Residential Treatment for Schizophrenia or Psychosis
As one of the nation's top treatment centers for schizophrenia, Skyland Trail provides expert, evidence-based psychiatric treatment for thought disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder in our residential treatment and day treatment programs for adults.
Skyland Trail also specializes in treating adults experiencing psychosis as part of a mood disorder, including adults with depression with psychosis or adults with bipolar disorder with psychosis.
Residential treatment, with 24/7 care and support, is our most intensive level of care for schizophrenia or psychosis treatment. Residential treatment often is the best next step for adults leaving a hospital or acute care facility.
Structured Schedules
Each week, Skyland Trail clients with schizophrenia or psychosis participate in a structured schedule that includes:
Weekly one-on-one session with a psychiatrist
A dedicated psychiatrist helps determine an effective medication strategy to reduce psychotic symptoms
Weekly one-on-one session with a therapist
Weekly session with a dedicated therapist who specializes in the treatment of thought disorders and mood disorders with psychotic symptoms
Education & Skills Groups
Understand your symptoms & challenges and how to use your strengths to manage your disorder
Art, Nature, Music, & Recreation
Enjoy a change of pace, discover new hobbies and self-care strategies, and practice social skills.
Healthy Eating & Active Living
Learn about meal planning from a dietician and find a personal fitness routine that works for you
Activities of Daily Living
Experts provide support & accountability to help clients improve personal hygiene and healthy living spaces
Cognitive Training
Computer-based learning to improve executive and cognitive function
Vocational Services
Group coaching to work toward going to school, getting a job, or volunteering in the community
Family Therapy
Available as an add-on, family therapy helps redefine family roles & improve communication
Effective Medication Therapy for Thought Disorders
Our first priority for clients experiencing psychosis or mania is to identify an appropriate medication strategy to reduce symptoms, especially hallucinations and/or delusions. Untreated symptoms negatively affect the brain and can lead to cognitive decline and loss of IQ. Medication is critical in preventing these losses in cognition.
Many clients are first prescribed medications in a hospital setting. They may not have been able to to ask questions about the medication or have conversations with prescribers about how medications work or how they can manage possible side effects. Skyland Trail clients have a weekly one-on-one session with their psychiatrist to learn more about how medications can support their health and their goals, which can be a first step toward long-term medication adherence.
Many clients are prescribed long-acting injectable medications. Because they reduce the need for daily dosing, these medications may also support the adoption of medication adherence. Our onsite wellness clinic is able to assist with injection administration and lab testing.
But medication is only the first step. We then work to help clients to develop skills they need to manage their disorder and feel safe and healthy in the world.
Treatment Approach for Thought Disorders
Not a "one-size-fits-all" program, Skyland Trail matches each client with a specialized team of experts and a structured daily schedule of therapeutic activities to address the client's specific challenges and goals.
Our psychiatrists and therapists help clients recognize symptoms, effectively communicate their experiences and feelings to providers and family, adopt medication adherance, develop coping and reality testing skills, and achieve and maintain sobriety.
Our aim is to help clients formulate goals and adopt strategies that will support long-term recovery. We help clients overcome negative beliefs and see themselves and their futures as more than a diagnosis. We empower clients to take ownership of the choices and actions they can take to prevent relapse and manage chronic symptoms.
Client Story: Ben
Psychosis and Alcohol or Substance Use
Substance use increases the risk of psychosis and often is a part of the development of psychotic symptoms. Some clients may admit with "substance-induced psychosis." Many people begin using substances as a way to cope with symptoms related to a mental health disorder like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Dual diagnosis treatment allows indiviuduals to address both challenges concurrently rather than sequentially and offers the best path to long-term recovery.
Clients receive specialized psychiatric care focused on their psychosis and also participate in one-on-one and group therapy focused on preventing relapse and maintaining sobriety. Sobriety is a key component to reducing and preventing relapse of psychotic symptoms. Dual diagnosis programming, while helping clients explore how substance use is related to their thought disorder, reinforces the skills and learning taking place in groups focused on psychosis and cognition.
Age-Appropriate Treatment
What is Cognitive Training for Thought Disorders?
Many Skyland Trail clients with psychotic symptoms participate in cognitive training. Cognitive training is a computer-based cognitive rehabilitation training program for adults with memory, processing speed, or executive functioning deficits related to untreated mental illnesses.
Over time, untreated psychiatric illnesses can lead to long-term cognitive impairment – a loss of thinking and processing skills including memory, attention, problem-solving ability, and intelligence. Thought disorders also can impact a person’s social cognition – or “people skills” – including the ability to read nonverbal social cues like facial expressions or body language, or to see a situation from another person’s point of view.
Research shows that in concert with therapy and medications, brain training through cognitive enhancement therapy may be an important component in addressing cognitive impairment.
Results are especially promising when cognitive training is started early in the course of a person’s mental illness, making it particularly important for first episode psychosis and young adults who are newly diagnosed.
Cognitive training groups meet several times weekly in our computer lab. As clients progress, the software adapts to their new skill level so that they are always at the right level to continue making improvements.