Intensive Home-based Recovery Teams
The Windhorse Therapy process is a multilayered and comprehensive treatment approach for people with a wide variety of mental health recovery needs. In this approach, for every client we create an individually tailored therapy environment, addressing their needs in a whole person manner. This approach also includes, whenever possible, the voice and needs of the client’s family. Recovery teams can be comprised of a small number of clinicians as well as a more fully developed situation that can include a Team Supervisor, Psychotherapist, Team Leader, Basic Attenders, and Housemate.
Therapeutic Household
A simple snapshot of a Windhorse Therapy looks like the following: a client lives in a house with a housemate who is part of a treatment team. Their relationship resembles that of ordinary housemates. There may be a number of clinicians on the team who spend time with the client on a regular basis, creating a schedule of generally one “shift” per day or more. Within that contact, a wide variety of activities takes place, from keeping the house in order to helping them get out and connect with their interests in the world. These activities are elements of an individually tailored environment to help the person live in an ordinary and healthy way, with good relationships and interesting activities. The client may work, see friends and family, and be part of the normal community in which they live. S/he may meet with a psychotherapist, usually once per week, and with a psychiatrist if they use medications. There is a system of meetings that all members of the team, including the client and their family, participate in. These keep the activity of the therapy, household, and treatment team coordinated, up-to-date, and in step with the evolving recovery needs.
Psychotherapy
Our highly trained and licensed clinicians usually provide psychotherapy services, unless the client already has an established relationship with a local therapist. One-hour psychotherapy sessions take place one or more times weekly. Windhorse Psychotherapists are fully trained in the Windhorse approach, completing a two-year in-house Windhorse Intensive Psychotherapy training as well as having experience being a basic attender and team leader.
Basic Attendance
Our essential clinical practice for integrating a person with his or her environment is “basic attendance.” This is a subtle combination of being with the person with the skill and understanding of a therapist and the warmth and empathy of a friend. It involves engaging with the person in ordinary activities of daily living. We provide help to the client in accomplishing problematic tasks, expanding into areas of interest, scheduling sane rhythms of activities, and furthering personal awareness. In some cases, a sole team member can provide basic attendance. A basic attendance shift is usually two to three hours in length with the goals to 1) help the client to relax; 2) increase the client’s level of individual resourcefulness and responsibility; and 3) expand the client’s community of social relations.
Single Clinician Teams
While WCS is typically known for creating individually tailored, large recovery teams, we also carry out a significant number of our personalized recovery plans with a single clinician approach of basic attendance. Our clinician works within the client’s home and within the community to provide flexibly directed support. This support includes addressing the person’s physical health needs, social issues, work, and school involvement. Basic attendance also helps the individual develop insight and awareness so that his or her mind can become more of an ally rather than a hindrance. An attractive feature of single clinician recovery programs is their affordability without sacrificing comprehensive support.
Medication Coordination and Home Delivery
For clients in need of assistance with medication management, WCS offers medication coordination within the team constellation as well as having medication teams available to complete tailored home delivery services.
Consultations – Local and Long-distance
WCS provides consultations to individuals and families, both locally and long-distance. We are available to answer your questions, and provide ongoing consultation should circumstances warrant it. Consultations can occur via individual and conference calls, or through skype. We also partner with existing and/or referral health care professionals to ensure an integrated recovery environment that supports therapeutic goals.
Evaluation and Referral
Through our admissions process, an evaluation of the presenting situation occurs. Upon the completion of an evaluation and intake summary, the client/family and admissions personnel will determine if a Windhorse therapeutic team is the next step. When the situation requires a different recovery program than a Windhorse approach, the admissions team will assist the client and family with referral information.
Natural Teams
For clients and families with limited resources or for the client who may not have the means to move to Boulder to set up a therapeutic situation, WCS can assist by helping evaluate what resources exist in the client’s community. These might include family members, co-workers, church members, or others available who can volunteer to provide support and connection to promote the recovery process. WCS can provide an orientation and training for these individuals in the fundamentals of the Windhorse approach.
