Schizophrenia Treatment & Rehab Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Learn More About Schizophrenia Treatment at Valley Behavioral Health

Schizophrenia is a severely disabling brain disorder that is characterized by difficulties in thinking clearly and an inability to manage emotions or make decisions. Additionally, this disorder causes individuals to experience an abnormal interpretation of reality and have a hard time relating to others. Those with schizophrenia may hear voices that others don’t or may believe that others can read their thoughts or are plotting against them. Schizophrenia differs in severity from person to person – some only have one psychotic break during their lifetime while others may experience a slow decline in functioning. Most individuals will have to manage the symptoms of this disorder throughout their lives, however, with proper medication and support, individuals with schizophrenia can go on to lead happy and successful lives.

Valley Behavioral Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas provides a variety of rehab options that have been effective for treating those who are struggling with the debilitating and often terrifying symptoms of schizophrenia. Our highly qualified and caring professionals do everything in their power to ensure that every one of our clients are provided with services that are designed to meet each individual’s specific needs. We want you to know that you no longer have to continue to suffer in silence. At our mental health rehab center, we can help you get your symptoms under control so that you can live a happy, healthy, and productive life.

Helping a Loved One or Family Member Get Treatment for Schizophrenia

If you think that someone you love is suffering with schizophrenia, then you need to talk to him or her about your concerns. Sometimes people with this disorder don’t have the awareness to recognize that the difficulties they are experiencing are the result of a mental health disorder that actually needs professional treatment. Many times it falls to the individual’s family to get him or her the help needed. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you decide to approach your loved one about getting the rehab he or she so desperately needs:

• Use a calm, non-confrontational voice
• Be patient
• Ask questions about how they have been feeling
• Ask if they have been experiencing anything that is weird for them, such as hearing voices
• Let them know that they are not alone and that sometimes these things happen to people
• Listen and encourage the discussion
• Don’t speak or act negatively toward what they share with you

After speaking to your loved one, the next best thing you can do is speak to a medical professional about the symptoms you have noticed and concerns that you have. A physician will be able to assess your loved one and provide you with appropriate referrals for mental health options. If it becomes necessary for your loved one to enter an inpatient rehab program, be there to support him or her throughout the entire process. Look into a number of different rehab programs until you find one that best fits the needs of everyone involved. Remember that when the inpatient program comes to an end, the recovery process is far from over. Continue to support your loved one while also helping them keep track of medication and therapy appointments, as well as watching for any indications that their current treatment plan needs to be altered.

Why Consider Treatment for Schizophrenia at Valley Behavioral Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Schizophrenia is the most chronic and debilitating of the major mental illnesses, leading individuals to face challenges functioning at work, in society, at school, and in their interpersonal relationships. The associated symptoms can leave an individual feeling terrified, which can cause them to withdraw from social activity or act with extreme aggression. Left untreated, schizophrenia can cause severe emotional, behavioral, and health problems, as well as possible legal and financial problems. However, with proper rehab, the condition can be managed.

Inpatient treatment programs that have experience treating this disorder have been shown to greatly help individuals learn to get better control of their symptoms. Even though there is no cure for schizophrenia, inpatient programs have been successful in helping people return to their highest level of functioning. During your time in rehab, you will be able to participate in various types of therapeutic techniques such as individual, group, and family counseling, as well as medication management. The combination of these varying techniques have proven to result in the most thorough and comprehensive rehab available.

Our Treatment Program’s Philosophy and Benefits

At our mental health rehab, our patient comes first. It is our mission to be an organization that is not only valuable, but also life-changing. We provide a full continuum of care in a confidential, caring environment. Additionally, we strive to make sure all of our patients feel safe, respected, and comfortable throughout their stay with us. All of our treatment programs promote crisis solutions, personal growth, and positive self-awareness. Rehab is provided under the direct supervision of board certified psychiatrists and is implemented by our multidisciplinary staff including therapists, psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners, social workers, recreational and educational specialists, and other devoted mental health professionals.

Types of Schizophrenia Treatment Offered at Valley Behavioral Health System

When you arrive at our mental health rehab center you will start the treatment process by completing a comprehensive assessment, which is conducted by one of our highly qualified assessment specialists. Once this assessment is complete, all gathered information will be reviewed by our leading psychiatrists so that they will be able to make a recommendation for the most appropriate level of care. The next step of the admissions process is to develop an individualized treatment plan with a team of care managers that will help guide you throughout the duration of your rehab. At Valley Behavioral in Fort Smith Arkansas, we use a variety of therapeutic techniques that will be tailored to meet the needs identified in your treatment plan. Examples of these various therapeutic techniques may include:

Medication management: Medications are the cornerstone of treatment for schizophrenia. The most commonly prescribed medications for this disorder are antipsychotics, which are thought to control some of the presenting symptoms. At all times during the course of rehab, medication is closely monitored and will be altered if needed.

Individual therapy: Individual therapy sessions are held in a confidential setting where you will be able to discuss with your therapist ways in which to cope with stress and how to identify early warning signs of relapse. These sessions are held once per week, but additional sessions can always be added if you need or request them.

Group therapy: During the inpatient treatment process, group therapy sessions are held on a daily basis. During all group sessions, patients meet to discuss a variety of topics that are of concern to many individuals. The focus of many group sessions is to help patients focus on improving communication skills and social interaction behaviors.

Family therapy: Family involvement is a very crucial part of the rehab process as it helps to ensure successful recovery once the inpatient program has been completed. During inpatient treatment, family therapy sessions will occur at least once per week. Family sessions are helpful because they provide all members with support and education. Additionally, it helps to open the lines of communication so that any problems within the family dynamic can be sorted out.

Experiential therapy: In an attempt to incorporate all aspects of our patients’ well-being into their rehab process, we provide a therapeutic recreation program that assesses, educates, and assists patients in striving to improve their physical lifestyle. Some of the individual activities involved in this program include:

• Games
• Sports
• Arts and crafts
• Various relaxation activities.

Continuing Care and Levels of Treatment for Schizophrenia

The discharge process is started once you have been admitted to the inpatient program. While this may seem early, this is done in order to ensure that an aftercare plan is ready to be put in place as soon as you have completed your inpatient program. At mental health rehab center, we want you to have peace of mind knowing that you are not about to re-enter the world without the support that you had been offered throughout your time with us. Our care coordinators are also available to work with you in scheduling follow-up appointments with your therapist and psychiatrist based on the recommendations of the treatment team that worked with you during your stay.

At our behavioral health rehab center, we offer a number of inpatient step-down options so that we can continue to offer quality care. Many of our clients find that they still need structured care and so they choose to participate in our partial hospitalization program (PHP) or our intensive outpatient program (IOP). Both of these programs are designed for adults and allow you to focus on rehab during the day and spend your evenings and weekends at home. These programs offer the same types of therapeutic techniques but are different in the amount of time spent in rehab. We also offer a traditional outpatient therapy program for those who have made enough progress to be discharged home.