Persistent Psychiatric Disorders
This program is designed for patients who have severe or chronic psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Our goal is to provide patients the intensive residential treatment necessary to reduce the signs and symptoms of their illness, improve their interpersonal and family relationships and enhance their skills for independent living.

Patients initially receive a comprehensive neuropsychiatric assessment along with a review of their diagnosis and their longitudinal treatment history, including past medical records. We obtain neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing should they be diagnostically indicated. An individualized treatment plan is formulated by our psychiatrist who directs the program in consultation with other senior clinicians on our staff.

Patients in this program may also receive computer-based Cognitive Remediation training. Prior to training, patients take a brief cognitive test to identify strengths and weaknesses. Cognitive Remediation training is then individualized to help each patient to move at their own pace in completing the different tasks. Staff provide individual coaching for each patient and patients are also encouraged to discuss their progress during groups. The Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine is working with Silver Hill on the Cognitive Remediation training.

This program is designed as a step-down from inpatient hospitalization. After moving to the residential program our inpatient programs remain available if briefly needed at any time.

The program has a maximum capacity of seven patients and is staffed by residential counselors 24 hours a day, a psychiatrist, social worker, recreational therapist and art therapist. Patients engage in an active schedule of groups, individual work and activities geared toward remediation of many of the psychosocial and cognitive deficits associated with their illness.

Nutritional awareness through the supervised preparation of well balanced meals is an integral part of the program. We also include a full complement of recreational activities and supervised daily visits to our fitness center. Our grounds provide a sheltered and serene setting for peaceful contemplation and casual socialization.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program for
Personality Disorders
DBT is a highly structured form of behavioral therapy that teaches patients the skills necessary to regulate emotions, control self-destructive behaviors and improve interpersonal relations. It was developed for patients with severe personality disorders, including borderline personality disorders.

Our Residential DBT Program, one of the very few such programs in the country, is for patients with a demonstrated history of poor emotional control, impulsivity, self-damaging behaviors and interpersonal disorganization . It is a highly structured, intensive program for patients who do not need close inpatient supervision but are not able to manage successfully in an outpatient setting.

Our specialized, DBT-trained team consists of psychiatrists, social workers, nurses and counselors. Treatment focuses on DBT skills training groups and coaching that teach patients how to better regulate their emotions and how to replace dysfunctional coping strategies with more adaptive behaviors.

As with our other Transitional Living Programs the entire array of services at Silver Hill are available to patients as needed. However, our focus on the residential setting, under the 24-hour supervision of trained residential counselors, offers the unusual opportunity to practice skills learned during the day throughout the rest of the patients waking hours.

Eating Disorders
The Eating Disorder Program gives patients autonomous control over abnormal eating behaviors.  Treatment includes comprehensive evaluation and a program that emphasizes individual control of problem behaviors. 
 
The treatment program uses a combination of cognitive, behavioral and psychological techniques.  Supervised meals, which emphasize the development of new eating patterns, are a key part of the program.  If patients have substance use disorders or another psychiatric disorder in addition to an eating disorder, the patient’s treatment plan will be modified to include all such disorders.
 
Adult patients can participate in the Eating Disorders Program as part of the residential Transitional Living Program.