Outpatient Mental Health Services

Outpatient Mental Health Services

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UCS offers outpatient individual and group psychotherapy, case management, information and referrals for children, adults and families. If you or someone you know needs help for a mental health or substance use disorder, UCS is here to help.

Mental Health Services

Mental Health services include individual, family, and couples outpatient counseling, group therapy, evaluations for mental health and intellectual disabilities, and community outreach. Clinicians are trained in EMDR and Equine therapy. UCS works with local businesses to provide free confidential counseling and evaluations to employees.

Following a thorough intake and assessment process, clients meet with an outpatient clinician to develop a personalized treatment plan. This plan highlights each client’s unique needs, along with their short- and long-term goals. Our outpatient clinicians draw on a variety of therapeutic approaches and strategies to support clients in achieving these goals and improving their overall well-being.

UCS provides training and consultation on a wide range of topics, available both at our facilities and throughout the community. Reach out to learn how we can support your needs.

EMDR uses techniques like guided eye movements and hand tapping to help individuals access and reprocess traumatic memories. By reducing negative associations and fostering new, healthier perspectives, EMDR supports healing and empowers individuals on their journey toward recovery.

UCS offers confidential assessments and counseling to support local businesses. Our EAP helps identify employees in need, connects them with care, and guides them in building a plan for improved well-being and workplace success.

 

Clinicians meet with clients in group settings and focus on different topics and issues during each meeting. These include such topics as depression, anxiety, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and more. 

UCS partners with Kanthaka of North Bennington to offer Equilateral (EQL), Equine Assisted Therapy (EAP), and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL).

  • EQL blends EMDR therapy with equine-assisted sessions to help children and adults manage challenges like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more.
  • EAP uses the unique sensitivity of horses to help individuals explore and improve their emotional awareness and relationship patterns.
  • EAL is designed for groups or teams, offering hands-on activities with horses that reveal team dynamics and strengthen collaboration outside the workplace.

Contact us to learn more. 

Watch: About Equine Assisted Therapy

Peer support is the unique help and understanding that individuals with lived experience of mental illness offer to one another. By sharing their own journeys, peers provide empathy, encouragement, and hope that foster mutual growth and recovery.

Our clinicians lead group sessions that explore a range of topics, including depression, anxiety, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and more. These supportive group settings give clients the opportunity to learn, share, and grow together.

The South Street Group Home helps residents gain the skills and support they need to live independently. We offer both a closely supported group living option and supervised apartments, guiding each person toward confident, self-sufficient living in the community.

Targeted Care Management offers comprehensive psychiatric and rehabilitative services to adults with long-term mental illness. The goal is to empower the individual to maximize their potential through case management, treatment, education, vocational counseling and support.

Substance Use Services

Treatment services include family and group therapy along with education, individual and relationship counseling. UCS provides education and prevention information specific to the dangers of IV drug use and about relationship between drug abuse and communicable diseases such as HIV. We work closely with Community partners and self-help group such as Alcoholics Anonymous, the Turning Point Recovery Center, AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, Blueprint of Health, Narcotics Anonymous and Al-Anon.

Individual, Group therapy and Case Management aim to work collaboratively with individuals to achieve positive life goals or outcomes.

This program is designed to address multiple factors concurrently, to help participants maintain and achieve sobriety and improved everyday functioning. The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a mix of modalities—group, individual therapy, family therapy, and case management. IOP also a includes Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Collaborative Network Approach (CNA), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and several other healing modalities. IOP is offered a minimum of 3 hours per day/9 hours per week. 

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) at UCS is a Vermont Blueprint for Health Spoke program designed to meet the need for individuals with substance use disorder. The program involves the administration of medication to help individuals with substance use disorder detoxify, reduce overdose risk, and maintain long-term recovery. MAT is used alongside other therapeutic tools to help people with substance use disorder reduce or stop substance misuse. Individuals seeking MAT can call 802-442-5491 or visit UCS in person at 100 Ledge Hill Drive in Bennington, VT. 

Access the FAQ.

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Harm reduction kits reduce the risk of overdose from opioids, generate greater awareness about treatment and recovery options and increase treatment engagement. These kits are available at no cost. Bags are available in our main lobby at 100 Ledge Hill Drive, Bennington, VT. 

Harm reductions kits include:

  • Two doses of Narcan
  • Fentanyl Test Strips
  • CPR Mouth shield
  • Resources 

 

UCS offers trainings and consultation on a variety of topics both at our facilities and within the community.

This application from CHESS Health gives participating clients an opportunity to connect with a larger peer community and 24/7 access to peer support specialists. The CHESS platform includes a comprehensive set of digital tools and tech-enabled human support, creating patient-centered care for substance use disorder, mental health services, and social support – all easily accessible through a smartphone. Clients will have access to support to help them reduce isolation, gain motivation, build confidence and adhere to their treatment and recovery plans.

UCS and the Aids Project of Vermont (APSV) offer a free and anonymous syringe services and harm reduction program located at UCS’ Community Rehabilitation and Treatment building at 316 Dewey Street in Bennington, VT. The program is available on a walk-in basis on Mondays from 12-3pm, and via mobile delivery on Fridays from 12-3pm. Community members can access the mobile service by calling Samba Diallo, Executive Director of APSV, at 802-440-6776. Individuals accessing the walk-in service on Mondays should check in at the front desk at 316 Dewey Street and will not be asked for their names.

Self-help and contact information for local peer recovery support services are available through Vermont Recovery Addiction Network Recovery Peer Support Services at  vtrecoverynetwork.org or call (802) 738-8998.

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We offer

  • Alcohol and drug abuse counseling and education
  • Child, adult, family and couples counseling
  • Employee Assistance Programs
  • Psychotherapy groups
  • Evaluation and psychological testing
  • Community education and consultation services

“At this point there isn’t anything else I need. The group I attend is the perfect fit for me.”

UCS CLIENT

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