The Psychological Center became licensed as a Free-Standing Psychiatric Clinic in 1979. We have been providing a wide range of comprehensive mental health, substance abuse and human services programs for the citizens of the Merrimack Valley since 1971.
The Psychological Center's goal is to provide a full spectrum of innovative, high-quality evidence-based care to people whose lives have been affected by the stressors of life. Our network of prevention, outpatient, inpatient, and residential programs offer a continuum of care, ranging from prevention through consultation and treatment.
Treatment Philosophy
The determinants of behavior are multifactorial and are inextricably coupled to a variety of psychological, sociological, physiological, and ecological causes. As a result, the treatment approach at The Psychological Center is multi-factorial and comprehensive. In the development of a treatment plan we take into consideration observable behavior; coping and problem-solving skills; acquired learning and modeling; mental status; economic factors; social status; social support; peer group and family influences; intergenerational, family heath status and intergenerational endowment of behavior; physical ease or disease; dissonance or consonance with their role and their immediate environment; and the ability to understand and take in stride the challenges of life.
We offer groups, including Early Sobriety Skill Building Groups, Ongoing Recovery Support Groups, Adolescent Substance Abuse Groups, Relapse Prevention Groups, Women's Groups and Dual Diagnosis Groups. Using a cognitive behavioral approach to treatment, clients are introduced to a wide range of self management skills, such as self monitoring, problem solving strategies, relaxation training, relapse prevention, and other self-management techniques. Clients are also taught how to identify internal and external triggers. These include situational triggers (people, places, things), cognitive triggers (thinking errors) , and emotional triggers such as anger, grief, shame, loneliness, and anxiety. We also host a weekly NA meeting on site each week which is very well attended.
Multimodal Treatment Components
Advanced Cognitive Therapy has evolved from traditional cognitive therapy and is based on the assumption that, in addition to paying attention to restructuring certain thoughts and behaviors, learning the principles of thinking is also important in therapy. Advanced Cognitive therapy works well with a wide range of presenting problems because it:
Stress Inoculation exposes the client to a wide array of situations that cause them to act out. The procedure is to develop a hierarchy of high risk, real life situations that are accompanied by the major stressors that cause acting out or substance abuse. We couple clinical relaxation strategies with thinking skills that allow them to lower the psychological and physiological arousal that cues them to perform at-risk behavior or to use substances.
Child Management Skills are taught to increase the quality and quantity of parent-child interactions. Skills to increase appropriate child-parent behaviors and to decrease inappropriate child-parent behavior will be taught using the sight and sound method. Extensive role playing, video taping, and the use of anecdotes depicting incremental successes are utilized. In addition to communications, a wide range of compliance and child-management problems are introduced and discussed.
Clinical Relaxation Strategies including progressive relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, autogenic training, visualization, biofeedback, thermal warming and imagery are used to lower the sympathetic nervous system arousal that is a precursor to explosive behavior and substance abuse.
Social Communication Skills like starting a conversation, giving and receiving compliments, giving and receiving criticism, assertiveness training and time management skills are an integral part of the multi-modal approach.
Relapse Prevention skills that utilize video therapy, cognitive therapy, exposure and relaxation can help the clients restructure their responses to situations.
Self-Hypnosis Skills and positive self-statements allow them to replace the overwhelming volume of negative self-talk and self focus with positive self-talk and external focus.
Low Arousal Training helps them lower their anger response by teaching them sensory awareness. When they begin to understand and recognize the subtle, physical cues that are precursors to their idiosyncratic anger response they develop the ability to control their anger.
Exercise, Diet and Nutrition information will be taught and modeled. Exercise is known to be a stress buffer that improves self-image while temporarily lowering muscle tension. Healthy, practical diet and nutritional practices provide for feelings of competence, health and vigor. Attention will also be paid to the assessment and treatment of eating disorders.
Inculcating Positive Values is an important component in our comprehensive treatment. Clearly, the attitudes, beliefs, and values of the client are partially responsible for their problems. We teach pro-social values, adaptive behaviors, self-awareness and self-management skills, consciousness and respect for others, health, and responsibility and respect for the self.
Intake Evaluation and Diagnostic Services; Treatment Planning ; and Treatment including case consultation, psychotherapy; psychopharmacology; Emergency Services; and Information, Referral, and Follow Up.
Services are provided for people at all stages of the life cycle and are provided in both English and Spanish. These services are designed to deal with a wide spectrum of emotional and psychological problems. The following programs are offered.
Individual Therapy and Group Therapy - Ongoing therapeutic intervention involving face-to-face meetings with the client to alleviate a defined psychological or psychiatric disorder.
Couple and Family Therapy - Simultaneous treatment session of two or more members of a family, at least one of whom is an identified client of the outpatient service.
Collateral Consultation - Consultation with another person or Clinic to ensure comprehensive treatment planning and the most effective interventions.
Medication Clinic - Visits to the clinic specifically for prescription, review, and monitoring of medication by a Psychiatrist.
Consultation, and Psychological Testing and Therapeutic Services in public Schools Psychological testing, teacher and counselor consultation and individual, family, and group therapy provided on site in nearby public schools.
Crisis Intervention/Emergency Services - Immediate mental health evaluation, diagnosis, hospital pre-screening, intervention, and arrangements for further care and assistance as required, provided during operating hours to new and current patients showing sudden indications of incapacitating emotional stress, or need for drug or alcohol detoxification. Emergency services are provided through 24 hour - seven days a week emergency telephone coverage. If necessary, the Clinician on-call will can refer the client to the Emergency Services Team under contract with the Department of Mental Health through an established referral agreement.
Information and Referral - Appropriate referrals are made to community and regional agencies and institutions. Referral to other agencies are also made for ancillary services with primary responsibility remaining with our therapist.
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