The Community Outreach Program has been established in the Norristown Area to provide support to persons who need assistance in accessing both behavioral health and general support services. Our Outreach specialist provides direct interaction with local businesses, social service agencies, shelters, police departments, hospitals, churches, the library, neighborhoods, and drop-in centers to identify persons in need of outreach and support, who may or may not already be receiving behavioral health services.
We strive to maintain a working, educational and supportive relationship with individuals, organizations and businesses in the Norristown area and surrounding communities in Montgomery County. We also aim to educate individuals and organization about the community services and resources available for them to access. It is our goal to collaborate with local behavioral health systems and respond to persons with behavioral health needs and co-occurring disorders who are experiencing difficulty in locating treatment, support, or meaningful social activities, and/or who may be homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. Work closely with the coordinators of homeless outreach center (CHOC).
Location
Central’s Main Office
The Clinical Wellness Recovery Team (CWRT) is a program aimed to help improve your physical and behavioral health care. Good physical health care and mental health care go hand in hand for overall good health. The CWRT team is here to support your health both physically and mentally. Our team consists of a registered nurse navigator and/or behavioral health navigator who work collaboratively with you to coordinate your care. Our team establishes communication with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) and Psychiatrist as well as any medical and behavioral health provider, treatment team member, and support system to help coordinate your care. Our team of navigators demonstrate a focus on interventions designed to coordinate your ongoing care. This could include helping you gain access to services, health and disease screening, and education regarding medications and diseases. Our navigators will act as health advocates to help you receive ongoing and appropriate care. They are able to support you in your home, at medical appointments and evaluations, and facilitate and advocate for medical follow-up when needed. In addition, some other services they are able to provide include: offering information and resources to you about help with tobacco cessation, exercise, dietary restrictions, and health maintenance. Our navigators provide health monitoring for you if you are being prescribed atypical antipsychotic medication. And, if you are having difficulty maintaining recommended treatment compliance, our navigators can help them work through barriers to adherence with your medical and behavioral health care.
Central Behavioral Health Brochure – CWRT
Referrals
Individuals must be 18 years or older, have a serious mental illness (SMI) diagnosis as well as a chronic physical health problem, and live within eastern and central Montgomery County. In addition, clients with medical assistance and insurance through Magellan will need to submit a recent psychiatric evaluation within the past year.
Location
Central’s Main Office
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Although initially intended to help chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, DBT has since been adapted for and used to effectively treat a number of other psychological problems. The central dialectic within DBT is to balance acceptance of the person exactly as s/he is in this moment with intense efforts to change the person’s life to increase adaptive functioning and decrease maladaptive behavior. The overarching goal of treatment with DBT is to help individuals develop “a life worth living.”
DBT was originally developed for individuals who suffered from borderline personality disorder, a psychological condition in which people have great difficulty managing their emotions. DBT has also been adapted to treat other psychological problems in which the clinical feature of the presenting symptoms stem from maladaptive efforts to control intense, negative emotions or emotional dysregulation.
Central’s DBT program has four major components:
-
Weekly individual (one-to-one) therapy
-
Weekly group skills-training sessions
-
As-needed consultation between client and therapist outside of sessions
-
Weekly therapist consultation meeting in which DBT therapists meet to discuss their DBT cases
Central’s DBT program requests a commitment of 6 months, with a mutual decision to recommit for an additional 6 months. A participant would not be in the program longer than a year. The research studies conducted on DBT for BPD have all included one year of treatment or less. Unfortunately, this does not mean that individuals should expect to be completely free of symptoms or no longer have problem behaviors at one year. Research suggests that “behavioral control”, that is the absence of suicidal behaviors and other life-threatening behaviors as well as severe quality-of-life interfering behaviors, can often be achieved within four to eight months of comprehensive DBT.
Referrals
Individuals, ages 18 years and older and living in eastern and central Montgomery County, who would like to begin this modality of treatment will first complete an intake through Central’s Outpatient department. Requirements include: identification of past attempts to have mental health needs met with other community based supports; diagnosis of borderline personality disorder or multiple mental health diagnoses, exhibiting behaviors characterized by impulsivity or intentional self-harm, and severe dysfunction across multiple life areas. Contact an intake worker at our Outpatient & Intake Services location to schedule your confidential appointment. Once the intake is completed, an application will be completed by your behavioral health professional and submitted to the DBT program. Participants must be willing to commit to participating in all individual and group skills appointments and we request a 6 month commitment when you begin this empirically supported program.
