Programs and Services

The Bert Nash Center provides innovative, research-based services that address diverse mental health needs of children and adults. The Center offers education, consultation and outreach services promoting wellness and early identification of mental health concerns warranting professional health. Presentations on a variety of mental health topics can be arranged through our Development office by calling 785-843-9192.

One of our leading community outreach programs is Mental Health First Aid Training. This program teaches individuals how to handle mental health crisis situations as well as becoming familiar with common mental health issues. In 2008, the Center was one of the first Community Mental Health Organizations in the US to offer the training. Since then, local businesses, community organizations and individuals have benefitted from learning how to recognize and respond to a mental health crisis. A small fee covers the 12 hours of instruction and a manual.

The core of Bert Nash services is outpatient therapy for adults, children and their families. The staff at Bert Nash includes highly trained mental health professionals that are dedicated to providing caring, effective and confidential services. Therapy services range from brief solution focused therapy (meeting with a therapist for 3-5 sessions) to ongoing therapy for more severe diagnosis (individuals with severe and persistent mental illness).

Most people who use our services find solutions to problems in less than 10 visits. Individuals, families and children visit the center to get help with the many challenges of life including: depression; anxiety; adjustment to life changes – change in school, job loss, loss of relationship; grief and acute distress; marital problems; anger management; behavioral problems in school; posttraumatic stress disorder; borderline personality disorder; severe and persistent mental illness.

Emergency Services

The Bert Nash Center provides emergency services 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to people of all ages in Douglas County. Call (785) 843-9192 to access these services. A qualified mental health professional is available to address your concerns and assist you in accessing appropriate services.

 

Adult Services

Our experienced staff helps adults with a variety of concerns related to the stress associated with family, relationships, work, illness or the loss of a loved one. Stress in adults can result in physical complaints such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, eating disorders or alcohol and substance abuse. We offer a variety of helping strategies based on individual needs including individual, couple, group and family therapy and psychological evaluations and appropriate medications. We also offer the following specialized clinics, therapies and treatments:

Anxiety Disorders Clinic
The Anxiety Disorders Clinic is a specialized program of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, providing research-based treatment of anxiety disorders, including Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobias, and Specific Phobias.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a comprehensive treatment for individuals who struggle with a variety of emotional and behavioral problems and feel out of control. Individuals with severe mood disorders, PTSD, anger issues, relationship problems, addictions or who have suicidal/self-harming behaviors may benefit from DBT.

Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment (IDDT)
IDDT is a specialized form of treatment for individuals who have been diagnosed with two disorders: severe mental illness and a substance abuse disorder (alcohol or drug abuse or dependence). IDDT has been shown to work effectively for individuals with both disorders because it helps individuals make progress in their recovery from mental health and substance abuse problems at the same time.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
IOP provides therapy services to individuals who are in acute distress and at high risk for inpatient hospitalization. The program also provides help to those recently discharged from inpatient or residential settings.

Child and Family Services

Our child and family services staff helps children and families cope with stresses related to family relationships, the challenges of parenting, blending families and the impact of job loss or divorce. Stress in children can manifest as chronic conflict with parents or children, failing grades, poor peer choices, drug use, and trouble with the law or physical complaints. A variety of helping strategies, based on an individual child’s and family’s needs, are used and are often provided in the home or other natural settings:

Parent Partners
Parent Partners provides support to parents, guardians, and families of children who have mental health challenges and to serve as a consultant to the Bert Nash Center with the goal of continuously improving the quality of services to children and families. Grandparents who are raising grandchildren are also welcome to attend. Childcare is provided by the Center’s Staff.

Attendent Care
Attendent Care is provided byindividuals trained in crisis stabilization skills and can provide in-home supervision and add daily structure for children and adolescents. Attendant care can help reduce parent-child conflicts and help maintain a positive environment by relieving parents of some child care demands.

Community Based Services for Families
Community Based Services for Families intends to provide children and adolescents with severe emotional needs the opportunity to learn life skills required to become healthy adults such as learning how to identify feelings, managing anger, controlling impulses, cooperating with peers, allowing an adult to be in charge, using leisure time constructively, establishing and maintaining friendships, resolving conflicts, and living independently.

