Richard was tormented by his symptoms and would leave his groups constantly; because the voices told him to run out and scrape dirt from the cracks in the sidewalks, until his knuckles would bleed. An Individualized Service Plan was written with Richard's participation and he learned techniques to better control his symptoms in Illness Management Recovery, Relapse Prevention and Coping Skills Groups. He met with his case manager regularly whenever his symptoms became too difficult to manage and the psychiatrist adjusted his medications until the right ones and dosages worked best for him. Today, Richard is a happy man with minimal, if any, symptoms to bother him. He is employed part time, continues to live in a community group home he loves, attends program at CCBH part time, and has not been re-hospitalized.

Her only previous hospitalization had been overnight for observation.  This hospitalization had been precipitated by DYFS involvement as she had been negligent with her three children.  She had also vacated her apartment and relocated with them to a shelter where she believed they would be safe from her neighbors.  While in the hospital, the children's care was handed over to her sister.  When she started at CCBH, she immediately stated her primary goals were to live independently with her children again.  She was very cooperative with the Program Psychiatrist and Program Nurse who worked with her to address her denial of her illness and to ensure her psychiatric stabilization, making several medication modifications because of side effects.  CCBH worked with DYFS and her family, monitoring her ability to realize her goals and eventually, was able to help her obtain an apartment and regain custody of her children, one of whom is autistic.  She continues in the program part-time.

He had a prior history of 10 hospitalizations for paranoid delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, and depression. His father was mentally ill and a heroin addict. Initially, Sam found it difficult to relate appropriately to others due to his paranoia and would not participate in his groups. Over time, he gradually felt more comfortable and began to develop a good relationship with his male Co-Occurring case manager, who also became his mentor. Sam began sharing his issues in Co-Occurring Disorders group and how his addictions to alcohol and marijuana had impacted his life in very harmful ways. He worked on his Individualized Recovery Plan goals, began attending AA/NA groups, and obtained a sponsor. He expressed a strong desire to become a minister and the program encouraged him to join a church bible study group and to socialize with peers. He used his therapy groups to discuss difficulties he encountered along the way relating to his paranoia and being uncomfortable in large groups of people. He worked very hard on his continued sobriety and recovery and became a role model for his peers. Sam attended church sponsored retreat weekends and maintained his living arrangements with his grandmother, who was very pleased with our program and his progress. Sam began attending college with a major in pastoral counseling, obtained a part time job and his drivers license! He graduated our program and continues to visit our program often, and to thank us for "giving me my life back". He has successfully maintained all of the goals on his Individualized Recovery Plan. His visits to CCBH not only inspire our consumers, but our Treatment Team as well.

Just prior to commencing with CCBH, he was hospitalized short-term with exacerbated symptoms after having been almost evicted from his boarding home for disruptive behavior.  He also has a history of poly substance abuse and of one arrest and was in need of behavioral modification, anger management and substance abuse education.  CCBH worked with him on both an individual and group basis which included his attending its MICA unit five times per week.  As he continued to remain stabilized, he became more motivated and better able to identify his goals which included obtaining part-time employment.  CCBH incorporated his father and residence in his recovery process and proceeded to help him develop some prevocational skills by first, utilizing him in its prevocational unit and later, facilitating his enrollment in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for job skills assessment and training.  After successfully completing the program's initial phases, he procured part-time employment near his residence.  CCBH now works with his father and residence to help transport him to work while he continues to attend the program on a part-time basis.

She found it very difficult to be with large groups of people. This consumer struggled with paranoid delusions that her peers were talking about her. She was fearful to walk in a mall and she isolated herself at home. She had frequent arguments with her parents who could not motivate her to do anything. Over the course of her treatment at CCBH, Linda had multiple referrals to residential programs so she could learn how to be less dependent upon her parents and learn independent living skills. She was also referred to Supported Employment because she said she wanted to work. Unfortunately, Linda's level of anxiety and paranoia prevented her from keeping residential placement and employment interviews. Her case manager and the clinical treatment team all worked together to provide Linda with the tools to learn coping, decision making and interpersonal skills. Gradually, she became more verbal in groups and developed a few friendships at program. The treatment team encouraged her to again try a residential program and this time, she was able to keep the appointment, and eventually move in. She was referred to a sheltered workshop part time and continued to attend program on alternate days. She demonstrated an ability to utilize the skills learned in program at her job and at her new group home. She graduated CCBH to work full time at the workshop. She remains in contact with the program and informed us that she had moved into her own semi supervised apartment. She said she could not have accomplished all this without the treatment team's strong support and faith in her and for "hanging in there with me".