Welcome to the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Recovery Center (PRRC), a program whose chief aim is to promote recovery, education, empowerment and community integration for those
Veterans who have a primary diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder, Bipolar disorder, or Major Depressive disorder.
What is Recovery?
“Recovery is variously called a process, an outlook, a vision, a guiding principle… the overarching
message is that hope and restoration of a meaningful life are possible, despite serious
mental illness… Instead of focusing primarily on symptom relief, as the medical model dictates, recovery casts
a much wider spotlight on restoration of self-esteem and identity and on attaining
meaningful roles in society.”
- The Surgeon General, 1999
The PRRC provides an educational and strengths-focused service that emphasizes an individual’s talents
and abilities to promote his or her psychological recovery and physical wellness. It is based on the following key principles:
· People can and do recover from serious mental illness and lead productive and meaningful lives.
· Education about individual tools and developing action plans to cope with stress, symptoms, and everyday problems
is important.
· Recovery involves returning to or finding new self-directed goals in major areas of life such as work, education,
housing, relationships, and recreation.
PRRC
Staff
The
PRRC staff consists of a psychologist (who is also the program manager), a social worker, an occupational therapist, a peer
support specialist, a program specialist and a program support assistant. The staff also works with the Dorn VA Local
Recovery Coordinator who promotes recovery-based services.
Peer
Support
Our
staff includes a unique member called a peer support specialist (PSS). A PSS is an individual who is in recovery from a serious
mental illness (SMI) and has received specialized training in providing supportive services to others with SMI. They serve
as role models demonstrating how to cope and pursue meaningful, self-determined goals. PSS’s also facilitate a variety
of wellness classes.
Classes offered include:
· Wellness Management and Recovery
· Relationship Basics
· Keys to Social Success
· Recovery Action Plan
· Therapeutic Movement and Relaxation
· Therapeutic Arts
· Crafts to Heal
· Substance Abuse and Prevention
· Self Esteem Class
· Recovery Cinema
· Computer Skills Training
· Coping Through the Senses
· Anger Management
· Living Skills
· Volunteer Class
Classes are described in more detail in the following paragraphs:
Wellness Management and Recovery Class
This
class is a series of weekly sessions designed to help Veterans develop strategies to cope and move towards their personal
goals.
· Sample class topics include building social support, understanding depression, and
coping with stress.
· Classes meet for approximately 1½ hours for 10-12 weeks.
· Research shows this program helps individuals decrease symptoms and make progress
on personal recovery goals.
Relationship
Basics
This class provides an overview of assertiveness skills, interpersonal
boundaries, what makes a romantic relationship successful, and better understand how
mental health problems can impact relationships. Participants will learn how to say “no”, make requests
effectively, recognize boundary problems, set limits in relationships, and improve romantic relationships.
Keys to Social Success
In this class, Veterans will learn and practice social skills related to a
variety of situations such as starting conversations, expressing unpleasant feelings, making requests, disagreeing with another's
opinion without arguing, and asking someone out on a date. This class curriculum has been shown to increase social skills
and effectiveness in a variety of social situations.
Recovery Action Plan Class
In this group the Veteran will create a Recovery Action Plan which will include refining personal recovery goals using the stages
of recovery, learning personal triggers and gaining skills of personal responsibility leading to self empowerment.
Therapeutic Movement and Relaxation Class
This class provides information and research-based activities to facilitate emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. Key components
include:
· Guided Imagery &
Mindfulness Practices
· Stress
Management & Progressive Relaxation
· Qigong (an ancient
Chinese art of self-healing)
· Gentle Movement
Practices
Therapeutic Arts
Class
This class includes meaningful hands-on activities personalized to help Veterans:
· Gain
greater self-awareness & self-esteem
· Assist
with moving through feelings
· Learn
new skills of self expression
· Experience
the joy of creativity
Veterans will experience the satisfaction that comes with the creative process
while working with a variety of artistic media such as paint, collage, crafts, jewelry making, etc. No experience or special
skills necessary.
Crafts to Heal Class
This group provides an opportunity to give through craft making. Arts and crafts created
in this group will be donated to various altruistic causes and charitable organizations in an effort to demonstrate compassion,
kindness and establish a connection with the community. Over time, Veterans will be encouraged to take greater responsibility
for leadership roles within the group.
