Spruce Mountain InnSight Newsletters
| February 2013 | The View from Dr. B's Office - "The Psycho-Active Benefits of Dark Chocolate" |
 |
Before she had any idea what I had in mind for this column, Candace suggested that I call it "The Psycho-Active Benefits of Dark Chocolate." Candace is a mind reader. She is also a generous person with others, but stingy when it comes to herself. So when she permits herself to have a small piece of the dark "food of the gods,"... read more |
| August 2012 | 30 Years of Excellence and Characteristics of Clients Poised for Success at Our Program |
 |
For 30 years Spruce has offered an exceptional program built on the same principles that have served our clients well all these years. At the same time, we have refined, improved and evolved as a program with tremendous depth and resilience. We continue to espouse certain evidence based principles of Assertive Community Treatment... read more |
| January 2012 | New "Enhanced" Family Support at Spruce Mountain Inn |
 |
Family work can be tricky when a young adult is in treatment. Our clients are adults and have rights to confidentiality. Their parents, however, continue to play extremely important roles in their lives; often supporting their treatment financially and emotionally. Many programs avoid communication with parents of their children who have reached... read more |
| November 2011 | The View from Dr. B's Office - "The Call" |
 |
Your cell phone rings at 7:45 A.M. You are on your way to an 8:15 meeting. Traffic is merging into a single lane ahead. You will be late. The call is from Vermont, a number you know well. "Hello," you say, juggling coffee mug, phone and wheel. You feel your heart beating. It is Tuesday morning and your scheduled call with the Spruce Mountain team... read more |
| June 2011 | The View from Dr. B's Office in the Spring |
 |
Spring has come in fits and starts to the North Country as usual, but this usual serving of ornery weather spares us for the most part from the drastic climatic events plaguing the rest of the country. Despite the weather, or maybe because of it, things bloom. At Spruce this means lilacs; old bushes, almost tree height, with delicate... read more |
| March 2011 | The View from Dr. B's Office and Farewell to Ed Levin |
 |
Almost a year ago, Dr. Richard Bernstein arrived at Spruce Mountain Inn to serve as our psychiatrist. Prior to coming to Spruce, he was the Director of the Psychiatry Training Program at the University of Vermont and the Director of Inpatient Psychiatry at Fletcher Allen Healthcare. Dr. B wrote some reflections about his work here and we... read more |
| January 2011 | Substance Abuse Treatment at Spruce Mountain Inn |
 Addiction Counselor |
Dual diagnosis treatment at SMI has never been an afterthought, but always an integral part of our program. Since addiction issues affect a majority of young adults receiving mental health treatment Spruce Mountain Inn has developed a comprehensive and integrated approach to our clients who have addiction issues. read more |
| July 2010 | The Exceptional Vocational Program at Spruce Mountain Inn |
 |
Since its inception 28 years ago, Spruce has placed a high value on employment activity for the young adults we serve. We believe that community based employment offers the most normative and valuable experiences. Such work provides opportunities for program participants to increase self esteem, acquire new skills, develop a support network, increase autonomy... read more |
| April 2010 | Spruce Mountain Inn Day and Celebrating Community |
 |
For over 27 years, Spruce Mountain Inn staff members dedicate themselves to maintain a healing community. We are a small program committed to staying small. We carefully manage our milieu to include young adults who will benefit from and contribute toward a supportive community. From the admissions process to day-to-day life at the Inn, our staff work tirelessly... read more |
| January 2010 | SMI Program Participants "Vote With Their Feet" |
 |
We often tell our young adult clients who want greater levels of independence that they must 'vote with their feet.' Therefore the plans they make must demonstrate with actions that show families and professionals that they can manage the increased independence they seek. Testing one's wings while involved with a professional support system such as ours at Spruce can be... read more |
| November 2009 | Comprehensive Treatment at SMI... addresses the Core Issues of a young adult population |
 |
It would be difficult to match the clinical depth of the Spruce Mountain Inn program. For over twenty six years, we have offered a very structured program, the components of which are diverse, comprehensive, complementary and sophisticated. Our program is small with unparalleled attention to individual treatment needs... read more |
| April 2009 | "Depressed: Get Out" Life in the College Breakdown Lane |
 |
For twenty six years, Spruce Mountain Inn has offered a life line for college kids who, due to a perfect storm of circumstances, have crashed and burned in college. The stress of the transition, loss of support systems, social difficulties, learning difficulties, substance abuse and the onset or exacerbation of mental health issues leave a significant number of young... read more |
