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June 13, 2008 – ABINGDON, VIRGINIA “Art has tremendous capacity to promote healing…whether it be music, dance or visual art,” says Marsha Miller, of Center for Behavioral Health, Highlands Community Services. “It can also educate and inspire…that is why we are dedicating a large space in our new building as a recovery art gallery. We want to honor the people who bravely walk the journey to recovery as well as those who aid them in that walk.”
Highlands Center for Behavioral Health’s, new 42,000 square foot building on Campus Drive in Abingdon will be ready for occupancy, around the end of August. Fourteen separate locations will be housed under one roof—providing everything from outpatient counseling to psychiatric services. The recovery art gallery will span 170 feet in length and when completed will exhibit anywhere from 50-75 pieces of hanging art. “In making this idea a reality, I started by asking, ‘What does art that represents mental health recovery look like?’ I have always painted and sketched myself and that gave me a rudimentary knowledge about artistic expression. So I answered my own question: Mental health recovery means clarity and focus, a good view of self and others…healthy relationships and boundaries…facing one’s limitations and working with them…therefore art representing mental health recovery would have clear lines, be accurately representational, have strong vibrant color as opposed to the somber and dreary. Subjects might be found in nature, which also plays a role in recovery.”
Miller, Community Relations Director, is working with the assistance of Carolyn Peterson, Department Director, for Mental Health Care Coordination and the clinical services team of HCS. “It is vital that we send the message of hope and encouragement to our consumers, rather than one of negativity. In recovery, we focus on strengths not weaknesses,” says Peterson. Recovery is the process where a mental health consumer progresses from having difficulty managing their life because of their illness to being strong, resourceful and functioning. Recovery looks different in each individual and it doesn’t mean the consumer has no setbacks or struggles.
Highlands Center for Behavioral Health has been operating for 35 years in Washington County and Bristol, Virginia, providing multiple services for substance abuse, mental illness and intellectual disabilities. Choices are still being made for the exhibit. “We started at Virginia Intermont College and that provided some wonderful work but we now need to branch out to the community at large. We are asking for submissions—any media is acceptable, as long as it will hang from a gallery cable system. Canvases are fine but other media needs to be framed under glass,” says Miller. They will be on loan to HCS for 3 months, after which the exhibit will change, adding new work and new artists. Students, professionals and amateurs are welcome to submit work. To be considered they must send a color electronic jpeg or tiff file or a hard copy to the Community Relations Department of Center for Behavioral Health.
“Recovery is a journey and it can be a long and hard one for some people. What is so inspirational about dealing with those who walk the mental health journey toward recovery is both their courage in facing each day and the amazing capacity for creativity they employ in that journey. Some write, others paint or do needlework. Some take long walks and submerse themselves in nature. For some reason, highly creative people are more prone to mental health and substance abuse issues,” says Miller. “In our agency we know these people are truly heroes and this art gallery is our way of giving them a visual badge of honor.”
You’re 17 and scared...maybe the
“partying” is getting out of control?
How about trying the "Adolescent Substance Abuse
Intensive Outpatient Group"
A place to go...with people just like you, who are
talking about the real issues--painkillers, meth,
cocaine problems--how they rule your life and
how you can find a way out.
Open to anyone 12-18 years old...Monday &
Wednesday afternoons 3:30-5:30 (Substance Abuse Office,
Center for Behavioral Health, Highlands
Community Services, 432 E. Main Street, Suite A,
Abingdon).
A laid-back environment, but experienced,
caring counselors and doctors who can treat the
problem. Cost? Don’t worry about it..call and we will work it out.
Call for yourself...get information for a friend...If you’re a teacher or a professional,
you can refer a kid.
No Judgement,
Just people who want to help.
276.628-5067 or 276.466.8639
Exciting new event:
Center for Behavioral Health, Highlands Community Services announces their first clinical symposium, fall 2008. Featuring nationally-known behavioral health professionals,
Eli Newberger, M.D.and David Mee Lee, M.D.
This educational event will cover such topics as breaking the cycle of child abuse and violence, co-occuring disorders, treatments for working with agressive behaviors, treating sexual offenders, demystifying autism and more.
Please contact HCS or watch our website for further details.
276.669.3179
The Center for Behavioral Health at Highlands Community Services partnered with the Southwest Behavioral Health Authority to host a symposium entitle “From Crisis Stabilization to Crisis Recovery: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility.” Approximately 100 professionals and peers attended from six Community Services Boards and the Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute.
The guest trainers include Lori Ashcraft and Eugene Johnson of Recovery Innovations of Arizona and Mary McQuown of Recovery Innovations of Virginia. The focus was on providing “no force first services” in the wake of legislation pending from the Virginia Tech tragedy. Participants were given important tips on implementing Mandatory Outpatient Treatment orders in a friendly, engaging manner that focused on people’s strengths rather than their problems. Tips on successful interventions included pathways to recovery with the following ingredients:
| Pictured below Lori Ashcraft and at right Eugene Johnson |
1) Hope: provides motivation to be who I want to be;
2) Choice: involves the freedom to choose services that meet my needs:
3) Empowerment: recognizes that resistance may be a way to get power back;
4) Recovery Culture: provides loving relationships;
5) Spirituality: recognizes the importance of a vision.
| Pictured below, Mary McQuown. |
All program participants participated in group exercises designed to transform our services into recovery opportunities and each CSB and the Institute came up with concrete plans to implement new services. A follow-up meeting to share progress is planned for the summer.
The focus on celebrating strengths led to award ceremonies on each day of the symposium. On 3/26/08, an award was presented to Victoria Huber-Cochran, Chair of the Virginia Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Substance Abuse Services for her initiative and advocacy in implementing education for law enforcement officers on mental health needs. Ms. Cochran was presented a painting by Highlands’ Peer Support Specialist James Turner and a plaque from the Regional Consumer Empowerment & Recovery Council Vice Chair Janie Roush.
The attached pictures portray our internationally recognized speakers and the award ceremony. For more information, please feel free to contact Carolyn Peterson, LCSW, CPRP at cpeterson@highlandscsb.org.
| Left, James Turner. Right, presentation of award to Victoria Huber Cochran. |
| Angel painting presented to Ms. Cochran by Highlands Community Services. |
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