Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems

Services

• Treatment Services

  Holcomb’s outpatient services encompass a range of services including short-term and long-term treatments that vary with the diagnosis and severity of illness, as well as the coping skills and support systems available to the consumer.

  Mental Health Outpatient Treatment

  Outpatient treatments, which are offered to both children and adults, are guided by the use of recovery based approaches and evidence-based treatments. These approaches include the implementation of the most promising approaches for individuals who are diagnosed with a behavioral health illness. Intervention strategies attempt to alleviate the person’s symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. A person’s potential for growth and recovery is emphasized and the goals of the person drive the treatment plan.

  Outpatient treatment includes a comprehensive assessment, either psychiatric evaluation, psychological evaluation or diagnostic evaluation, which is strength-based and recovery focused and is the basis for treatment objectives.

  Ongoing psychotherapy is also offered and may include a combination of individual therapy, group therapy and family therapy, based on the person’s needs, clinical disorder and ability to respond to the particular interventions.

  Psychopharmacology is a common adjunctive treatment to outpatient psychotherapy. Medication management services are available from both psychiatrists and nurse practitioners, who work collaboratively with each person and his/her therapist to develop an effective medication treatment regimen to assist the client with symptom management.

  Substance Use Treatment

  Treatment services for substance use or dependency disorders are offered to both children and adults and can be provided as traditional outpatient or intensive outpatient services. Traditional outpatient services involve a combination of group and individual therapy, typically held on a weekly basis. Intensive outpatient services exist for individuals with more extensive needs and interventions entail approximately nine hours of group and individual sessions a week, typically divided across three days. A co-occurring disorder (COD) group exists for individuals experiencing both substance issues and mental health disorders to more effectively meet their needs. At least one group is conducted in Spanish to address the needs of the Latino community.

   

• Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems

  Intensive Behavioral Health Services

  Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS), offered to children and adolescents ages 0-21, include a range of individualized behavior management, treatment and rehabilitation services provided primarily in community settings. Settings typically include the child’s home and or school as well as other settings such as camps, daycares and recreational venues. IBHS are flexibly scheduled to accommodate the lives of the children and families served.

  Mobile Therapy (MT)

  Mobile Therapy involves face-to-face, child-centered individual and family psychotherapy, utilizing a strength-based approach, provided in a setting other than a therapist or provider’s office.  Every child has an individual treatment plan developed by the Interagency Service Planning Team (ISPT).   When other behavioral services are being provided simultaneously, the Mobile Therapist provides primary clinical direction, coordination and management of information and progress towards the treatment plan goals. The Mobile Therapist may also provide specialized therapies.

  Behavior Consultant (BC)

  Behavior Consultant is a consultation service delivered by a professional with expertise in behavioral management utilizing an Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) approach. The BC directs the members of the treatment team regarding the appropriate clinical approach for a specific child with complex needs.  The BC, in collaboration with other members of the treatment team, designs, directs and coordinates the implementation of a behavior modification intervention plan, which incorporates behavioral goals and intervention techniques specific to the needs of the child and based on non-aversive behavioral change methods. Members of the treatment team and family provide the service directly to the child and/or family in the home, school, day care, or other community program or setting.

  Behavioral Health Technician (BHT)

  Therapeutic Staff Support is a one-on-one service provided to the children/adolescents that require behavioral interventions to be provided by a professional to support the transfer of skills to the adults that are naturally part of the child’s life (e.g., parents, extended family, teachers). BHTs work under the supervision of a master’s level clinician (typically the BC).

  Services are provided in Pennsylvania in the following counties: Chester, Delaware, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery

• Family-Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS)

  Family-Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS) are intensive, mobile, team-delivered services for children and adolescents, ages 5-21, provided in the home and community. These services are designed to integrate mental health treatment, family support services and case management, so that families may continue to care for their child within the most integrated environment and to avoid out-of-home placement and reduce the need for psychiatric hospitalizations.

