Since I started blogging about the epidemic of young adults living at home and not moving forward in their lives, people from across the United States, most of them parents, have contacted us on a daily basis about the problem they refer to as “Failure to Launch,” “Failure to Launch Syndrome” or simply “FTL.” I […]
Our Latest Blogs
This week on www.rtor.org we observe National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 9-15, 2018) with a guest blog post on suicide risk and prevention for LGBTQ youth. The theme of this year’s Suicide Prevention Week is “The Power of Connection.” This is a message that is especially relevant for LGTBQ youth. Discrimination and social isolation place […]
Despite the fact there is evidence that gender dysphoria has existed since early human civilizations, many people have not heard of this concept until recently. Gender dysphoria is defined by the National Health Service (UK) as “a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because there’s a mismatch between their biological sex and gender […]
Many people have experienced traumatic events during childhood or later. Some may not even have considered them to be traumatic. These traumas might include being the victim of or exposure to violence; physical, sexual or emotional abuse; severe neglect; bullying; a serious accident or illness; domestic violence; death of a parent or other close relative; […]
Depression is a silent killer when ignored. Many people suffering from depression never seek medical attention during their entire lives. They choose to absorb the burden of depression into their different body systems. This can lead to physical symptoms and various diseases at a later stage. This is a more serious issue than you might […]
Drug and Alcohol Counselor
Darien, CT
Robert DiRoma is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor (LADC) with a private practice in Darien, CT. He specializes in substance and alcohol abuse and mental health disorders.
“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the whole earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future; live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.” -Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness My name is Andy. I have been an addict from the age of […]
Psychiatrist
White Plains, NY
New York, NY
Dr. Murray is a psychiatrist with a private practice in White Plains and New York, NY. She specializes in the treatment of addictive disorders and also generalized mental health disorders in adolescents and adults.
The Wealth Health Organization1 defines mental health as a complete state of well-being and not just an absence of any disease. It would include your ability to deal with everyday stress and your healthy interaction with people around you. And the factors that govern this state of well-being range from genetic to environmental conditions. According […]
I remember my struggles with quitting drugs and alcohol quite vividly. I was at a point in my life when chasing intoxicated states was all that I could think about. It was a way for me to escape the negative feelings and the harsh realities of where I was in my life. My thought process […]
The Benefits of Yoga on Mental Health Depression is a common disorder that affects people from every nationality, religion, and gender. Depression does not discriminate when it chooses its victims. According to the University of Southern California, as of 2016, mental health and well-being was among the top five public health concerns in the United […]
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association: 53% of people with a mental health disorder also experience problems with alcohol or drugs. 29% of people with a mental health disorder have a co-occurring addiction disorder at some point in their lives. These statistics may lead you to believe that mental health problems cause […]
Psychiatric Children’s Hospital
Orefield, PA
KidsPeace Psychiatric Hospital is an acute care 120-bed facility providing a fully integrated continuum of 24-hour intensive psychiatric care in a safe, secure facility. KidsPeace treats children, teenagers and young adults ages eighteen to twenty and a half, who present a danger to self or others and cannot be safely maintained in the community.
Psychologist
Westport, CT
Guilford, CT
Dr. Leone is a psychologist with a private practice in Westport and Guilford, CT. where he treats individuals and couples struggling with a wide range of concerns. He specializes in substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment and is currently running groups aimed helping people reduce or completely abstain from substance misuse.
There are many great songs from the musical West Side Story, but my favorite has always been the brilliantly satirical “Gee, Officer Krupke.” In this number, the Jets’ leader Riff plays a troubled youth who is passed between experts eager to judge what is wrong with him. In the hand-off between psychiatrist and social worker […]
Clinical Psychologist
Riverside, CT
Dr. Emel is a licensed clinical psychologist in Connecticut and co-founder of The Behavior Therapy Group, a therapy practice in Riverside, CT specializing in compassionate, effective, evidence-based treatments for adolescents and adults.
Life can be hard, and proof of this sobering reality are the 43 million Americans who suffer from some form of mental health condition, according to Mental Health America. Almost half of those 43 million have a co-occurring substance abuse problem, while some 9.6 million experience suicidal thoughts. Those figures might even increase in the […]
Psychiatrist
Belle Mead, NJ
Dr. Umesh Mehta is a psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of older adults with mental health disorders.
