WHP provides a supportive, multi-modal outpatient treatment environment for women in recovery from trauma or abuse, including an integrated treatment approach for women also recovering from addiction. Our clinical work is informed by our research, which has sought to enhance our understanding of the impact of violence and drug and alcohol abuse on women's lives and to develop and support effective interventions for these issues.

What does "trauma" mean?
Trauma may refer to a wide range of experiences in which a woman feels she was victimized as a child or as an adult. This may include emotional, verbal, sexual and physical abuse or assault, witnessing violence, or being exposed to other traumatizing events.

Our Treatment Program

Treatment at WHP is designed to address the issues involved in recovering from trauma and, for women also grappling with substance use, to address addiction in the context of symptoms often related to trauma. The program includes individual and group psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and case management. Clients may present with a range of mental health issues, including posttraumatic stress disorder, other significant anxiety or mood disorders, or dissociative disorders.

WHP offers a range of treatment alternatives, including empirically supported cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal treatment models. These treatment strategies have been shown to decrease psychiatric symptoms and reduce substance use among a variety of clients.

Recognizing that individuals come to treatment with different levels of motivation, we also utilize motivational enhancement techniques to facilitate treatment participation, enabling clients to benefit from therapy according to their readiness for treatment. Treatment plans and length of treatment are individualized according to client progress and needs.

WHP also provides adjunctive psychological services for women who attend other substance abuse treatments or methadone maintenance programs. Through our affiliation with the Addiction Institute of New York, we are also able to offer more intensive substance use treatment. The Addiction Institute of New York offers a broad network of addiction and rehabilitation services to address individual needs.

Psychotherapy Groups

Clients are encouraged to participate in groups, which are the cornerstone of our treatment program. Treatment groups vary over time but may include:

" Seeking Safety for trauma and addiction
" Managing Stress
" Healthy Relationships
" Managing Strong Emotion/DBT Skills
" Mothers' Group
" Sexuality
" Creativity
" Health and Spirituality
" Restoring Inner Strength
" Process Group
" Healthy Lifestyles

Admission Criteria

Admission is based on a comprehensive assessment and team review.

Who is appropriate for the WHP?
" Women survivors of trauma or abuse who ALSO currently use drugs and/or alcohol, who are in recovery, or who are on methadone maintenance.
" Women for whom trauma or abuse related issues or symptoms are a focus of treatment, but who have NOT been involved with drugs or alcohol.
" Women for whom a limited outpatient setting is adequate.

Who is not appropriate for the WHP?
" Women with significant psychotic spectrum illness.
" Women with significant cognitive impairment.
" Women who require more intensive treatment, either inpatient or day treatment, for substance use or other psychopathology.

We can help you determine if your client might be better served initially at other St. Luke's-Roosevelt treatment centers, such as The Addiction Institute, or the Center for Intensive Treatment of Personality Disorders (CITPD). Some women may be appropriate for both the Women's Health Project and other programs at The Addiction Institute.

Staff

The WHP is staffed by an interdisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatry residents, psychology externs, and postdoctoral fellows. Training staff are closely supervised by licensed clinicians.

Information and Referral

Clients, families, friends, and providers considering a referral, please contact:

Andrea Johnson, LCSW
Intake Coordinator
212-523-7693 (AnJohnso@chpnet.org)

Dr. Lisa Litt
Clinical Director
212-523-2990 (LLitt@chpnet.org).

The Women's Health Project accepts most forms of insurance. The Health Education Advocacy and Learning Center (H.E.A.L) at the St. Luke's Division provides personalized assistance to clients seeking access to public entitlements and reduced fee options.

Location and Hours of Operation

WHP is open from 9:00am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday with some additional evening hours Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We are located at:
411 West 114th Street, Suite 6C
New York, NY 10025

Phone: 212-523-3061
Fax: 212-523-2140
www.whpnyc.org