Berkeley
County Community Mental Health Center
AGENCY ADDRESS:
403 Stony Landing Road, P.O. Box 1030, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
AGENCY PHONE: (843) 761-8282
AGENCY FAX: (843 ) 761-7308
| CONTACT PERSON:
Debbie Calcote |
PHONE: (843)
761-8282 |
| EMAIL:
dtc27@berkmhc.dmh.state.sc.us |
FAX:
(843) 761-7308
|
DESCRIPTION
OF AGENCY:
Comprehensive array of outpatient mental health services to persons of all ages.
Students have the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team to address
client needs as well as participate in peer review and inservice training.
Clients represent a broad range of diagnoses and treatment needs. Services
offered include crisis intervention, assessment, individual/group/family therapies,
medication services, case management and psychiatric medical assessment.
Center operates 51 hours a week to accommodate consumer needs. Center's
facility in Moncks Corner is base for outpatient treatments.
STRENGTHS OF AGENCY:
Berkeley Mental Health Center (BMHC) has a large
number of practitioners (70 employees), presenting students with a range of
opportunities for consultation with a number of clinicians with different areas
of expertise. At this site, students have the opportunity to see clients
from intake to termination, although some may be transferred from a previous
therapist. Student will learn the importance of previous mental health history
through the thorough intake conducted with each client. Students have
the unique opportunity to sit in with psychiatrists for patient-provider consultation
and may accompany therapists for consultation at other sites (e.g., Detention
Center, Emergency Room). Occasionally, students will be exposed to crises
scenarios (e.g., aggressive/assaultive incidents) that allow for exposure to
de-escalation techniques and desensitization to crises that necessitates physical
resources (e.g., restraints, medication, containment). Students will learn
the criteria that serves as the basis for inpatient admission. Experience
in referring to a number of resources (e.g., drug and alcohol services) also
available given the clients with multiple needs and stressors.
TYPE OF
FACILITY:
- Outpatient
- State
Agency
- Mental
Health Clinic
TYPE OF CLIENTS:
- Individuals
- Families
- Mixed
ages
REPRESENTATIVE
PRESENTING PROBLEMS:
- Serious mental
illness
- Affective disorders
- Other- Adjustment
Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and Dual Diagnoses (Mental Illness and Substance
Abuse)
DESCRIPTION
OF GROUPS:
- Specialty area
groups (e.g., PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Multifamily, Axis II diagnoses)
are often being run, though not on a regular basis.
- Students initiate
development of groups which vary based on clients' needs
SUPERVISORS:
- Richard Albarron,
M.Ed., LPC
- Frank Strange,
M.Ed., LMSW
HOURS AVAILABLE:
- Monday-Friday
from 9:00am-5:00pm
- Tuesday and
Wednesday Evenings
- Evening hours
complement day-time hours and are not sufficient for entire clinical experience
APPLICATION
REQUIREMENTS:
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE
FIELD PLACEMENT SLOTS:
- One to three
slots are available for practicum or internship placement per semester.
Richard Albarran
Supervision Philosophy
Supervision
of assessment with an emphasis on fine tuning diagnostic skills is a priority.
Identification of client needs with quantification of client's level of functioning
is emphasized. Training in developing a treatment plan that addresses goals
important to the client is a focus of supervisionIn supervision a model that addresses
treatment from an eclectic perspective with a strong emphasis on family is encouraged.
Encouragement is given to students to grow and develop one's own style of therapy
within one's theoretical orientation of preference. Gaining skills
in delivery of services over a broad range of modalites (e.g., individual, family,
group) is also encouraged. After students becoming comfortable with the
modality of group therapy, they are supported in developing their own. Case
conceptualization is an area of supervisory emphasis. Development of insight
and intuition regarding client needs is a focal point of supervision. In
doing so, students are encouraged to reconceptualize progress with clients so
that small changes can be recognized. Students are also encouraged to recognize
the connection between early events and current struggles of clients. Students
may be presented with hypothetical scenarios in supervision so that examination
of possible reactions and problems may be anticipated. . Discourse about
clients focus on recovery, following the notion that adults with mental illness
can learn to live productive lives with a quality of life.