Substance
Abuse and Prevention
The
Substance Abuse Relapse Prevention Group focuses on thoughts and behaviors that facilitate individual recovery from substance
use disorders. In this class, Veterans will receive skills training to help them analyze, understand, and control the day-to-day
factors that have led to substance abuse as well as how to provide and benefit from social support.
Self Esteem Class
This class is designed to help Veterans improve
self-worth, decrease low-self esteem, decrease anxiety and decrease feelings of depression. Veterans will learn effective
ways to conquer doubt build true confidence and develop self-esteem.
Recovery Cinema
This class provides education and insight by viewing selected movies depicting
mental illness and recovery related issues followed by interactive group discussion and sharing.
Computer Skills Training
This class is designed to promote community integration through use of the
computer. Multiple purposes for using the computer will be emphasized, depending on the Veteran's needs and goals, such as
increasing access to information, the therapeutic outlets, recreation, and developing potential work skills. In addition,
this class will promote concentration, coordination, and logical thought processes through understanding and manipulating
a computer. No prior knowledge is required but Veterans must be willing to practice learned skills outside of lessons.
Advanced Computer Skills
This is a peer run class. Veterans must have advanced knowledge of computers
and software. Veterans will be required to present information and teach the others in the class. Veterans must have access
to a computer and the internet.
Coping Through the Senses
This class is designed to provide educational tools and skills instruction in alternative methods
of coping with stress and negative experiences, empowering and motivating attendees to take a more active role in working
a program of recovery, and taking control of their health and physical and emotional well-being.
Discussion and sensorimotor games and activities are a regular part of the class. General goals
of the class are as follows: develop emotional regulation skills; learn positive coping skills to deal with stressful situations,
relieve anxiety, manage anger, decrease tension, and avoid self-harm; learn to identify and
modify emotional feelings; develop a stress management plan; learn grounding techniques to help with dissociation and
flashbacks; and identify supports and plan for health management.
Anger Management
This 12 week CBT-based group developed by SAMSHA and the Department of Veteran Affairs aims to teach effective
coping behaviors, to decrease escalation, resolve conflicts and gain information on how to express anger in a controlled,
respectful manner regarding time and place.
Living Skills
This class is designed to provide educational tools and skills instruction
to support participants to increase engagement in community living, increase community integration, and be functionally independent.
The goal of this class is to promote empowerment, sense of well-being and competence, communication, trust, and cognitive
and leisure skill development. Topics include food and nutrition management, money management, household management, community
involvement and lots more!
Volunteer Class
Once a month, Veterans get together to plan volunteer activities in the community and/or share experiences from
their own individual volunteer work. The main goal of this class is to help Veterans apply skills needed in the volunteer
work world and connect with the community.
Related Services
The PRRC works closely with NAMI Mid-Carolina, the local
affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
· NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group is a confidential support group for anyone with a mental illness. No registration or appointment is necessary.
Groups Meet:
Mondays: 12:00-1:00
Women Only
Wednesdays:
3:00-4:30
Contact Candace True (803)776-400 ext. 4116
· Family-to-Family is a
12 week educational course where trained families members teach other families about mental illness and coping skills for
dealing with someone with a serious mental illness. Classes are normally held in September and February of each year. Contact
NAMI Mid-Carolina at (803) 206-2916.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many classes can I take? Classes are held every day of the week except Wednesday
and are designed to accommodate a variety of schedules. Some students may want to take a class every day whereas others may
take one class at a time. There is no requirement regarding how many or which classes you take.
How do I get into the program? If you are a Veteran and interested in this program, please ask your mental
health provider at the Dorn VA for a referral.
What happens when I’ve taken all the classes I want to take? Since one of the main goals of this program is community
integration, we will work with you to find those activities in the community that you desire (i.e., going to school, volunteer
work, etc.). Ideally, participants will decide when they have reached their recovery goals and are at a point of transition
or discharge but since each person’s recovery is an individual journey, it will vary. There will be recognitions for
accomplishments of recovery goals throughout the program and a recognition for integration into the community.
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