In-home Family Therapy
In-home Family Therapy is provided by licensed social workers and psychologists who are experienced in working with families. Case management provided by bachelor level staff. The main goal of case management is to help families to develop the skills and obtain resources necessary to stabilize their child at home and in the community.

Success by Six
Success by Six assists parents in their homes and without charge to more successfully parent their children. Services provided by the Family Resource Specialists include: Assistance with family life management; parenting education, information and referral, support and advocacy, and mental health services. The primary focus of the team is on positive parent-child relationship building and preparing children to succeed in school and life. Services are provided by Master’s level clinicians with specialties in early childhood. The number of families receiving services annually is 120, with approximately 400 children being served by the program.

After School Psychosocial Group and Summer Camp
After School Psychosocial Group and Summer Camp is organized each semester (or summer) to address the needs of the current participants. Activity-based groups address such topics as: anger management, independent living skills, leisure activities, problem-solving skills, relationships, self-esteem, and social skills. Groups are kept small and staffed with at least two group leaders.

Therapeutic Classrooms
Therapeutic Classrooms is a jointly sponsored program by the Bert Nash Center and the Lawrence Public Schools providing an alternative to the traditional classroom setting for students with severe emotional problems. The classroom is staffed by a teacher, a paraprofessional, and a therapist, and provides more structure than is available within a public school setting. Up to eighteen students in grades 7 - 12 attend.

Wrap Program
WRAP (Working to Recognize Alternative Possibilities) is a program where clinicians provide specific mental health services to the children and staff in each school including: crisis intervention; individual and small-group counseling skill building; mediation; parent support; teacher support, education, and consultation; resource acquisition; consultation to educational teams; and transition support. WRAP utilizes the concept of school functioning, in its broadest sense, as an indicator of a child’s mental health and social/emotional wellness. WRAP clinicians focus on helping children achieve success; therefore assistance with social skills, self-regulation, discipline referrals, attendance, and grades are often key components in accomplishing goals.

Community Support Services (CSS)

Community support services assist individuals who are diagnosed with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI). These services are designed to help adults live independently and productively within their community. The following services are available for adults who meet specific state-mandated qualifying criteria:

Case Management
In this program, the goal is to help individuals in decreasing their symptoms, along with maintaining their housing, benefits and other supports.

Supportive Employment Services
Supportive Employment provides individuals with job coaching, placement and on the job support. Bert Nash partners with local companies in Douglas County to find appropriate and rewarding work for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.

Supportive Housing
Bert Nash partners with the Douglas County Housing Authority to provide housing vouchers for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.

Homeless Outreach
Case Managers in our Homeless Outreach Program assist individuals and families with and without mental illness in locating permanent or transitional housing. We assist in finding resources and help individuals access support from other Douglas County providers. Bert Nash works in partnership with city, county and state resources to provide help.

How to make an appointment for yourself or your child

When you call Bert Nash and ask for an appointment to see a therapist you will be referred to our Access Center. Access Center staff will speak with you over the phone and assess your needs – and help you set up your first appointment with a therapist. The therapist may be a psychologist or a licensed social worker. (If you are in a crisis situation you will not have to wait for an appointment).

When you come in for your first appointment, you will go to the first floor reception of the Bert Nash Center at 200 Maine Street in Lawrence (the Community Health Facility). You will meet with your Access Center representative for a few minutes to go over paperwork and then you will meet with a therapist. Your therapist will determine the next steps for your treatment and set up your next appointment.

If you are a parent calling to set up an appointment for you and your child, you will also speak with an Access Center staff member. When you and your child come in for your first appointment, you will first go to the Reception desk on the first floor of Bert Nash. You will meet with an Access Center representative to review paperwork and then meet with your therapist.




Affordable & Accessible

As the only community mental health facility in Douglas County, we are determined to be financially and physically accessible to every resident of the county. Our services are affordable. Sliding scale fees are available to some Douglas County residents according to financial ability and access to all other available resources (insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, etc.).