Psychosis Treatment Center in Alexandria

Learn more about psychosis treatment at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Psychosis refers to a state that a person enters where his or her thoughts and emotions are no longer based in reality. Psychosis is frequently symptomatic of a mental illness, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder, yet can also be the result of substance abuse. When people are in a psychotic state, they may experience hallucinations (hearing, seeing, smelling, or tasting things that are not real), delusions (maintaining strong beliefs that are not based in reality), catatonic behavior (a lack of motor activity), disorganized behavior (abnormal behaviors that are unpredictable and inappropriate to a given environment), and/or disorganized thinking (confused or disturbed thought processes).

When in an actively psychotic state, individuals are at risk of harming not only themselves but also of harming others. However, the infliction of harm is rarely done intentionally. Regardless, the break from reality that occurs during psychosis warrants the need for immediate care. Additionally, by receiving care, future episodes of psychosis may be prevented or successfully managed should they occur.

At Longleaf Hospital, we recognize how devastating life can be when a person is suffering from a mental illness, especially one in which psychosis is symptomatic. For this reason, we are dedicated to offering not only clinically superior care, but also to providing treatment in a compassionate and encouraging environment that is fully conducive to true and lasting healing.

Helping a loved one get treatment for psychosis

Due to the fact that they are detached from reality, individuals who are in a state of psychosis require the intervention of those closest to them. If you have a loved one who is suffering from a psychotic disorder or is in a state of psychosis, you may be feeling frightened by his or her behavior and fearful that he or she is going to harm him or herself or someone else.

You may feel helpless as to what you can do for your loved one, but it is important to know that you can play a crucial role in getting your friend or family member the help that he or she needs.

Please take note of the following:

• The safety of your loved one and those around him or her is of the utmost importance. As such, if your friend or family member is in a psychotic state, it may be in the best interest of both you and your loved one to call 9-1-1 and request assistance in getting him or her to a hospital where his or her safety can be ensured.
• Psychosis can be extremely confusing. Therefore, it is important for you to gain as much of an understanding about the condition as possible. Research reputable websites or contact a physician or mental health professional to gain as much information as you can.
• In addition to learning about psychosis itself, research treatment centers that provide care specifically for psychotic disorders and mental illnesses of which psychosis is frequently a symptom.
• When your loved one is in a clear state of mind, it would be beneficial to discuss your concerns with him or her. Provide your loved one with any information you have obtained about different treatment centers, and help him or her understand why receiving treatment is so important.
• Offer to assist your loved one by scheduling an appointment with a mental health professional at a treatment center or clinic to have an assessment completed.
• Once your loved one has engaged in a treatment program, do all that you can to be an active part of the treatment process. Attend family therapy sessions if they are offered, check in with your loved one regularly, and offer your ongoing support and encouragement.
• Work with your loved one’s treatment providers to come up with ways that you can best support your loved one after he or she has left the treatment setting. This can include helping your loved one adhere to his or her medication regimen and making sure he or she goes to any follow-up appointments with therapists or psychiatrists, among other things.

Why consider treatment for psychosis at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Receiving treatment for psychosis at a reputable treatment center or clinic is crucial. Individuals who are suffering from psychosis are at risk of experiencing a multitude of deficits if their symptoms are not addressed and if appropriate interventions are not made. People struggling with psychosis may lose the ability to care for themselves, and they may lose their job due to an inability to perform to expectation at work. These individuals might develop an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate their distressing symptoms on their own. Their risk of having interactions with the legal system is heightened, as people with psychosis are susceptible to engaging in dangerous, risky behaviors.

Maintaining healthy relationships can be a struggle for people with chronic psychosis, leaving them feeling isolated. Individuals with psychosis may also begin participating in self-harming behaviors, sometimes out of a need to slow their minds down, sometimes in an attempt to ground themselves to reality, and other times due to paranoia that there are things happening inside their bodies that they must stop. Suicidal ideation is sadly common among people who have psychotic episodes, and, tragically, there are instances where those ideations turn into actions and individuals make attempts at ending their own lives.

While the list of detriments that individuals with psychosis are vulnerable to experiencing can be quite scary, it is important to recognize that there is treatment available, and these effects do not have to impact your or your loved one’s life. By choosing to come to Longleaf Hospital, Alexandria, Louisiana’s premier treatment center, you or your loved one can safely stabilize during an episode of psychosis under the watchful care of our exemplary staff.

Types of psychosis treatment offered at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Located in Alexandria, LA, Longleaf Hospital is the area’s leading provider of individualized psychiatric care for individuals who are suffering from psychosis and a host of other conditions. Having recently completed a full upgrade of clinic facilities in 2015, Longleaf offers a tranquil setting in which to heal. Our hospital is set amongst a peaceful wooded area, but is easily accessible off of highway 28 near the Alexandria Coliseum.

