Services
Ascend
Ascend
Ascend is an intensive outpatient group-based program that provides comprehensive, collaborative and integrated treatment to young adults between the ages of 18-28 in an emotionally safe environment. Participants work with their peers and treatment team in a combination of treatment modalities and structured activities for 17-20 hours a week to address long standing mood and anxiety disorders as well as executive function challenges.
Ascend helps participants identify and accomplish short and long-term goals that support life-long mood stability and daily functional behaviors. With equal attention to developing emotional stability and functional behavior, participants progress through three stages of treatment in a 3-6 month period. Participants develop self-awareness and skills essential to building confidence, learning, self-care, healthy relationships, problem-solving and balancing goal directed behaviors with mental health and well-being.
The Ascend treatment plan integrates:
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy (Each different group is described separately by clicking the link below.)
- Family Therapy
- Medication Evaluation and Monitoring
- Executive Functioning Support
Treatment in Ascend progresses through the following three stages:
Stage 1: Intensity
- Assessment/Evaluation
- Goal Identification
- Making Connections
- Mood Stabilization
Stage 2: Progress
- Implementation of Tasks to Reach Goals
- Tracking Progress and Consistency
Stage 3: Ascent
- Achieving Goals Consistently
- Maintaining Progress Despite Challenges or Hardships
- Transitioning Out/Graduation
Ongoing progress and treatment efficacy is assessed in treatment team meetings with the clients and the entire team beginning within 2 weeks of admission to Ascend and on a monthly basis thereafter. In these meetings, overall progress is discussed, areas of concern are identified, and discharge and continuing care plans are made and revised.
Family involvement is an essential component of treatment in Ascend. Parents are expected to participate in the intake process and provide the team with client’s comprehensive developmental, educational, medical, social and familial history and related reports. Parents are also expected to attend twice monthly Parent DBT/Support Group., as well as participant’s initial and final treatment team meetings.
Ascend Lite
In Ascend Lite, young adults between the ages of 18 and 28 spend 6-8 hours per week addressing problems that interfere with mood stability, regulating anxiety, and optimal functioning. Ascend Lite is a group-based program that meets Monday (2pm-5:30pm) and Wednesday (3pm-5:30pm) afternoons. Groups include: Process group, Goals group, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) group, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)/Exposure group, and Art Therapy group.
The program best serves clients who:
- Need more intensive treatment yet an IOP, PHP, or residential is not clinically indicated
- Step down from another more intensive therapy program who would benefit from more structured group-based treatment.
- Look to join the Ascend program yet are on a waitlist
Clients can continue working with current providers, including individual and family therapists, psychiatrists, etc. If a client does not have an individual therapist, we can provide one through MCA. The Ascend Lite team will coordinate care and engage collaboratively with outside providers. The team will spend time weekly discussing treatment plans and treatment goals.
We also strongly recommend that parents participate in a twice monthly DBT/Support group designed to support parents in their role of parenting a young adult with mental health struggles. This virtual DBT support group meets every other week (time to be determined).
Learn More about our Ascend Lite Groups