C Chievement Neurofeedback McKeller Named Director of … · 2019. 5. 8. · Biofeedback. Neurotherapy. These three words mean the same ... inspire and motivate our students. Neurofeedback

INSIDE

Spring 2019

Best Evidence-Based Treatment InterventionsNeurofeedback. Biofeedback. Neurotherapy. These three words mean the same

thing, and it is one of the characteristics of treatment that sets JFBHS apart from

everyone else. But what is it?

Neurofeedback is an effective evidence-based intervention that uses electroencepha-

lography or EEG (sensors on the scalp) to map brain activity through imaging.

The idea is to increase or decrease the power of your involuntary brain activity in

specific areas, so that you can become aware of what’s going on inside your body

and gain more control over your health and behavior.

By seeing actual brain waves in response to various stimuli, a child can learn how

to connect that stimuli to his/her emotional reactions thus recognizing undesired

behaviors associated with those emotions and stimuli and improve self-regulation.

The child typically experiences a decrease in anxiety, depression and impulsivity.

This is significant because these conditions often contribute to other negative

experiences.

The National Institute for Mental Health has a growing interest in neuroscience

to advance society’s understanding of the brain and to improve the treatment of

mental illness. Studies have also been conducted in using biofeedback to help heal

addictions.

JFBHS is the only nonprofit residential organization in Virginia to provide neurofeed-

back services, and we’ve seen that it makes a huge difference in the lives of our

children. We believe so strongly in neurofeedback as a contributor to the success of

our clients’ treatment, that we are seeking to increase the frequency of utilization.

This can be likened to working out. You may make progress getting in shape by

exercising once a week, but if you double or triple that, progress will be swifter.

Currently we are in the process of training JFBHS Clinicians so that we are not

dependent upon the services of contracted therapists. We seek support to not only

secure this expertise, but also the necessary equipment to conduct this intervention.

2 Letter from Tricia Delano

3 Alumna’s Story

4 New Director of Education

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Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services546 Walnut Grove DriveJarratt, Virginia 23867

McKeller Named Director of Education We are very pleased to announce that Johnnie C. McKeller was named

Director of Education for the Gwaltney School effective January 17, 2019.

McKeller began teaching at the Gwaltney School in July 2015,

and has been serving as the interim director since July 1, 2018.

A resident of Franklin, McKeller earned his undergraduate

degree from Longwood University, and his Master’s degree

from Cambridge College. He has been an educator since

2005 in a variety of capacities with several school divisions

in North Carolina and Virginia. He also coached baseball,

football, wrestling, track and field, and basketball.

McKeller is well liked and respected by the students

as well as his colleagues, and his promotion has

been well-received. With infectious enthusiasm,

McKeller is a visionary who constantly seeks to

improve himself and the Gwaltney School. The

Gwaltney School is in good hands, and we look

forward to new and exciting innovations that

inspire and motivate our students.

Neurofeedback JFBHS was fortunate in March

to be selected to make a presen-

tation at the Northern Virginia

CSA Symposium and Provider

Expo on the topic of neurofeed-

back and its utilization in

residential treatment. There was

an overwhelming interest in the

presentation. Public and private

professionals are tasked with

finding the most effective

treatment for children with

mental illness and children with

problematic behaviors due to

adverse childhood trauma. At

Jackson-Feild, we are dedicated

to the best treatment services

available.

Clearing Out Your Attic, Basement or Garage?Here’s a list of items that

our children on campus could use:

• fishing rods, reels and tackle

• volleyballs, basketballs, and soccer balls

• puzzles and board games

• art supplies, bound sketchbooks (no metal spiral-bound) and scrapbooks

• bicycles

• kites

• teen magazines

• winter coats

• swimwear

• nonviolent video games for xBox and Play Station

• hair dryers, flat or curling irons

• yoga mats

• aerobic activity DVDs

Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services Spring 2019

A special thank you

to the Lake Gaston

Bookers Club for their

donation of books for

our children!

Every day it seems the media has

another story about a mental illness

impacting society at large. Whether

it’s a hostage situation, a shooting, a

suicide, or any other tragic occurrence,

society as a whole is affected. At

Jackson- Feild, we’ve been successfully

working with children to restore well-

ness to them and their families. When

poor outcomes are alleviated and –

hopefully – overcome, our communities

are better and safer.

