorder or a dual diagnosis.
The psychiatric illnesses that can accompany an alcohol or drug use disorder, creating a Co-Occurring Disorder, include: Depression, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Specific Phobias, Schizophrenia and Personality Disorders. Often, treatment providers find that a substance use disorder evolves in patients as a way of coping or “self-medicating” to deal with a mental illness. Self-medication can then turn into a dependency on alcohol or drugs, thus creating the Co-Occurring Disorder. In these cases, treating both the mental illness and the substance use disorder in tandem provides better recovery outcomes than treating them individually. Treatment, like Centerstone’s Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Program, relies on evidence-based practices like the Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT) model. This model recognizes the difficulty posed by the interaction of the substance use disorder and a mental illness by addressing the issues of drug interaction, relapse and overlapping symptoms. It focuses on treating the person as a whole and helps him or her to develop a high quality, satisfying, functional life through recovery. Independent research, conducted by Centerstone Research Institute (CRI), shows that people receiving treatment through our Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Program saw a 25 percent increase in their ability to abstain from alcohol and drug use at their six-month follow up. In addition, there was a 20 percent drop in daily mental illness symptoms for the same group. Centerstone’s Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Program is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (U.S. DHHS, SAMHSA, CSAT). If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health or addiction issue, Centerstone is here to help. Call us at 888.291.4357. n 10
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Health and Wellness
A column devoted to healthy mind, body, spirit and relationships by Centerstone Wellness Expert, Susan Gillpatrick, M.Ed, LPC, CTS
The Good News about Stress
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tress is a normal, everyday experience. It is a natural reaction by your mind and body to life’s external demands – and life can be demanding! Surprisingly though, stress can sometimes be a good thing. Recognizing stress and its triggers can provide an opportunity for growth and positive change. It is excessive, unresolved stress that can result in negative consequences. Below are four surprising ways that stress can actually have a positive impact and increase satisfaction in your life. It gets your attention. Noticing stress serves as a warning sign – a waving, glowing red flag indicating something in your life may not be working at its best. How do you first recognize stress? You may experience symptoms of stress physically, emotionally or behaviorally. Experiencing excessive stress can get your attention and unveil a number of deeper issues, such as lack of life balance, unhealthy relationships or deteriorating health problems, just to name a few. Pay attention to these underlying causes. Take note of the warning signs that your stress level may be climbing, and do something about it today.
important to identify your core needs and acknowledge the link between unmet needs and stress. Therefore, you can recognize when your needs are not being met and try something different to be sure they are. It readjusts your expectations. As humans, we are full of expectations. Some expectations we are consciously aware of, and many others, we are not. When we harbor expectations that are too high, we set ourselves up for failure. The stress resulting from this disappointment serves as an opportunity to readjust our expectations – of ourselves, and of others. It leads to growth!
It reveals core needs.
Life is never stagnant, and this is a good thing. Change is constant. The burden of stress resulting from change is common in our culture today. As leadership expert and motivational speaker John Maxwell puts it, “Change always involves growth.” Through disappointments, loss and the fact that we live in an uncertain world, stress is normal. Through such change, we can persevere by learning new ways to accommodate, to develop patience, to mature and to practice lessons learned. Capture your opportunities for growth in your current stressors, and reflect on the growth that has brought you to where you are today. n
Think of the last time you had a stressful day. What set it off? As individuals, we have unique core needs. When these needs are not being met, stress soon follows. It is
Susan Gillpatrick, M.Ed., LPC, CTS, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Crisis Management Specialist for Centerstone. She may be reached at susan.gillpatrick@centerstone.org.
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News & Notes Michelle Covington Named Among 2012 Class of “Women to Watch” by Nashville Medical News Michelle Covington, Centerstone’s Director of CommunityBased Services for Children, was chosen as one of the 2012 Women to Michelle Covington Watch by Nashville Medical News. Each year, Nashville Medical News profiles women in Middle Tennessee who are making a difference in the healthcare landscape of our community, state or nation. These women are clinicians, public health officials or advocates or administrators. Michelle will be recognized in a special section of Nashville Medical News in May and honored at a breakfast on May 16. This is not the first time a Centerstone employee has been honored as a Woman to Watch. Centerstone Research Institute’s Director of Grant Writing, Jan Goodson, was honored in 2010; Centerstone’s Chief Medical Officer, Karen Rhea, MD, was a 2009 honoree; and Advantage Behavioral Health CEO, Debbie Cagle, was a 2008 recipient. Centerstone Expands School-Based Services in Hamilton, Robertson and Wilson Counties Centerstone has partnered with several Tennessee school districts to offer school-based counseling services in local elementary, middle and high schools. The program 12
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recently expanded to Hamilton County with services in Barger Academy of Fine Arts, The Dawn School, Howard School of Academics and Technology and Spring Creek Elementary School. In addition, school-based counseling services are now available in Robertson County at Springfield Middle School and in Wilson County at Coles Ferry and Sam Houston Elementary Schools. School-Based Services is currently available in 12 counties. Centerstone’s Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Program Honored
l to r: Dr. Bob Vero, Centerstone CEO; Brent Young, Centerstone Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Program Coordinator; Stacey Coulter, Centerstone Clinic Manager; and Dr. Charles Brown, Centerstone Research Institute Program Evaluator.
