The Basics
Unison Behavioral Health Group is the culmination of two progressive community health groups in Ohio: the Ruth S. Ide Center, established in 1972 and the East Center for Community Mental Health, established in 1974. In 1995, these two mental health agencies merged to form Unison Behavioral Health Group. Currently serving more than 6,000 adults and children every year, this non-profit organization is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable outpatient mental health care and substance abuse treatment services to the community at large. Unison Behavioral Health is funded by the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addictions Services and the Ohio Department of Mental Health.
Treatment and Staff
Unison Behavioral Health Group offers outpatient substance abuse rehab for adults and adolescents and also treats co-occurring disorders. It has two locations in Toledo: the Cherry Street office is located in a mixed residential/commercial neighborhood in the heart of the city. Both adult and adolescent outpatients are seen here in a peach-colored building that looks more like a schoolhouse than a mental health facility. Group and individual therapy rooms are well lit and comfortable. Those clients with co-occurring disorders and individuals on the medically monitored outpatient program are seen just a few miles away at the Woodruff office. Situated in a commercial business district, this two-story brick building holds group and individual sessions along with offices for medical appointments.
Whether a client is enrolled as an outpatient or an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is determined during the initial assessment. Programs typically last from 18 to 24 weeks. The traditional outpatient program meets once a week for group therapy and individual therapy if needed. Group and individual sessions are 60 minutes. Clients in the IOP meet three times a week for three hours each day. As with the traditional outpatient track, individual therapy is scheduled on an as needed basis. The types of therapy used for adults are CBT, Rational Emotive Therapy, the Matrix Model and Living in Balance approach. The Matrix model requires that the therapists use a combination of skills required to function simultaneously as teacher and coach. The therapist fosters a positive, encouraging relationship with the client and uses that relationship to reinforce positive behavior change.
Therapists at Unison Behavioral Health Group are trained to view the treatment process as an exercise that promotes self-esteem, dignity and self-worth. Living in Balance promotes the idea of healthy relationships with family and friends, the ability to be self-supporting and fosters the importance of a fun and supportive social network. Clients are encouraged to attend at least three 12-step meetings per week.
The adolescent outpatient program utilizes tools based on the Seven Challenges manual, which incorporates a cognitive/emotional, decision-making process. The program does not attempt to dictate behavior or coerce young people. Relevant information includes awareness of the emotional issues that influence human decision-making and focuses on the emotions the client wants to feel more of or avoid completely. Therapists are trained with the understanding that most young people come to treatment against their will or with little enthusiasm. With the Seven Challenges, the key to success is trust and relationship building, which remain important issues throughout the program. Depending on the initial assessment, clients have group sessions, individual therapy or both. Since Unison Behavioral Health has a close knit relationship with the Lucas County School district, therapists meet kids on-site for individual counseling. All sessions are 50 minutes, completely confidential and scheduled with the school in advance so as not to interfere with classes. Those adolescents who attend group therapy are picked up by an incognito Unison Behavioral Health shuttle and taken to the Cherry Street location. Group sessions are 90 minutes long and limited to 12 participants. The shuttles take the kids home after groups are finished. The length of the adolescent program varies, though kids and parents are asked to make a 30-day commitment.
The Cherry Street location is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm with the last available session at 5 pm. Individuals with co-occurring disorders and those enrolled in the medically assisted outpatient program are seen at the Woodruff location, which operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm, Saturdays from 9 am until 2 pm and Sundays from 11 am until 1 pm. There are 35 staff members on the treatment team including physicians, psychiatrists and registered nurses, with six that specialize in adolescents. All therapists are dually licensed in mental health and substance abuse.
Unison Behavioral Health offers a medically assisted outpatient program using Vivitrol as a tool to help opiate addicts stay sober. Clients must be assessed by a facility therapist and physician to determine eligibility. If qualified, clients are drug tested for seven days prior to starting treatment. Individuals in this program must also be enrolled in the outpatient program. Vivitrol injections are given twice a month and clients are encouraged to attend three 12-step meetings per week. The duration of this program is one year.
In Summary
Unison Behavioral Health offers comprehensive outpatient substance abuse treatment for adults, adolescents and those struggling with co-occurring disorders. Their treatment regimen could be ideal for clients with severe underlying issues who need more than the 12steps.
Unison Behavioral Health
1212 Cherry St
Toledo, OH 43608
Unison Behavioral Health Cost: $546-$3,480 (30 days). Reach Unison Behavioral Health by phone at (419) 693-0631. Find Unison Behavioral Health on Facebook and Twitter
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
