News and Views - Summer 2015

Staying in Treatment Improves Relationships and Coping Skills

Vol. 12 • Issue 2 • Summer 2015

In a recent survey, adults who have participated in treatment for six months or longer at Easter Seals Michigan reported increased satisfaction with most of their services, as well as improvements in many areas that directly affect their quality of life.

The survey conducted during March 2015 had an overall response rate of 11%. Some of the indicators of recovery where individuals who were in treatment for six months or longer reported greater satisfaction compared to those who were new to treatment included:

Each person’s definition of recovery is unique to their needs and situation, but it generally involves a process of building on personal strengths and developing a network of resources that will enable the individual to enjoy life to the fullest. For many, recovery may involve a reduction or remission of symptoms; development of more satisfying relationships with others; increased opportunities to participate in meaningful activities; enhanced connections within their community; and increased independence.

For most people, the recovery process involves making some important changes in how they think, act, rely on others and make choices. While on this journey, many people find they are:

• Discovering their potential and building on strengths

• Overcoming the negative impact of mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder

• Changing their attitudes, beliefs and feelings

• Taking more responsibility for their personal choices

• Increasing their awareness and understanding of their needs

• Increasing self-reliance and ability to cope with life’s challenges

• Relying more on people and supports outside of the formal mental health system

• Achieving personal goals that may previously have seemed out of reach.

Adult Adult Services Services Southfield PontiacQUALITY OF LIFE

Getting along better with family �30% �14%

Happier with friendships �3% �22%

Doing more things that are meaningful to the individual �14% �16%

Doing better in social situations �8% �7%

Increased ability to handle crisis, if one should occur �3% �4%

SATISFACTION WITH SERVICES

Doctor �7% �19%

Group therapy �5% �19%

Individual therapy �4% �10%

Overall satisfaction with Easter Seals �3% �13%

Continued on following page

Want to Learn More About Recovery?Some resources that are available include the following:

• Adult Services Recovery Resource Center: Adult Services operates a resource center that has books, videos, magazines, internet access and other resources. The Center’s Coordinator also provides regular workshops on a variety of topics. For more information, visit the center at the Plum Hollow complex, in Building 22160, directly opposite the main lobby entrance.

• National Consensus Statement on Mental Health Recovery: To read the statement and other relevant information, check out the National Mental Health Information Center at www.mentalhealth.gov or 1-800-789-2647.

• Michigan Recovery Center of Excellence: The Michigan Department of Community Health developed this website as a “pathway to recovery for individuals with mental illness” and offers a wealth of information recovery. Visit the website at http://www.mirecovery.org.

Staying in Treatment Improves Relationships and Coping Skills Continued from page

Outcomes 2015 / Q2 / Newsletter / Recovery survey – April 2015 2

� Increasing their awareness and understanding of their needs � Increasing self-‐reliance and ability to cope with life’s challenges � Relying more on people and supports outside of the formal mental health

system � Achieving personal goals that may previously have seemed out of reach.

Want to Learn More About Recovery? Some resources that are available include the following:

� Adult Services Recovery Resource Center: Adult Services operates a resource center that has books, videos, magazines, internet access and other resources. The Center’s Coordinator also provides regular workshops on a variety of topics. For more information, visit the center at the Plum Hollow complex, in Building 22160, directly opposite the main lobby entrance.

� National Consensus Statement on Mental Health Recovery: To read the statement and other relevant information, check out the National Mental Health Information Center at www.mentalhealth.gov or 1-‐800-‐789-‐2647.

� Michigan Recovery Center of Excellence: The Michigan Department of Community Health developed this website as a “pathway to recovery for individuals with mental illness” and offers a wealth of information recovery. Visit the website at http://www.mirecovery.org.




We asked these three people to complete the following sentence...

Recovery is… “your opportunity to show others that there is a chance to get through difficult times by utilizing the support of others and the resources available.” ~ James Evans

Recovery is… “using treatment and supports to improve my ability to function better in social settings.” ~ Renard Sutherland

Recovery is… “learning, day to day, to understand yourself through the help of people who motivate you in gaining friendships, new experiences, and persevering to gain independence.“ ~ Risa Davis

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy ProgramGraduatesitsFirstClassOn June 24 of this year, Easter Seals Michigan Adult Services in Southfield marked a milestone in hosting graduation commencement ceremonies for its inaugural class of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy students. Thirteen consumers of Easter Seals’ Adult Services in Southfield completed 48-week-long class.

