Yes, WestBridge offers integrated dual disorders treatment, using the same team in the same location to treat both conditions simultaneously.

The average length of stay is 3 months. However, length of treatment is individualized to meet the needs of the participant. Many participants at WestBridge have been to multiple short–term, or less specialized programs without sustaining recovery and have benefited from our longer-term treatment. Our evidence-based model and comprehensive staffing ratios are effective for those with mental health disorders with or without substance use disorders.

A residential level of care is often recommended after an acute stay in a hospital, or when someone receiving treatment in the community can benefit from additional support. Our residential program provides assessment, stabilization, assistance with symptom management, psychiatry with medication evaluation and management, individual and group therapies and education on independent living skills.

On average, the admission process can be completed within a week of the initial inquiry into the program. Timing may vary based on a few factors, which include how quickly the admissions team can obtain previous clinical records and legal information (if applicable), if the person needs to receive medical clearance and the coordination of travel logistics.  

As our residential program is a therapeutic milieu, we are not licensed to provide detox services. In the pre-admissions process, all participants are assessed for potential risk of withdrawal symptoms. If it is determined that an individual is at medical risk from substance use and detox is needed prior to admission, our admissions team will facilitate that transition. There are a few detox programs in the area that previous participants have reported positive experiences with, and are in-network with major insurance providers. Once the detox center determines that the participant is medically safe to return, the admissions team will facilitate a transition back to WestBridge.

WestBridge firmly believes that treatment is most effective when an individual is invested in their care. We are experienced in helping individuals and families explore the pros and cons of entering treatment. If an individual is feeling unsure, their thoughts and perspectives are respected. Our team will provide program information, answer questions, offer tours of the office and residence and will support the exploration of any concerns that arise. We value engaging in supportive, nonjudgmental communication to encourage informed decision-making. If an individual does not perceive that WestBridge is an appropriate match for their needs, they are offered alternative resources, harm reduction education, and information on how to access services in the future if they change their mind.

During the first admissions call, a member of the admissions team will answer any questions about the program, the admissions process and collect an individuals’ insurance information if they are interested in using insurance benefits. A verification of benefits is then completed to confirm whether WestBridge is in-network and if there are any fees, such as deductibles or co-pays. A member of the WestBridge billing team will then call with the individual/family to share the results of that verification.

If, following the conversation with the billing team, the individual/family is comfortable proceeding, the admissions team will begin obtaining clinical records. Records from the most recent episode of care are required but additional documentation may be needed based on the clinical presentation. An individual/family may have records on hand to send to us, but if not, our team will support the individual to complete releases of information for their past providers, and WestBridge will request those records.

Once records are received and reviewed, a clinical interview with the individual would be arranged (typically on Zoom) for them to learn more about the program and for the admissions clinicians to ensure that WestBridge is suited to their clinical needs. Following the clinical interview, the admissions team will consult with members of the clinical leadership team, and if there are no additional questions or concerns, an admission date and time will be arranged.

The admissions team provides a detailed packing list including at least 3 days of prescribed medications, clothes for all weather, workout clothes, personal hygiene items (alcohol-free), an offline MP3 player, books or CDs, and a list of phone numbers (as cell phones are kept in our safe).

Westbridge is an electronic free environment designed to limit distractions and support an individual in maximizing their care. Thus, personal cell phones, computers, Ipads, etc will not be accessible while in care. As most individuals arrive with a cell phones, we  turn them off and secure them in our safe. An iPod or MP3 player is allowed for exercise, but it must not connect to the internet.

WestBridge offers individual and group sessions, family education and support, medication management, medical team services, daily wellness activities, and mutual support. The curriculum also covers trauma, addiction, mindfulness, symptom management, and 12-step/recovery-oriented community meetings.

Each weekday morning, participants are prompted to start their day around 7:30 am. Participants have access to the kitchen and can prepare their own breakfast, and a nurse is on-site to assist with medication self-administration prior to the first group of the day, the morning Goals Group, which occurs at 8:30 on weekdays. After Goals Group, participants engage in an offsite physical wellness activity for exercise. Upon returning to the residence, participants have time to shower and tend to any other activities of daily living before the first clinical group of the day.

After returning from the gym and completing any necessary chores, the participants will attend their first clinical group of the day followed by lunch. The residential chef provides lunch at noon and there are two additional clinical groups in the afternoon. Depending on the day, participants may also have family calls, individual therapy sessions, or psychiatry appointments in the afternoon.

The residential chef will prepare dinner at 5:00 pm, and three nights a week, the house will go out into the community for a mutual support meeting (such as Smart Recovery, DBSA, or AA). There is an evening Progress Group that serves as a bookend to the morning Goals Group, and once programming is complete, participants can unwind by reading, watching TV or using the time however they choose. The residential staff will provide access to evening medications for participants who have them. At 10:00 pm, participants will be encouraged to head to their rooms and turn in for the night.

