The Vista Counseling Services Program is a real life setting for young adults 17-21 years old* who are in need of a challenging, safe and caring environment while they develop social, educational and emotional skills to move toward independent living. Each resident will experience the full spectrum of the college lifestyle while living in an apartment style setting. Additionally, each resident will benefit from having their own Young Adult Mentor. The responsibility of the Mentor is to aid the residents in four main objectives; Social Functioning, Financial Responsibilities, Academic Progress, and Community Service Opportunities. Depending on the resident's current phase (1-2-3-4), they will meet with their Mentor accordingly. Each meeting with the Mentor will focus on solutions to the current struggles the resident is dealing with.
This added support allows for seamless communication between individual therapists and the residents they are working with. All of these meetings are subject to increase or decrease pending the primary therapist's clinical opinion and level of individual achievement of the student. These services are additional to the existing Individual, Family, and Group Therapy sessions that occur on a weekly basis with the primary therapist. VCS believes in providing each resident an opportunity to grow and develop in their perspective environments. We feel the combination of a real life setting, the individual work of the personal advocates, and the individualized therapeutic direction with a primary clinician, provides the best possible equation resulting in success during this crucial first year of college.
All residents will receive the following services:
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Individual Psychotherapy once weekly (involving 1-4 clinical contact hours or as needed)
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Individual Substance Abuse Counseling (if applicable)
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Group Psychotherapy one to two times weekly
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Family Psychotherapy every other week for the initial 3 months, as needed during months 4-12
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Mentoring (frequency determined by phase and need)
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Individual Psychiatry (if applicable)
Note to Residents from Vista RTC: See the explanation of our Therapeutic Bridging policy below for more information.
Our transitional living program is a program of four distinct phases. Phase 1 is designed for the transition of an adolescent in a treatment setting to a structured transitional living arrangement. As adolescents move to young adulthood, it is important to prepare them to make slow and steady movements from one setting to the other, while still allowing the necessary freedoms associated with new found responsibilities of adulthood. Phase 1 will assist students in developing the building blocks necessary for creating a firm foundation as they prepare for independence in today's world. Our students will strengthen their values, character and decision making skills through real life experiences of trial and error. Our therapists, staff and personal advocates will support the student through teaching opportunities as they arise on a daily basis. These "teaching moments" will come through individual support, community instruction and real life example.
During the Phase 2, life at VCS begins to take on new opportunities. These new opportunities allow room for personal growth, yet at a closely monitored pace. Commitment to well defined personal and societal values now will allow the student to make "life shifts" that include new and exciting possibilities in the areas of responsibility, accountability and planning. Learning to schedule time for service, study, work and play is crucial for success in today's world, so our students must accomplish well-defined goals and objectives during this critical phase.
During Phase 3, the student will test their skills, learn from their mistakes and prove to themselves as well as to others they are truly ready for a less structured, independent lifestyle. Well conceived and organized plans will be in place for the continuation of university life with healthy, happy and well prepared young women and men.
During Phase 4, the students may propose to live on their own. As our students move in to less and less externally imposed structure they will have the necessary tools to maintain healthy lives. They will work together with parents, therapists and counselors to complete their final phase of VCS. Our students, who are now ready for the world, will chart a course for success knowing all too well the pitfalls and snares that await them, but understanding the vital ingredients necessary for surviving life's challenges.
*VCS will accept applications from students who will be 17 and have a high school diploma or equivalent by the date of enrollment. Students who will be 18 by the date of enrollment do not need a high school diploma or equivalent to be considered.
In order to provide a continuum of care that allows a thorough transition for the resident while also preserving the clinical intensity and focus, VCS and
Vista RTC have implemented a bridging policy for any residents who are accepted to VCS directly from
Vista RTC.
Substance Abuse Counseling
Substance Abuse Counseling will be provided (if pertinent) by a
counselor at VCS.
Psychotherapy
The
therapist from VCS will bridge over and participate in family and individual sessions for at least 6 weeks of the resident's residential stay. After the resident begins at VCS, the
RTC therapist will bridge over and participate in family and individual sessions for the first 6 weeks of the transition.
Group Therapy