Location
Outpatient & Intake Services
Feeling sad or depressed? Do you find yourself worrying about the future or feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Going through a major life transition? Our team of therapists can provide the assistance that you need during this difficult time.
Central’s Outpatient Program offers mental health and co-occurring services to adults, children and families who live primarily in the eastern and central Montgomery County area. Services include a comprehensive intake evaluation, integrated mental health and co-occurring treatment, crisis and emergency intervention, psychiatric evaluations and pharmacological management. Treatment modalities include individual, couples, family and group therapy, as well as, medication management. We also have an Administrative Case Manager on site to offer individuals additional assistance with locating resources, completing forms and applications, and presenting additional referrals based on the specific need addressed. Treatment is provided on a voluntary basis and utilizes a strengths based approach to address all issues.
Our therapists and counselors use various evidence based treatment approaches including cognitive-behavioral techniques, brief psychotherapy, and behavior modification. Medication, if needed, is prescribed by a psychiatrist who generally sees clients on a monthly basis. We also offer “open access” therapy times where a therapist or counselor is available for individuals on a “walk in” basis. Once in treatment, an integrated strengths based treatment plan is formed by the therapist and client to specifically address each person’s unique needs and goals.
Program Objectives
- To assist people with less severe behavioral health and co-occurring concerns return to their normal level of functioning.
- To help people in crisis return to more stabilized functioning.
- To assist individuals improve coping strategies and management of life transitions and stressors.
- To improve individuals level of functioning and overall quality of life.
- To assist persons with mental health and co-occurring issues strengthen their resources so that they may remain in the community.
Hours of Operation:
Norristown Location:
1201 DeKalb Street
Monday – Thursday 9am – 8pm
Friday – 9am – 5pm
Abington Location:
2500 Maryland Road, Dixon Building Suite 130
Monday and Tuesday 9am -7pm
Wednesday through Friday 9am – 5pm
Location
Outpatient & Intake Services
Abington Area Services
Central’s Recovery Coaching and Case Management Teams will share in a collaborative relationship with you and your supports to help you reach your desired life goals through ensuring you meet your basic life needs. Our Recovery Coaching and Case Management Teams focus on providing you with support to help you reach your desired outcomes while ensuring you are connected to resources along the way. Our team will not only connect you with appropriate support from Central’s 24 behavioral health programs but all necessary resources available to you in Montgomery County. Our services provide assistance in accessing appropriate resources, support and treatment as well as maintaining basic living needs and skills such as obtaining housing, food, medical care, recreation, education and employment.
Our Teams can help link you to the following supports and much more:
- Housing/Homelessness
- Crisis Intervention/ Prevention
- Mental Health Treatment
- Protection and Advocacy
- Family and Community Support
- Income Support and Entitlements
- Community Connections
- Physical Health Care
- Rehabilitation Services
- Information and Referrals
- Socialization / Peer Support
- 24/7 day availability
- Support recovery process
- Substance use disorder treatment
Eligibility:
Any Montgomery County resident (18 years of age or older) living in the eastern and central Montgomery County area (Norristown, Conshohocken, Bridgeport, Abington, Willow Grove, Glenside and surrounding communities) and also being treated for a behavioral health and/or co-occurring disorders are eligible for this service.
Referrals:
Individuals referred to Recovery Coaching and Case Management Services will complete a “Montgomery County Recovery Coaching Referral Application” along with their provider (either within Central or an outside medical or behavioral health provider). Our Administrative Case Managers can also assist individuals with the application process. An Administrative Case Manager can be reached at: (610) 277-4600. Once the referral application is submitted, and approved, the individual will be assigned to a Recovery Coach and/or Case Manager to begin receiving support. There is no cost to the individual receiving Case Management Services; these programs are funded through federal, state, and county sources.
RC Referral Form
Locations and Contact Information
Norristown Area
1100 Powell Street, Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 277-4600
Abington Area
2500 Maryland Road, Suite 130 Dixon Building, Willow Grove, PA 19090
(267) 818-2220
.svg){kind=logo}