While many cases of children dealing

with trauma are the result of abuse and

neglect, there are also many instances

in which a child’s mental illness is the

result of a biological cause. Providing

the proper clinical care in adolescence

is critical for long-term well-being. By

From Tricia Delano, JFBHS President and CEOoffering a multi-dimensional array of

clinical interventions, we are able to

tailor treatment plans and obtain the

best results for every child. Spiritual,

physical, and emotional care are

applied in varied capacities.

JFBHS employees have outstanding

credentials and expertise to provide

treatment and care. We also are blessed

to be able to provide many “extras” –

such as our emotional support dogs –

that lend to the well-being of children

while in treatment.

Thanks to contributions from generous

donors, we are looking forward to the

completion of our new activities center.

Yes, excitement is in the air all over

campus about the new space to relieve

stress, exercise,

play games,

stay warm

in the cold

weather, dry

in the wet

weather and shielded from the hot sun

during the summer. Thank you for

helping us with this endeavor. We look

forward to unveiling the project soon.

As we welcome spring with its promise

of more sunshine and warmth, we are

grateful for the blessings we’ve received

so far this year.

Best wishes,

Drawing and Painting Help on the Path to Wellness If you walked past Cheryl on the street

you’d never know that she struggles

with mental illness. She’s a quiet, with-

drawn girl who wants to be accepted

and included in groups, but rarely is

welcomed into friendships. Cheryl

wrestles with demons of depression

and anxiety.

Cheryl’s father hasn’t been in her life

since she was a toddler. Her mother is

on disability and neglected her daughter

to the point that Cheryl was removed

from her custody. Bouncing between

32 Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services Spring 2019Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services Spring 2019

www.jacksonfeild.org

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4905 Dickens Rd., Suite 202

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foster homes and psychiatric hospitals,

Cheryl developed attachment issues

and a depression so severe that she’s

attempted suicide four times.

Cheryl desperately needed residential

psychiatric treatment services which

she’s now receiving at JFBHS. Her

treatment goals are to take her

medications as prescribed, participate

in psychoeducational groups, cooperate

and interact with her therapist to

identify thoughts and feelings that

trigger her self-destructive behaviors

and use her new-found knowledge to

de-escalate negative thoughts and

dangerous behaviors.

Because she was frequently absent,

Cheryl struggled in school and fell

behind. Eventually, she just gave up.

At JFBHS, she’s able to work at her

own pace with a great deal of one-on-

one attention from her teachers. Each

success is a joy to see as Cheryl’s finally

realizing that she can be a good student.

Cheryl’s current foster parents are

fully invested in Cheryl and they

participate with her in family therapy.

When Cheryl completes her program

at JFBHS, she will return to their

home, continue to receive mental

health services in her locality, and

complete her high school education

with homebound instructors.

Cheryl is a naturally-talented artist

who tries to turn her demons into art.

Sketching and painting play a big part

in Cheryl’s quest for wellness, and her

works offer glimpses of her soul. Her

hope is that one day she will be able

to support herself through sales of her

artwork. Until then, our hope is that

Cheryl continues to hone her artistic

skills while maintaining the strides she

made at JFBHS.

Left: Residents create

vision boards to remind

them of their life goals.

Right: Granny, our

emotional support

dog, keeps a resident calm during a therapy session.

Recognizing the importance of doing

all they can to improve the quality of

life and health of the community, the

Greensville Memorial Foundation in

Emporia recently awarded grant

funding to Jackson-Feild Behavioral

Health (JFBHS) Services to purchase

a new eight-passenger van.

Greensville Memorial Foundation Helps Jackson-FeildOn average, residents at JFBHS are

driven 20,000 miles per year for

medical and dental appointments.

Replacing a 2010 minivan with more

than 200,000 miles on the odometer,

this new vehicle is expected to provide

reliable transportation of the children

for a number of years.

The board and staff

are most grateful to

Executive Director

Jill Slate and the

board of the

Greensville Memorial

Foundation for this

wonderful gift.

Therapy Comes in Lots of Forms

The Commonwealth

of Virginia Campaign

If you work for the Commonwealth of Virginia, please consider supporting the children at Jackson-

Feild Homes through the Commonwealth Combined Virginia Campaign. Jackson-Feild is an approved

recipient and you can mark your designated gift to us by using code number 03660. Thank you. Jackson-Feild Homes #03660