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How It Works
The Life Adjustment Team was built on the principle that we all have
certain needs that must be met to live happy, healthy lives, including:
When one's ability to meet these needs is impaired, relationships,
employment, and the quality of life suffer.
The focus of rehabilitation with the Team is to find creative ways
to help clients meet these basic needs using the Seven Domains Of
Functioning. An assessment is completed during the first two weeks
(approximately six visits) to evaluate the client's functioning in
each of the seven
domains. The assessment identifies Rehabilitation Priorities with
specific goals and plans to teach clients how to build on their assets
and minimize deficits using a combination of skills training, goal
directed case management, and specialized groups.
The Seven Domains Of Functioning
Domain: Psychiatric / Medical
Understanding one's illness and medication is essential for successful
rehabilitation. Knowing how to manage symptoms and recognize warning
signs improves stability and helps prevent relapse. Medical and dental
issues can also be addressed when necessary.
Domain: Social / Interpersonal
Appearance, attitude, and confidence have a major impact on how one
gets along with other people. The Team offers training in social problem
solving and basic conversation skills. There are also specialized
programs that teach skills on how to overcome obstacles, such as answering
questions that are intimidating in a social setting. Also, the Team
teaches appropriate levels of disclosure, such as how and when to
share personal information.
Domain: Recreation
Using leisure time to recreate adds balance to life. Being inactive
often results in boredom, which produces stress, negatively impacting
stress-vulnerable illnesses. Exercise helps us to look and feel better,
thus improving physical and mental health. The Team uses recreation
to motivate people to become active, enhance social networking, and
build self-confidence.
Domain: Self-Management
Feeling organized and on top of your personal business is comforting
and rewarding. Being unkempt or overwhelmed with legal issues, SSI
problems, or overdue bills can be very stressful and diminish self-respect.
Planning, budgeting, and tracking are essential skills for independent
living. The Team teaches organizational skills and systems for time
management and money management, and can address all of the activities
of daily living, such as hygiene issues, grocery shopping, house cleaning,
etc.
Domain: Family
Family relationships often become strained even when family members
try to be helpful. The Team can assist with communication and problem
solving within the family, and can assume the management role in treatment.
Advice or direction is often met with resistance when offered by a
family member, but is generally received more favorably from a trusted
professional. This helps keep treatment on course and provides a buffer
to avoid confrontation during stressful times within the family. Our
Family Services Program provides many benefits for family members.
Domain: Education / Vocation
The overarching goal of recovery is to enjoy a useful and productive
life. The role of The Life Adjustment Team is to help define our client's
abilities and talents, provide direction to create short-, medium-,
and long-term goals, and implement the plans to carry them out in
a supportive, respectful, and empowering manner.
Domain: Belief System
Our belief system is a combination of our experience, knowledge and
insights. When faced with a difficult situation in life, we tend to
focus on the problem and not the solution, which leads us to
fear-based decision making. What we focus on determines our state of
mind and our attitude. It is essential to teach clients to focus on
solutions by developing a positive attitude toward rehabilitation
based on belief in themselves and the treatment team.
How We Do It
Individualized Case Management services are offered in specialized
one to one sessions at our Center and in the community where the skills
necessary for problem solving, resource development, and task completion
can be generalized and practiced with support and feedback.
Support Groups are available in a wide variety of areas such
as: anxiety management, relationship building, substance abuse recovery
issues, social problem solving, family unification, and social/recreational
community outings. These groups are initiated according to the needs
of our clients.
Group Skills Training is offered at our Center utilizing the
"Skills for Independent Living" training modules, developed
by the UCLA Research Center for Schizophrenia and Psychiatric Rehabilitation.
These training modules are considered the "state-of-the-art"
skills training program in mental health rehabilitation.
Social Development Groups focus on community based activities
such as tennis, basketball, golf, hiking, volleyball, etc. These groups
are designed as bridge-building activities, encouraging group participants
to continue to be active in these areas beyond the duration of the
group. Clients are encouraged to develop relationships with people
of like interests, and establish hobbies and leisure time activities.
Comprehensive "Wraparound" Support Systems
Wraparound is a unique concept in outpatient
care that meets the needs of clients wishing to remain in their
own home or apartment but require constant supervision or companionship.
All needs of the client are met using a continuous treatment team
model where 8-,12-, and 24-hour care is possible when indicated.
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