Psychiatrist
Greenwich, CT
Danbury, CT
New York, NY
Tarique Perera, MD, is a psychiatrist serving adolescents, adults, couples, and families in Greenwich, CT, Danbury, CT, New York, NY, and the surrounding communities.
Psychiatrist
Westport, CT
Joseph Russo, M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice serving adolescents, adults and families in Westport, CT, and the surrounding communities.
Psychiatrist
New Canaan, CT
Rocco Marotta, MD, PhD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and Adult Transitional Living Program Service Chief at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT.
Hope Program for Adults–Inpatient Care
Houston, TX
The Menninger Clinic is a nonprofit psychiatric hospital renowned for its intensive treatment of severe and complex mental illness.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs
Hollis, NY
The Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Treatment Program (IPRT) at Zucker Hillside Hospital is a community-based mental health service, intended for individuals with disabilities due to a psychiatric illness who express a need for change in either their living, educational, vocational or social environments.
Psychotherapist
New Windsor, NY
Florida, NY
Michele Winchester-Vegas, DSW, is a doctor of social work in private practice serving children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in New Windsor, NY, Florida, NY, and the surrounding communities.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Westport, CT
Kate Venison is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), with a private practice in Westport, CT.
Psychiatrist
Stamford, CT
Southbury, CT
White Plains, NY
Sunil Saxena, MD, is a psychiatrist treating children, adolescents, and adults in the communities surrounding Stamford, CT, Southbury, CT, and White Plains, NY.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
White Plains, NY
Elise Munoz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in treating anxiety disorders and depression in children, adolescents and adults.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
White Plains, NY
Eleni Galiatsos, LCSW-R, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice serving adolescents and adults in White Plains, NY, and the surrounding communities.
Psychotherapy
Westport, CT
The Dialectical and Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center serves to provide its clients with therapies that are of the highest quality and informed by the most recent research in psychological treatments; to provide training in dialectical and cognitive behavior therapy to professionals; and to educate the community about the potential benefits of dialectical and cognitive behavior therapies.
Outpatient Addiction Services
Danbury, CT
MCCA offers outpatient treatment services through individual, group and family therapy. Clients are able to participate in a variety of programs such as intensive outpatient services, relapse prevention, early intervention and specified support groups.
Housing/Residential, Education & Employment Services, Outpatient Treatment
Frederick, MD
ClearView Communities is a private nonprofit organization that provides residential rehabilitation services for adults struggling with a range of serious psychiatric diagnoses.
Board-Certified Addiction and General Psychiatrist
Greenwich, CT
Dr. Barowsky is a Harvard trained psychiatrist who is double-boarded by both the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine.
At-Home Addiction Treatment
North Haven, CT
Aware Recovery Care is an in-home addiction treatment program serving adults in North Haven, CT, and the surrounding areas.
Residential Treatment Program
Atlanta, GA
Skyland Trail is a nationally recognized nonprofit mental health treatment organization, serving adults ages 18 and older with a primary psychiatric diagnosis.
Residential Treatment Center
Evanston, IL
Yellowbrick specializes in assessment and treatment for young adults and their families. Yellowbrick provides integrated, intensive outpatient treatments that address the complex needs of troubled emerging adults with full-time, experienced and compassionate professionals dedicated to accountability and outcome.
Eating disorders are some of the most dangerous and deadly mental health conditions. These disorders can take a large toll on one’s physical and mental health. Thankfully, recovery from eating disorders is very much possible. Here are thirteen notable people who recovered from an eating disorder and have continued to live well. Paula Abdul […]
Borderline personality disorder is a widely misunderstood disorder that is characterized by extreme mood swings, fear of abandonment, and destructive behaviors. While the symptoms of this disorder can affect a person’s life, it is possible to live well with this disorder. Here are ten examples of people who were able to achieve notable success while […]
Public mental health services in Arizona are administered and provided by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (ACCCS)–Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (RBHAs).