Psychiatric care is a baseline service that is integral to the residential program. Each participant has regularly scheduled appointments with a psychiatric provider, as well as access to on-call psychiatric services outside of normal business hours. Medication management is often paired with psychiatric care for WestBridge participants, though not every WestBridge participant is prescribed medications.

Determining which medications are most appropriate is a collaborative process with the participant and their feedback is highly valued. Our psychiatric providers always take a participants’ perspective into consideration while they offer their clinical rationale for why a medication should or should not be prescribed. If a participant chooses to decline medication, the team will continue to work with them to help consider the pros and cons and to support them in making a healthy decision.

Routine safety checks are completed on an ongoing basis at the residence. If a participant’s symptoms are becoming more acute, the treatment team may use specialized assessments to determine their severity. On-call psychiatry and clinical services are available 24 hours a day to manage emergent needs, and, if necessary, the residential team may facilitate a transition to a higher level of care to ensure participant safety.

Yes, WestBridge works to keep lines of communication open by keeping updated releases of information and reinforcing the value of family participation. All families are provided with an orientation handbook upon admission and participate in two weekly video sessions, a one hour Family Education and Support (FES) session and a 30 minute clinical update session. Families are also offered additional services so that they can step out of the role of crisis responder, and back into the role of family member. These services include:

• One-on-one family peer support with another WestBridge family member
• Family support groups via a secured video platform
• Support in connecting to local community supports such as NAMI and Al-Anon.

WestBridge encourages families to visit participants while in residential. As settling into a new environment can be overwhelming for participants, the treatment team typically recommends that families allow a few weeks to occur between admission day and the first visit. This allows for a period of acclimation and relationship building within the program.

Once it is clinically appropriate, participants are asked to submit a visit proposal for a visit. To support participants in their recovery and reduce their risk of a reoccurrence, the first two visits for all participants are held on site. This also supports our ability to build relationships with families as a whole and for us to gain insight and knowledge of how we can work with them best. We understand that there may be extenuating circumstances to this and are open to discussions about visits. Lastly, in order to plan for visits, we ask families to connect with the clinical team at least a week in advance to coordinate a visit.

When a participant arrives at The Commons, they spend the first few days meeting with staff to complete initial assessments, along with beginning to integrate into the residential clinical schedule. Families also receive nightly updates from the clinical team for the first three days on how their loved one is settling in.

If a participant and/or family requests specific medical appointments or services outside of WestBridge, our medical providers will evaluate the request on an individual basis and decide whether it needs to be addressed while in Residential treatment. Some services that are considered elective may not be able to be addressed during treatment at The Commons.

In the event of any crisis or reoccurrence of symptoms, the team will assess an individual for safety risk and utilize the protocols identified in the individual’s crisis plan to help the crisis de-escalate. If a participant is determined to be at risk of harm to themselves or to others or has a medical emergency, a higher level of care, such as a hospital, may be required for stabilization.

If an individual needs a higher level of care such as hospitalization, WestBridge will support that transition process and communicate that with their family. Due to the change in level of care, WestBridge is required to discharge them from the residential program. If re-admission is appropriate and agreed upon, the admissions team will maintain engagement following discharge to restart the admission process when clinically indicated.

The Residential program is voluntary. Should individuals make the choice to leave the program and walk out of the facility, a staff member will attempt to engage and walk with them to provide support. Staff will attempt to have them return to the residence but there are times that participants may not make this choice. In this case, the clinical team would collaborate with them (and their family members) in developing a discharge plan.

WestBridge’s residential program helps people transition back to work, school, or independent living by providing structured support and life skills development. The initial step is to help individuals stabilize and learn coping strategies to manage their diagnoses, which supports them in effectively coping with the pressures of work, school, or independent living. After that, participants are supported with determining job readiness, resume building, interview preparation, educational planning, financial management, housing resources, and daily living skills. WestBridge connects participants with community resources when applicable, and develop individualized discharge and aftercare plans to promote a successful, stable, and independent transition back into the community while supporting long-term recovery.

At WestBridge, the treatment team starts considering post treatment transitions during the admission process. We look to identify the appropriate supports needed, either within WestBridge’s programs or with external programs and supports. Throughout care, the transition plan is modified and tailored to the individuals’ needs and goals. The most common aftercare recommendation following successful completion of residential treatment is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). WestBridge offers a PHP that many residential participants have successfully stepped down into and then an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that is available after completion of PHP.

For individuals that may need long term outpatient care, WestBridge’s Community Integration Program supports participants in living independently with the appropriate clinical and non-clinical wrap-around services in place. This allows individuals to find meaningful connections to the community through work, school or volunteering while maintaining the benefits gained during the residential program. CIP is not covered through private insurance companies and thus is private pay.

A diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder means that someone has been experiencing a thought disorder with a certain set of symptoms, such as hearing, seeing, or believing things that others do not, over a certain period. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder and includes symptoms such as periods of depression alternating with mania (perhaps racing thoughts and intense goal-directed activity). A diagnosis does not define who an individual is yet reflects an illness that can be treated. While there are a number of residential treatment programs that accept individuals with these diagnoses, not all specialize in working with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, particularly when combined with substance use. Thought and mood disorders along with some other serious mental illnesses have been a specialty treatment area at WestBridge since our founding in 2001. We help our participants living with these disorders to thrive at work, school, home, and in the community.

Many programs share “outcomes” on their websites, literature, or verbally. It is important to understand their methods. Is the data based upon brief satisfaction surveys from patients and families at discharge? Was it verified by an independent entity? Have the outcomes been published in a professional journal? Post discharge surveys do show some information but are not typically research based. Programs that have completed a longer-term study of outcomes post discharge can show the true benefit of their treatment program.

WestBridge utilized staff and independent researchers from Westat and the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice to conduct a study of our outcomes, which is published in an international, peer-reviewed journal. Our study demonstrates that integrated evidence-based treatment can be effective for men with co-occurring disorders. Specifically, individuals who engaged in services for at least one year benefitted substantially and were in recovery across various domains, including level of functioning, family relationship status, housing stability, educational and employment activities, and mental health and substance use disorder management.

These factors are integrated into the WestBridge model of care. Treatment completion and family involvement were key components. Continuity of care between residential and Assertive Community Treatment, (now known as our Community Integration Program), combining multiple research-based interventions, and an intensive family program are unique features that may have contributed to the results in individuals who had an average of four past inpatient/residential stays, and were on average in their late twenties. View our outcomes here: WestBridge Publications – WestBridge

Evidence-based practice (EBP) in mental health means that the treatments used have been researched in clinical trials to determine if they are effective. WestBridge uses multiple evidence-based practices to ensure the quality and standard of care is met to allow the best opportunity for individuals to meet their treatment goals. The foundation of our services is based on Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) and stages of Change models. Other evidence-based practices WestBridge implements include Family Education and Support, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, Collaborative Psychopharmacology. Contingency Management and Mutual Support.

Residential treatment programs are not required to be licensed in all states. Although not required by law, obtaining licensure ensures that the facility is providing a certain baseline quality of services to clients in a safe environment. Licensure also helps to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of individuals through oversight and collaboration with the treatment program. If your state licenses programs, the licensing agency website may have helpful links to ascertain whether the facility is licensed. WestBridge’s residential program is fully licensed in New Hampshire by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to provide both Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment.

The Joint Commission or CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) are two of the most rigorous accreditations a health care organization can obtain. Obtaining the Joint Commission or CARF gold seal of approval can be another indicator of excellence, quality, and safety in providing health care services. Since 2010, WestBridge’s residential treatment program has repeatedly received the maximum three-year Accreditation by CARF, demonstrating that it is of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.www.carf.org.

WestBridge employs a team approach in everything that we do. We believe that providing a variety of services is best done with a group of people. We are a community within a community. Interacting with multiple people provides the participants with many opportunities to build relationships and a strong support system. We also can provide a broader “safety net” to help support participants in the community. Teams provide the best opportunity for flexibility, mobility, and responsiveness.

In the residence, direct care staffing is provided 24 hours a day and consists of psychiatric providers, nurses, licensed therapists, masters level clinicians and counselors with various professional backgrounds and specialties. Staff are trained to monitor participants’ safety, provide individual and group therapy, develop personalized treatment plans, and help individuals build the skills needed for long-term recovery. Weekly individual and group supervision are provided to staff by a clinically licensed member of the leadership team. It is part of the WestBridge culture to hire and retain highly qualified, professional, hard-working staff members to support our participants and families. You deserve the best care possible, and our hiring practices reflect that.

This is a personal decision. Understanding where fees are going may help to decide which facility to invest treatment in. Some treatment centers are owned by for-profit corporations, some of which are so large that their shares are traded on the stock exchange. Non-profit organizations are established for the benefit of the individuals receiving the services, and with fees established to be able to provide mission-driven services. WestBridge is a family founded private non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. We exist solely to help participants and families.

Every insurance plan has its own particulars regarding mental health and substance use treatment coverage. To initiate our admissions process, we complete a complimentary verification of benefits to help individuals and families understand the coverage and financial aspects of their specific plan. WestBridge is in-network with most major commercial insurance plans and are also contracted with the Veterans Administration (VA CCN Region I). Contact our admissions team today to run a verification of benefits. *Please note we are not in network with Medicaid or Medicare.