  Crisis intervention services are also offered with availability 24 hours a day and seven days a week. FBMHS emphasize the importance of the interagency team meeting process. The teams and family work to identify and include all people important to the family that can be a source of support throughout the course of treatment. As a result, the Family Based team ensures that services are well coordinated and delivered in an integrated manner.

• Assessment Services

  Student Assistance Program

  For students ages 8-18, provides biopsychosocial evaluations, linkages to appropriate resources and treatment, as well as consultation and technical assistance to families and school personnel. Additionally, the SAP will co-facilitate student support groups and conduct classroom presentations and in service training as requested by the school.

  Substance Abuse Forensic Assessment

  Provides assessments and recommendations for treatment for adolescents being processed through the juvenile detention system where substance use is either suspected or known through a drug screen. Assessments are conducted with parents that are involved in the Children and Youth system where substance issues are an area of concern. These assessments are typically introduced into court hearings or are utilized in meetings between clients and their attorneys.

  Mental Health Court Assessment (MHC)

  Provides assessments and recommendations for treatment for individuals age 18 and older with serious mental illness facing criminal charges. The goal of the program is to ensure that mental health consumers receive necessary treatment, reduce the time spent in prison and reduce the backlog in the criminal justice system. The MHC assessments are conducted both in the Chester County Prison and in the community for individuals that are on bail.

• Psychiatric Rehabilitation

  Psychiatric rehabilitation services are designed to assist individuals, age 18 and older with functional disabilities resulting from mental illness, to experience more success and satisfaction in the environments of their choice while promoting functional independence. Psychiatric rehabilitation programs are founded on the principles of consumer choice, recovery principles and the active involvement of consumers in their rehabilitation. Holcomb offers three levels of psychiatric rehabilitation:

  Clubhouse

  The Cornerstone Clubhouse operates Monday through Friday; one evening a week and an occasional Saturday. The Clubhouse is available for adults age 18 and older, who are striving to recover from a mental illness.

  Cornerstone Clubhouse is guided by the International Center for Clubhouse Development Standards. This model has been assisting adults to recover from mental illness since 1948 through the use of work as a therapeutic tool. Clubhouse members volunteer their time at the program and in so doing are exposed to opportunities to become integral components of the program and the local community. This therapeutic community supports each person to develop skills at their own pace through everyday business interactions. Members have the chance to grow and share their talents with others. Holcomb partners with other agencies to be good neighbors within the community, thereby providing vocational, educational, living, wellness and social opportunities for the clubhouse members.

  Cornerstone Clubhouse works with its membership to be a thriving organization, turning individual problems into positive collective action.

  Peer Support Center

  The Peer Support Center is open Monday through Friday and provides drop-in, activity center services for individuals, age 18 and older with serious and persistent mental illness or a dual-diagnosis of severe mental illness and a substance use condition. The center is facilitated by peer mentors who encourage the program participants to be aware of their symptoms and help them to understand the importance of peer support as they manage the challenges encountered on the road to recovery. Support, networking, peer education and social and recreational opportunities are the cornerstones of the program. These elements coalesce in a safe and caring environment that promotes self-confidence and enhanced ability to function in the world.

  Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation (MPR)

  MPR services are provided to adults age 18 and older and are designed to bring recovery-based interventions to consumers in their home and community. The mobile nature of MPR allows consumers to receive the interventions within the context of where they are experiencing the need for supports.

• Residential Services

  Holcomb maintains several types of residential service options based on the level of support and type of environment needed by an individual.

  Community Residential Rehabilitation (CRR)

  CRR is a residential program for adults age 18 and older with mental illness and offers 24 hr/day staffing and support. Valuable Activity of Daily Living Skills are taught by staff and participants learn in a communal, supportive environment. Case management services are also offered to aid in the person’s reintegration to the larger community. The respective county oversees the admission process to this program. The length of stay can be up to three years.