Centerstone’s Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Program has been recognized as a “Program of Excellence” by the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO) at the organization’s annual Awards and Recognition ceremony. The Program of Excellence Award spotlights TAMHO member organizations that find creative and groundbreaking ways to provide effective communitybased services and programs.
Centerstone’s Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment program treats adults who have both a substance use disorder and a mental illness. To date, the innovative program has served nearly 300 people. Centerstone and Partners Win Distinguished Advertising Award
Sebastian Jones, a poet with Southern Word, is one of the students featured in the awardwinning Centerstone PSAs.
Centerstone and some of our creative partners – cabedge, Zoe Creative and Southern Word – won Silver at this year’s ADDY Awards. The award is in recognition of two teen pregnancy prevention public service announcements (PSAs) the companies created. Carrying the message of Be in Charge, a Centerstone Prevention Services teen pregnancy prevention program now available to 26 Middle Tennessee counties, the ads ran in a fall television campaign during popular teen television shows such as Gossip Girl, Glee and Teen Mom. The prestigious ADDY is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative award competition. Conducted by the Nashville branch of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the ADDY awards recognize and reward creative excellence in all forms of advertising. The PSAs are
available on WhoYouWant2Be.org – Centerstone’s Prevention Services’ resource website for teens, parents and educators. Centerstone Patients Get LifeChanging Treatment Thanks to Gold Skin Care Center
l to r: Dr. Karen Rhea, Centerstone Chief Medical Officer; Ronnie Farmer, a Centerstone patient receiving tattoo removal services; and Dr. Michael H. Gold, Gold Skin Care Center Founder and Medical Director.
In January, Nashville’s Gold Skin Care Center began offering complimentary tattoo removal sessions to Centerstone patients in need. For some people, tattoos can be a painful reminder of the past, a barrier to finding employment or a hindrance to their overall recovery. Through this service, Gold Skin Care Center and Dr. Michael H. Gold are providing an invaluable opportunity for some Centerstone clients to erase painful memories and take another step forward in their recovery. Some eligible patients have already begun tattoo removal sessions. Depending on the size of the tattoo, ink and several other variables, tattoos can be removed in as few as one session or may take several visits. Stay tuned for more information and to see how this unique opportunity helps Centerstone clients in their recovery!
Tarah Harper Honored with Patriot Award Tarah Harper, Coordinator for Centerstone’s Career Resource Center in Tullahoma, was honored with the Patriot Award by the National Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The awards program is designed to recognize employerswho support a strong National Guard and Reserve force. Employers qualify for recognition when they practice leadership and personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserve. Karisa Hargrove, an Employment Specialist with the Career Resource Center, nominated Tarah for the award because of her steadfast support for Karisa’s enlistment in the Army National Guard. According to Karisa,
Centerstone and Tarah have “gone far above and beyond what is required” in regards to supporting her decision to serve with the Army National Guard while being employed with the Career Resource Center. n
l to r: Don Bradley, ESGR Representative; Bob Beatty, ESGR Middle Tennessee Area Chairman; Tarah Harper, Centerstone Career Resource Center Coordinator; and SPC Karisa Hudson, Centerstone Career Resource Center Employment Specialist during the award presentation.
Centerstone Launches Mobile Therapy Whether due to a transportation issue, time conflict, lack of access to a clinic, inconvenient appointment times, anxiety disorders like agoraphobia or some other barrier, families often go without necessary mental health services because they cannot physically get to a clinic location. Thankfully, Centerstone now offers a solution for people in 16 Middle Tennessee counties. Mobile Therapy, available for children, youth and some adults, provides a solution by bringing the service directly to the patient. Centerstone Mobile Therapy staff members are master’s level clinicians who travel to the child and their family to complete the intake and refer them to appropriate care, whether that be Outpatient Counseling, Psychiatric Evaluation, Intensive In-Home Treatment Services, School-Based Services, Case Management, CTT or, in some instances, continued Mobile Therapy. Currently, Mobile Therapy is available in Bedford, Cheatham, Coffee, Davidson, Giles, Hickman, Humphries, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Sumner, Rutherford, Perry, Wayne and Williamson Counties.
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Centerstone Kicks Off Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Centerstone has launched a new Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (SSVF), which is being provided in Middle Tennessee thanks to a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The one-year recurring grant was awarded to Centerstone to provide support services to low-income Middle Tennessee Veterans and their families and is part of nearly $60 million awarded nationwide. Over the next year, Centerstone will help more than 200 Veteran families in 14 Middle Tennessee counties who are at risk for homelessness transition to or maintain permanent housing, all at no cost to the participants. The program currently serves Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson and Wilson counties. The SSVF program, one element of the VA’s larger plan to prevent and end homelessness among Veterans nationwide, awards grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives, which can provide a range of supportive services to eligible Veteran families. For more information, please visit www.centerstone.org or call 615.460.4385 for questions about eligibility. n