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy, or CET, is an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals improve both their thinking skills and social skills. It relies on the concept of neuroplasticity, the brain’s natural capacity to repair developmental delays and trauma. It is designed to assist individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and related cognitive disorders.

According to the Internet web site of CET Cleveland, which provided training for the ESM therapists who facilitated the CET classes at Adult Services in Southfield: “(Neuroplasticity) is more likely to occur when interventions induce people to use their brains. CET is designed to do this.”

CET’s computer-based interactive activities stimulate new growth and connections in the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is the center for attention, working memory, judgment and decision-making. CET then addresses social cognition with a series of highly structured individual and group exercises designed to practice new-found cognitive capacities in a social setting.

Ruth Louwsma, program manager at ESM Adult Services, said: “CET is not about feelings. It’s about the thinking, not the feelings. It’s not behavioral therapy.”

CET Cleveland’s web site states: “CET is different from other psychotherapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that focus on helping people change the content of their thoughts and behaviors …. “Instead, as CET focuses on the internal mental process, it naturally addresses the social content (speech and actions) that arises spontaneously among participants in the moment, in the room where the computer-based, group-based, and one-on-one therapeutic work of CET is taking place.

“CET participants do not become more competent in formulating specific kinds of thoughts and actions; rather, they become more

competent in dealing wisely and effectively with a wide range of possibilities in the ever-changing spontaneous world of social interactions at home, work, school, and in the community.”

In addition to providing training to the ESM employees who led the CET classes, CET Cleveland provided ongoing monitoring and on-site support during the course of the CET program in Southfield.

Several graduates explained what they got from the class:

“I learned how to take notes by getting the gist of things, instead of verbatim, which means getting the main point instead of word for word. This keeps me from getting overwhelmed. What I value the most is I learned that I don’t always have to go to others to solve my problems.”

“I learned about the frontal lobe (of the brain), and thoughts and emotions. (CET) helped me in trying to figure out hard solutions. It was hard for me, but I’m glad I took it.”

“I enjoyed the homework — it worked my mind, and I improved. It made me think. Even if I disagreed, I got to express my opinions.”

“I enjoyed the people in the group. The therapists brought out the best in me.”

“I was interested in joining the class because of memory problems. During the first half of the class, we learned computer skills and did games and puzzles. The second half was for review of homework. I learned concepts such as idealism versus realism.”

“(CET) taught me I am able to use abstract reasoning to solve problems.”

“(CET) boosted my self-confidence.”

When Easter Seals Michigan introduced CET in 2014, it was only the second agency in Michigan to offer the therapy. Since then, according to Program Manager Louwsma, two additional agencies in Michigan have since begun to offer CET.

Consumer Spotlight: Gregg Streicher

Get to know the staff: Sharynn Meltzer

How long have you been a consumer with Easter Seals? “I have been with Easter Seals and Dreams Unlimited Clubhouse for over 2 years now.”

Describe the services you have received from Easter Seals during your time here. “I have received psychiatric services, case management, individual and group therapy, along with attending Dreams Unlimited Clubhouse.”

What has Easter Seals helped you accomplish during your time here? “It helped me focus more on my goals and accomplishments instead of my disability.”

What does Easter Seals mean to you? “A person based program that helps people with disabilities. It’s the most valuable part of my life, in terms of support. I am not sure where I’d be at this point in my life without Easter Seals.”

How has Easter Seals helped you grow? “Easter Seals has encouraged me to take on and tackle things, to not let my disability get in the way of learning and achieving my objectives.”

How long have you worked at Easter Seals and what is your role here? “I have worked at Easter Seals since Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority privatized and contracted with Easter Seals in 2000. I was a general case manager for 8 years and I have been a residential case manager now for 8 years.”

What do you enjoy most about working at Easter Seals? “The challenge of not knowing what any specific day might bring; problem solving and flexibility are key to being an effective case manager.”

How have you grown during your time working at Easter Seals? “I have gotten older and wiser. I have added to my general skills through experience.”

Why did you choose to work at Easter Seals over the past 16 years? “The challenge and helping those in the community.”

What do you like to do outside of work? “I like to go to Detroit, especially the Detroit Institute of Arts. I also like watching sports.”

Stay connected to Easter Seals Michigan!Find us on these sites for fun contests, heartwarming stories and breaking ESM news!Stay connected to Easter Seals Michigan!Find us on these sites for fun contests, heartwarming stories and breaking ESM news!

essmichigan.org facebook.com/EasterSealsMI twitter.com/EasterSealsMI

News and Views - Summer 2015

Documents