  Personal Care Home (PCH)

  PCH is a residential program for adults age 18 and older and is a higher level of care than most CRRs. The participants in these programs usually have more chronic illnesses and an overlay of medical concerns in addition to their mental health diagnosis. The level of staffing is higher than other residential programs to assist consumers with complex needs. Consumers may have extended lengths of stay.

  Group Home

  Group Home is a residential program for adults age 18 and older who may be diagnosed with a mental illness, intellectual developmental disability or co-occurring disorder.  The homes are smaller, family-style residences that offer the same level of support as the CRR program, but in a home-like atmosphere. Program participants are referred by the respective county, and may be permitted and encouraged to stay in this program as long as they need and desire.

  Respite

  Respite services provide temporary, transitional living arrangements for individuals who are age 18 and older who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disability, are registered in the public mental health system and are temporarily homeless. Participants are assessed as able to benefit from the service and have the ability to function within the structure and support of the program and comply with the program rules.

• Psychosocial Support Services

  Holcomb provides a wide range of non-treatment, psychosocial supports that complement formal treatment services or are offered in isolation, based on the person’s needs. These psychosocial support services include:

  Targeted Case Management (TCM)

  Targeted Case Management services include a range of Medical Assistance-funded activities for consumers with psychiatric disabilities that have resulted in significant levels of functional impairment. The service assists members and families with service coordination, linkage to resources or other needed services and mental health advocacy.

  Supported Living

  The Supported Living program works with adults age 18 and older diagnosed with serious mental illness, who require significant external supports to maintain either independent or semi-independent community living. Target groups include persons transitioning from CRRs, persons in need of stable housing referred by case management and persons living with family members who wish to transition to independent living. Each person is provided with individualized supports that vary in nature and intensity based on the person’s specific needs.

  Supported Employment

  The Supported Employment Program provides services to Chester County adults age 18 and older, who are diagnosed with a psychiatric disability, are determined eligible by the County and desire competitive employment.

  In-Home Life Skill Support

  Life Skill Support program provides mobile life skills services to families in which at least one family member, age 18 and older, has a primary mental health diagnosis that negatively affects household functions. The program also helps to ensure that health needs are met.

  Abuser Intervention

  The Abuser Intervention program conducts group sessions for adults age 18 and older which provide domestic violence perpetrators with information and practical tools to change individual values and beliefs that support the use of violence and other abusive, controlling behaviors.

  Individual Development Account (IDA) Program

  An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a matched-savings program that enables low-income adults/families to save money for the purchase of a home, post-secondary education or training or to start a business. Participants in the program learn principles in financial saving so that they can develop a personal savings plan. The program matches each participant’s savings on a 3:1 ratio.

  Family Visitation Center

  Services include monitored child-custody exchanges and supervised visitation, both of which can encourage healthy parent-child relationships, while ensuring the safety of the parents and their children. These services are offered when family court has ordered that a parent have his/her visits monitored by an independent party. This service allows non-custodial parents to maintain routine contact with their children and eliminates the potential for allegations of improper interactions during the visits.

• Prevention / Education Programs

  Holcomb provides a comprehensive array of prevention and education services to children, adolescents and adults in an effort to support individuals before mental health or substance abuse problems develop. Additional information can be obtained from the following pages on this website:

  • Delaware County Prevention Services
  • Chester County Prevention Services
• Chester County Crisis Services

  Holcomb offers a comprehensive crisis care system that provides minimally intrusive interventions to assist individuals who are experiencing a mental health or psychosocial crisis.

  The services support humanistic and recovery-oriented principles through instilling hope, social connection and a belief that all individuals experiencing crisis can readily regain control of their lives with the right supports and/or interventions.

  Holcomb’s Valley Creek Crisis Center, located in Exton, PA, offers a crisis program to assist children, adolescents and adults experiencing varying levels of crisis. All of Valley Creek’s services are consumer-driven, recovery-oriented and culturally competent. This is achieved through the utilization of psychiatric rehabilitation principles, the use of peer specialists throughout the crisis system and a strong emphasis on diversionary efforts to help maintain individuals in the community whenever possible. Valley Creek Crisis Center has culturally diverse staff, including individuals fluent in Spanish.

