Clinical and Therapeutic Services

Pharmacological Management: Psychiatry & Nursing

Counseling

First Cuyahoga County

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET)

Art Therapy

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Counseling

Counseling Services help individuals manage life transitions, resolve personal crisis, learn new ways to behave more effectively, and cope with personal emotional upset and/ or mental illness through a therapeutic relationship with an agency professional.  This confidential clinical service is based on an individual mental health assessment to determine with the client the treatment plan and goals.

FIRST Cuyahoga County

JFSA's Ascentia program offers a comprehensive early identification and treatment program for individuals experiencing an initial episode of a psychotic illness. FIRST Cuyahoga County is a recovery-oriented treatment that focuses on helping the individual and family. It will include case management, psychiatry, employment and family support. Emerging studies suggest that early and aggressive treatment enables a faster, more complete recovery from psychotic disorders.

Partners in FIRST Cuyahoga County include the The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County (ADAMHS Board) and the Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center in the Department of Psychiatry at the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM).

FIRST Cuyahoga County is funded in part by:

• The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County

• BeST Center of Northeast Ohio Medical University

• Ridgecliff Foundation

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET)

An evidence based practice that helps people with schizophrenia and related mental illnesses improve their processing speed, cognition (attention, memory and problem solving), and social cognition (the ability to interact wisely with others.) There are three basic components in CET:

•  Computer exercises to enhance cognitive skills

•    A psycho-educational group where interactive work is done through lectures, homework and group exercises. This understanding facilitates a personal process of adjusting to disability and to help participants eventually become more socialized into meaningful adult roles that they identify as goals in their recovery plan.

•    One on one “coaching.”

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Art Therapy

JFSA's Ascentia Art Therapy program helps individuals with mental illness use creative expression to help clients explore their own lives, gain a better sense of self and enhance their cognitive growth.

Art Therapy offers opportunities to explore personal problems and potential through verbal and non-verbal expression and helps develop physical and emotional learning skills through therapeutic art experiences. Dance, movement, role play, music and traditional art provide modes of self-expression for every individual. Common goals within this supportive environment include fostering self and cultural awareness, promoting self expression and personal growth, improvement in communication and cooperative skills, and building on and identifying strengths.

For more information on the program, please contact Zsuzsa Csepanyi, M.A.A.T. Art Therapy Program Coordinator at 216-378-3414.

In the 1970’s Cheryl was a bright, outgoing preteen when her only sister drowned. She soon began having difficulty in school, and eventually she was withdrawn entirely from the school system. In those next years, Cheryl’s mother went from psychiatrist to psychiatrist in search of answers and help for her daughter.

Cheryl was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and agoraphobia. She had become catatonic, was non- communicative, and could not care for herself. We met Cheryl 12 years ago on her mother’s search for answers. Meet Cheryl today:

Public Exhibitions

Ascentia Art Therapy Clients proudly displayed their artwork in an exhibit called "Rock around Cleveland" at the Rock and Roll Hal of Fame on June 16, 2010. The same exhibit was on display at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, 11235 Bellflower Road, Cleveland from July 1-August 10, 2010. Clients learned about the cultural history of Cleveland as the birthplace of rock-and-roll and its impact on society while completing the exhibition.

Check out our client art show exhibitions.

Ongoing Projects

Note Cards

Ascentia Art Therapy clients create unique and beautiful note cards for various occasions, such as birthdays and holidays. Proceeds from the sale of these notecards help support the Art Therapy program. If you would like to purchase note cards, please call 216.504.6451

Contact:

Wendy Maayan, M.A.A.T., Director of Mental Health at 216.378.2794