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Our Program
Schizophrenia is a complex disorder and restoring balance requires a variety of therapeutic resources. We like to compare our treatment approach to a Music Symphony - which is composed by many instruments in an orchestra. Think about Beethoven’s 5th. Would it be recognizable if it was played by only one instrument? Likewise, to restore each resident to his own healthy melody their unique psycho-social and biochemical needs to be taken in account. Our successful result has identified that 3 areas are crucial for optimal recovery:
Environment + Lifestyle + Treatment
People heal when they feel happy
The WMS Environment provides a home that looks like a home
Each resident has his own bedroom. Fresh meals are served daily. Interesting activities happen. Housemates have affinity. Staff is like family, and family is always welcome.
The WMS Lifestyle is healthy.
Exercise and contact with nature are an essential part of the daily routine. Residents receive training in hygiene and good health habits. Each person is heard and encouraged to express himself. Personal life goals are supported. New skills are explored. Talents are nurtured. Opportunities for social interaction, job placement and rapport with the community are created to rebuild self-esteem.
The WMS Treatment is multi-faceted and evidence based.
During admission each resident receives an in-depth evaluation by our Team of Clinical Consultants. Personal interview, specialized labs, health and psycho-social history will help determine the most appropriate tools for restoring balance. Our team is constantly updating themselves with the latest scientific studies, therefore residents are re-evaluated every three months to fine-tune their unique instrument.
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WHAT MAKES THE WMS HOME SO INNOVATIVE?
• a small number of residents (4-6)
• residents with a similar age range
• 24/7 live-in staff trained in the LEAP method
• Peer support
• Nutritional Psychiatry
• Music Therapy
• Life Coaching Therapy
• ABA Therapy
• Nature Outings
• Daily Living Skills Training
• Job Coaching and Volunteering
• Family participation and support
Our Unique Approach
Music at the Center of Our Program
Music is the best therapy for people with brain challenges because it immediately connects neurons making language, cognition and memory achieve optimal functioning. Listening or playing music is easy, is soothing. Music shifts mood immediately. It can reduce or even eliminate irritation, anger, boredom, anxiety and depression. Many people who develop schizophrenia have shown a strong connection with music. Some are even gifted musicians. Whether one is an accomplished musician, or someone who only enjoys music, the WMS model provides access to music playing, composing, singing, listening, producing and performing. Every day we are giving these musicians the tools to heal their brains, to rebuild their self-esteem and engage with peers with the hope of creating lasting friendships that disappear with a diagnosis.
WMS is the place where people who love music
can play together, create events, grow in friendship
and have an ongoing social community.
"Auditory hallucinations persist in up to 50% of patients, despite their receiving pharmacological therapies… Several psychosocial techniques have demonstrated effectiveness in this regard, including music therapy, which has been associated with significant reductions in symptoms..”
-The Effect of Music on Auditory Hallucination and Quality of Life in Schizophrenic Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Staff trained in L.E.A.P.
People with schizophrenia often suffer from anosognosia. There is no physical evidence of the brain damage, therefore they don’t believe they are ill. That’s why most people do not see the need to take medication daily throughout their entire life. When resistance and doubt rise LEAP helps to quickly gain the trust of someone you are at odds with treatment by using the following 4 steps during communication: Listen– Empathize – Agree – Partner.
Our residents will have access daily to playing the music they enjoy, to explore new instruments and rhythms, to express their creativity and practice their self-expression. Residents who do not play an instrument can engage in the many facets of music production and performance. Performing for family, friends and general public is an option that provides the stimulus to reintegrate in the community, eliminating the stigma and creating a new image of the talented and sensitive people that they truly are.
"You do not win on the strength of your argument,
you win on the strength of your relationship."
Nutritional Psychiatry and ABA Therapy (Applied Behavioral Therapy)
At admission each resident will receive an in-depth evaluation of his physical health, mental health and behavior challenges by a team of Consultants that include an Integrative Physician, a Nutritional Psychiatrist, a Psychologist, a Social Worker, an ABA therapist and a Nutritionist. Specialty labs include pharmacogenetic, gut health and microbiome condition, parasites, yeast, mold and bacterial infection, food sensitivities, vitamin and minerals levels among others. The Clinical Team will assess residents every 3 months to review diets, supplements, medication and behavioral plan. Nutritional Psychiatry is the most advanced approach in psychiatry as it utilizes both nutrition and medication to restore balance. Oftentimes, after just a few months correcting nutrition depletion, eliminating toxicities and allergens, the person starts feeling a greater balance therefore the nutritional psychiatrist will evaluate if it is possible to carefully reduce medication dosages, in order to reduce the side effects from antipsychotics. After assessing a resident's health, the nutritional psychiatrist will evaluate if it is possible to carefully reduce medication dosage. Each resident will have had the benefit of a multi-layered approach to treatment, and may be able to reduce the extreme side effects of psychotropic drugs.
Empathize
Agree
The L.E.A.P. Method
Listen
Partner
We are honored to have as our Board member Sanjeet Sihota, a social worker who is a faculty member of the Leap Institute, having been trained directly by Dr Xavier Amador (author of “I’m not Sick”). Sanjeet has more than 15 years of experience facilitating successful recoveries employing the LEAP method. Besides providing one-on-one sessions with each resident weekly, he will be training and supervising our 24/7 staff on how to develop a relationship of trust and how to de-escalate crisis.
Our staff is composed of 3 full-time staff (one for each shift), and 4 part-time Peers graduates from the Peer Specialist Course (one per day). They inspire the residents with their lived experience and share strategies to better handle hearing voices and other challenges besides being a buddy during life-skills training activities and recreational activities. Another important staff position is a Job Coach. He supports each resident in the search for volunteering and paid opportunities, accompany them in interviews and supervise communication with employers to assure satisfaction on both sides.
“The human body can rebuild itself in 3-5 years given the right conditions”
Dr Michael Lesser, nutritional psychiatrist, The Brain Chemistry Plan