  The crisis center offers five distinct services:

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  Telephone Crisis Counseling and Community-Based Mobile Dispatch (Phone: Local Chester County – 610-280-3270 or the National 988 hotline)

  Provides counseling, consultation, education and referral to those experiencing acute problems or to the family, friends, colleagues, school staff and/or agencies calling on behalf of an individual. The goal of the telephone crisis line is to ensure individual safety and promote recovery and wellness.

  Consumer-Run Warm Line (Phone: 1-866-846-2722)

  Provides peer support and resource information to proactively support individuals before a crisis develops. The warm line is staffed by Certified Peer Specialists who are trained specifically to assist other consumers in furthering their recovery. The warm line is open seven days a week, six hours a day: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 10:00 pm and Saturday – Sunday, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

  Crisis Walk-In Center

  The Walk-in crisis service is seen as an important component to the overall crisis system. While many crises may realistically be handled via the Warm Line and Telephone Crisis Counseling, many individuals will seek out personal face-to-face contact as part of their crisis intervention. For those individuals, the face-to-face component may be experienced as essential in effectively communicating their needs and developing a solution-focused action plan. The location for these services is 469 Creamery Way, Exton, PA 19341. Hours of operation – 7:00 am – 11:00 pm Monday – Sunday. 

  
  Adult Crisis Residential Program – Please call 610-280-3270 for referral or admissions information.

  Provides short-term residential placement for adults, age 18 and older, in need of behavioral health services that are less restrictive than an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. The crisis residential program is voluntary and provides consumer-driven, recovery-oriented treatment in a comfortable, home-like environment. The program supports individuals in developing and achieving individual goals in order to resolve the acute crisis and achieve timely community reintegration.

  Bridge Medication Program – Please call 610-280-3270 for further information.

  For more information please visit: http://chescocrisis.holcomb-bhs.org

• Professional Internships/Externships

  Holcomb provides formal educational opportunities, both internships and externships, for graduate level students to obtain required clinical field placement experience. See the following program descriptions:

  Predoctoral Psychology Internship

  Holcomb’s predoctoral psychology internship program has been an APPIC-member program since 2005. It is designed to provide doctoral students with the clinical opportunities that allow for a comprehensive training experience so that psychology residents can assume the role of a professional psychologist. Each rotation, didactic and other training requirements are designed to expand on the residents’ existing knowledge and experience.

  The internship program utilizes multiple sites and services to accomplish this goal. Residents will be provided the exposure to diverse clinical issues, ages and cultural issues and will be expected to work from an integrated theoretical approach. Schedules will be approximately 45 hours each week. It is expected that each resident will achieve increasing levels of responsibility and autonomy as the year progresses. In the end, the internship year is seen as the culmination of the student’s opportunities to practice the art of psychology, based on prior exposure to the science of psychology.

  For more information, please see the APPIC site description of Holcomb’s program at:

  • Holcomb’s APPIC site
  • Holcomb’s most recent Internship Handbook (PDF) is available for review.
  • Learn more with the Internship Brochure
  • Holcomb’s C-271 Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data Information

  This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any resident applicant.

  Holcomb’s Internship Program has been a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) since 2005. The internship is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) for seven years. The program received its initial accreditation as of March 22, 2016. The next accreditation site visit is in 2023.

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  For information regarding accreditation contact:

  Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
  American Psychological Association
  750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002

  Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org

  Psychotherapy Externship Placements

  Holcomb offers therapy externships for psychology, social work and psychiatric nursing graduate students throughout the organization and its affiliates. The goal of the externship placement is to provide graduate students with the field placement opportunities to develop and/or enhance their treatment skills. Each agency office has varying clinical populations served and can handle a different number of externs placed at any given time. Holcomb strives to find a convenient placement based on both location and clinical opportunities sought.