Recovery is a term much used in mental health, but not always understood. Some people think of recovery in relation to a cure or getting better. Others associate it with 12-step recovery from addiction. Mental health recovery can be all those things, but for those living with mental illness the term most often describes an […]
Last year I wrote an article about young adult anxiety which quickly became one of our most popular posts on rtor.org. The article, Failure To Launch: 9 Tips for Managing Anxiety in Dependent Adult Children, is based on a podcast by Yale anxiety expert, Dr. Eli Lebowitz. Since it first appeared in 2016, many people […]
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a serious mental health condition that is characterized by manic highs and depressive lows. The following is a list of notable people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and have achieved great success in their chosen fields. This list contains mostly those who are still living, but we […]
Today’s blog post comes to us from one of our Family-Endorsed Providers, Carla Kenney, LMHC. She writes on the importance of both educators and family members noticing the possible signs of OCD in children. Thank you, Carla, for sharing your expertise with us at rtor.org. —Veronique Hoebeke, Associate Editor Children say and do unusual things on occasion, or […]
In mental health, the term co-occurring disorders refers to the presence of two or more disorders in a person at the same time. In the past, co-occurring disorders were often confused with “dual diagnosis” (or “double trouble”), a term that was used to describe someone living with a mental illness and a substance use […]
Have you noticed a family member beginning to act strangely? Does he seem to think that someone is trying to hurt him when there was no apparent danger? Or maybe he has started following a complex belief system that you can’t quite understand? It could be that your loved one is experiencing psychosis. Psychosis […]
In honor of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Awareness Month, today’s guest blog post comes to us from Matt Abbasfard from Northbound in Newport Beach, CA. He discusses the warning signs of heroin and opioid addiction and the importance of seeking help for a loved one who might be struggling with a substance use disorder. Heroin […]
Last fall for the third talk in Laurel House/RtoR’s Family Seminar Series, our featured speaker Dr. Jeremy Barowsky pointed out that we had used the outdated term “dual diagnosis” in our promotion of the event. Dr. Barowsky is the Director of Addiction Medicine at Greenwich Hospital Addiction Recovery Center. He also has a private […]
Depression is a common mental health disorder that tends to be cyclical in nature. Some people experience a single episode after a difficult event or period in their lives, while others struggle with it over the course of a lifetime. The following is a list of notable people who have experienced major depression or a […]
I love the month of September. Here in the Northeast we tend to get a long run of warm and sunny days, low humidity, and cool nights. Young people are back in school, many of them with a sense of hope and fresh beginnings. Parents are glad to have the kids out of the […]
Treatment of a mental health disorder begins with an assessment and a diagnosis. Unfortunately, there are no foolproof tests for mental illness. A CAT scan might alert doctors to a neurological problem that allows them to rule out schizophrenia. But schizophrenia itself will not turn up in a CAT scan, blood test, x-ray, or […]
Maybe you have noticed that the free and open style of the Internet has encouraged many bloggers and social media users to open up about their experience with bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. While many of these people may have a confirmed mental health disorder, some give the impression of being self-diagnosed or […]
How common is mental illness? The answer depends on what you mean by “mental illness.” The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that 18.6% of adult Americans experienced mental illness in the last year (call this the “1-in-5 definition”). The rate for children is slightly higher, although the childhood statistics from NIMH refer to […]
A few years ago, I consulted with a colleague about a man I worked with who was having a hard time accepting that he might have schizophrenia. He was a deep thinker with a very rich and interesting past. His life had become increasingly restricted due to symptoms of his illness which he would not […]
Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy,” has a mixed record of effectiveness in the treatment of serious mental illness. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is one form of psychotherapy for which there is a substantial evidence base, especially when offered in conjunction with other treatments, such as psychopharma-cology. Another emerging best practice with a growing evidence base […]
A few weeks ago, I asked someone I know if she was getting the help she needed filling out forms that would allow her to continue receiving her state disability benefits. This was an older person who is legally blind and has lived with a disabling mental illness her entire adult life. She told me […]
Wisconsin
Our Directory of Family-Endorsed Providers features multiple mental health resources in the state of Wisconsin. All of the Wisconsin providers listed below have been recommended by a family member of a person who has used their services and have been carefully vetted by our Advisory Group.
West Virginia
Public mental health services in West Virginia are administered and provided by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources–Bureau of Behavioral Health and Health Facilities. Substance use and addiction treatment services are overseen by the Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
Washington
Public mental health and substance use services in Washington are administered and provided by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services–Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (BHA).
Virginia
Public mental health services in Virginia are administered and provided by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services-Office of Mental Health (OMH). Substance use and addiction treatment services are overseen by Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services-Office of Substance Abuse Services (OSAS).