Westwood Lodge Opens Transitional Age Unit


Westwood Lodge has opened a Transitional Age Unit in the space previously occupied by the Adolescent Dual Diagnosis Unit. The Transitional Age Unit houses male and female patients ages 16-24.

The Transitional Unit focuses on issues including managing emotions, socially responsible behavior choices, increasing autonomy, educational/vocational plans and formation of identity.

Groups are psychoeducational and include information on diagnoses, coping skills, anger management, constructive problem-solving, medications, social skills, and skill sets that include cognitive behavioral elements. Patients also have access to AA meetings or recovery groups if this is indicated in their treatment plan.

A key component to the therapeutic milieu is Allied Therapy. The groups run with a theme of the day and are split by approximate age, 16-18 and 19-24. One group is didactic in nature while the other centers on the here and now by using a cognitive behavioral approach. Some current themes for allied therapy groups include “coping skills/relaxation,” “anger/affect management,” self-esteem/identity,” “recovery/staying out of the hospital” and “illness education.”