  Holcomb requires a minimum placement of two semesters, including a significant portion of the inter-semester break. The agency frequently receives applications and extends offers as much as a year in advance. Subsequently, applications are processed on a first come, first served basis. Holcomb’s practicum student application can be obtained here:

  • Holcomb Externship Application (PDF)
• Berks County Crisis Services

  Holcomb offers a comprehensive crisis care system that provides minimally intrusive interventions to assist individuals who are experiencing a mental health or psychosocial crisis.

  The services support humanistic and recovery-oriented principles through instilling hope, social connection and a belief that all individuals experiencing crisis can readily regain control of their lives with the right supports and/or interventions.

  Holcomb’s Berks County Crisis Center, located in West Reading, PA, offers a crisis program to assist children, adolescents and adults experiencing varying levels of crisis. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are free to the residents of Berks County. All of Berks County Crisis’ services are consumer-driven, recovery-oriented and culturally competent. This is achieved through the utilization of psychiatric rehabilitation principles, the use of peer specialists throughout the crisis system and a strong emphasis on diversionary efforts to help maintain individuals in the community whenever possible. Berks County Crisis Center has culturally diverse staff, including individuals fluent in Spanish and or access to a language line for interpretation services.

  The crisis center offers four distinct services:

  Telephone Crisis Counseling

  (Phone: 610-379-2007)

  Provides counseling, consultation, education and referral to those experiencing acute problems or to the family, friends, colleagues, school staff and/or agencies calling on behalf of an individual. The goal of the telephone crisis line is to ensure individual safety and promote recovery and wellness.

  Crisis Walk-In Center

  (Monday-Friday 8am-4pm, call ahead preferred)

  The Walk-in crisis service is seen as an important component to the overall crisis system. While many crises may realistically be handled via Telephone Crisis Intervention, many individuals will seek out personal face-to-face contact as part of their crisis intervention. For those individuals, the face-to-face component may be experienced as essential in effectively communicating their needs and developing a solution-focused action plan.

  Community-Based Mobile Outreach

  The Mobile Outreach provides a response team that will go to any location in which a county resident is experiencing a crisis. The goal of all mobile crisis outreach is to provide clinically necessary crisis de-escalation, supportive counseling and solution-focused interventions. It is essential that the outreach occurs within the most natural setting for the individual.

  Adult Crisis Residential Program

  Phone: 610-947-1987

  Berks County Crisis Center’s Adult Residential Program provides short-term, voluntary, residential placement to accommodate adults, age 18 years of age and older, who require a higher level of care than outpatient services and a lower level of care than inpatient hospitalization. Treatment and psychosocial supports are available to individuals in acute psychiatric crisis but who are able to remain within the community. The program provides consumer-driven, recovery-oriented treatment in a comfortable, home-like environment. The Crisis Residential Program supports consumers in developing and achieving individualized goals in order to resolve the acute crisis and achieve timely community reintegration.

  For more information please visit: https://chimes.org/about/chimes-family/holcomb-behavioral-health-systems/berks-county-crisis-center/

Programs

COAD

Chester County Crisis Services

Berks County Crisis Services

Contact

West Reading Office
401 Buttonwood Street
West Reading, PA 19611
Phone: 610.379.2007
Toll Free: 888.219.3910

Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems Corporate Headquarters

467 Creamery Way
Exton, Pennsylvania 19341
Phone: 610.363.1488
Toll Free: 1.800.258.8860

Ethics Point

Ethics Reporting Hotline

EthicsPoint is a secure 24/7 reporting system where active employees may report potential violations of the Chimes Code of Ethics and Conduct. It further serves as a management tool to support the Agency’s overall compliance program. Reports are taken seriously and investigated discretely, consistent with applicable laws and regulations.

Please click to be connected to the EthicsPoint Reporting System.

Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems is also accredited by the Joint Commission, which is a reflection of our commitment to providing high quality services within a safe environment.  Should there be any quality or safety concerns related to our services, you may also contact the Joint Commission directly at 800.994.6610 or complete the Joint Commission’s online reporting form at https://www.jointcommission.org/report_a_complaint.aspx