At Longleaf Hospital, we seek to provide the highest level of psychiatric care while treating each child, adolescent, and adult. Our program’s mission is to support long-term success for patients both during treatment at this clinic and after they return home. This is accomplished through the work of our expert team of highly qualified mental health and medical staff who are committed to providing dignity in treatment and to empowering patients to lead healthy, productive lives.

Patients who come to Longleaf may be struggling with a wide variety of psychiatric concerns, and treatment for psychosis will consist of various supports that are tailored to address each patient’s unique strengths and challenges. For adult patients who are struggling with a co-occurring substance use disorder in addition to psychosis, Longleaf is pleased to provide comprehensive care to address chemical dependencies of many types.

Options for treatment at our clinic span the continuum of care, and include several options in order to provide the ideal treatment environment for every patient. We are also proud to offer specialized supports for active and retired military personnel and their dependents.

Upon admission, each patient is thoroughly assessed prior to beginning services at Longleaf, and a personalized plan of care is devised to encourage the most beneficial outcomes possible, no matter what level of care the patient is engaged in.

Short-term acute inpatient care is offered for children and adolescents ages 11-17 and adults ages 18 and above. In this setting, patients can receive a variety of supportive services designed to help them stabilize from their episodes of psychosis and address the mental health concerns that are plaguing them. These services will be implemented based on need and cognitive ability, and may include the following:

• Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT)
• Medically assisted, supervised detoxification programming
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Medical services from nurse practitioners and doctors
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)
• 12-Step based services

In addition to the treatment modalities listed above, all patients who seek care at Longleaf will have access to the following therapies:

• Medication management: Psychotropic medication is cornerstone to successfully treating psychosis; however, the implementation of any medication will always be determined on a case-by-case basis. If an individual’s symptoms can be effectively treated with prescription medications, our team can include medication management services into his or her personalized treatment plan. All medication decisions will involve the input and consent of the individual in treatment and/or his or her parents or guardians.
• Individual therapy: Master’s level social workers provide this one-on-one service to allow all patients to process issues from the past and present that have contributed to the onset of psychosis. In this private, confidential setting, individuals can discuss the challenges and successes that arise in treatment, and make a plan for continued success after leaving Longleaf.
• Family therapy: Family therapy is offered twice weekly and is designed to engage a patient’s loved ones in his or her recovery journey, to heal damaged relationships, and to increase the functionality of the family unit.
• Group therapy: All patients at Longleaf will have many opportunities to participate in group therapy. Offered daily, this intervention is used to help patients learn from each other, and to combat the sense of isolation that is common amongst those suffering from the symptoms of mental illness, including psychosis. Group discussions are varied but could include topics such as anger management, impulse control, coping skills, and discharge planning.

At Longleaf Hospital, we are proud to have a long history of providing superior service to active duty military members, veterans, and their families. Our military support efforts are led by our medical director, a retired Army colonel who works closely with all military members who heal at Longleaf. We do not have a specialized treatment track for military members, but we ensure that the unique issues and challenges that are experienced by members of the military community are addressed in each patient’s personalized treatment plan, and we place a premium on ensuring that all military-affiliated patients receive the customized care that will best prepare them for long-term success.

In addition to Longleaf Hospital’s acute inpatient care program, the partial hospitalization program (PHP) is another option for support that is available to adult patients age 18 and above. PHP at Longleaf, which typically spans a time period of 2 to 6 weeks, has proven to be successful in helping individuals progress in their healing after having received inpatient treatment for psychosis. This option is suitable for patients who require a high level of support, but who are able to return to their home environments in the evening.

Programming within this level of care is based on 12-Step ideology, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing. Medication management is also available within PHP at Longleaf, and patients can meet with a psychiatrist twice per week while in this program. Individual, family, and group therapies are also provided, as well as thorough discharge planning.

The least acute option for care at Longleaf Hospital is the intensive outpatient program (IOP). As treatment for psychosis typically needs to take place in an inpatient setting, IOP can serve as an optimal transitional level of care once patients have completed a higher level of programming. On average, IOP lasts 8 to 12 weeks, and consists of medication management services and various time-tested therapeutic techniques that are designed to promote lasting healing.

Get more information about treatment for psychosis

The admissions staff at Longleaf is available to speak with referral sources and prospective patients and their families 24/7. Upon contacting Longleaf, a licensed intake counselor can provide an initial assessment, and answer any questions that you may have about healing at our hospital. The decision to seek care for mental health concerns, including psychosis, may be a difficult one, but the compassionate professional team at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, is here to ensure that you find the very best support for yourself or a loved one.