Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT): a type of mindful psychotherapy that helps with focusing on the present moment and accepting thoughts and feelings without judgement; aims to help you move forward through difficult emotions so you can put your energy on healing instead of dwelling on the negative
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): helps people identify and change thinking and behavior patterns that are harmful or ineffective and replaces them with more accurate thoughts and functional behaviors; involves practicing new skills
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): a structured program of psychotherapy with a strong educational component desined to provide skills for managing intense emotions and negotiating social relationships; it helps curb self-destructive impulses
- Motivational Interviewing: a counseling method that helps people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation they need to change their behavior; a practical, empathetic, and short-term process that takes into consideration how difficult it is to make life changes
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): a type of evidence-based treatment which addresses the mental health needs of children, adolescents, and families suffering from the destructive effects of early trauma
- Psychoeducation: an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that provides information, tools, strategies, and support to better understand and cope
- Psychotherapy: known as "talk therapy", uses evidence-based therapeutic intervention for mental health issues and emotional difficulties as a way to help people process feelings, emotions, past trauma, and experiences
Our Holistic Approaches
Yoga
Practicing yoga and meditation techniques provides inward awareness, which leads to empowerment. According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, and mindfulness and promotes better self-care.
At Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, we have incorporated the scientific validation of yoga’s value into our mental health care. We offer groups to both our Inpatient and Outpatient units. Certified yoga instructors and mindfulness educators instruct patients.
The benefits of a yoga practice are increased physical movement, improved quality of sleep, reduced stress, and improved coping skills aiding relaxation. Studies show that yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices improve mood and executive functioning abilities and lessen anxiety while reducing depressive symptoms.
Trauma Sensitive Yoga
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga is a gentle, low-impact yoga that benefits all bodies and all abilities. Its focus is to empower individuals to develop a more positive relationship with their bodies. Trauma Sensitive Yoga is the leading evidence-based adjunctive treatment for complex trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder based on decades of research and cited in American Psychological Association 2019.
At Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, our Trauma Sensitive Yoga groups in Outpatient are conducted by a Licensed Mental Health Therapist certified in this specialized practice, owner of Core Awakenings.
Music Therapy
Through the evidence-based practice of music therapy, our music therapist uses music to address all people's cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and academic goals. Music Therapy can increase motivation and self-esteem, reduce muscle tension, decrease anxiety and depression, improve self-awareness, and strengthen coping skills. Music can also be utilized as a regulating or calming agent for anxiety or dysregulation.
No prior music experience is necessary to benefit from and participate in the music therapy groups our board-certified music therapists run. These weekly groups run in our Inpatient and Outpatient units.
Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts Therapy is an integrative, multimodal approach that utilizes various methods, including writing, visual arts, drama, and dance. It is a process of self-discovery that evolves through artistic self-expression. People who experience mental health problems may struggle to describe how they are feeling. Expressive arts can help people learn more about themselves and share their feelings therapeutically. Studies show that Expressive Arts Therapy is beneficial in the treatment of anxiety, depression, developmental disorders, emotional and interpersonal challenges, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, stress, and others.
The use of Expressive Arts Therapy can augment the benefits of psychotherapy and psychoeducation. Patients enjoy the pleasure of expressing themselves by applying creative activities designed to support emotional and mental health healing.
Wellness Groups
Our Wellness groups are led by Occupational therapists, who are a component of interdisciplinary care that compliments mental health treatment. The Wellness groups improve day-to-day independent living skills and functional capacity to mitigate the impact of mental illness.
In our activity-based Wellness groups, we strive to improve social behaviors and decrease problematic behaviors. Occupational therapist practitioners were originally part of the integrated team for the Assertive Community Treatment model to serve those with serious mental illness.
At Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, our Wellness groups focus on using strength-based practices and building various skill sets, establishing healthy habits and routines, setting therapy goals, incorporating sensory treatment, and helping develop leisure or avocational interests or pursuits to enhance patients’ lives.