Trauma-Focused Mental Health Care
70% of adults in the U.S. experience some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. If you are struggling with the effects of trauma, our world-renowned experts are here to help you. Contact us today to talk about your treatment options.
At McLean, we understand that traumatic events or experiences can be unique to the individual. For some, the experience of trauma results in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related disorders.
We offer tailored, specialized treatment for PTSD, dissociative disorders, and other related disorders. Care targets the difficulties faced at each stage of the trauma recovery process.
The expert staff in our two levels of care are here to help you resume meaningful activities, connect in healthy and supportive relationships, and pursue values-based goals.
For more information about our insurance-based programs, please call 877.964.5565
To make a referral, please fill out the form below
Our partial hospital program (day treatment) provides education, support, and trauma-focused skills to help patients better understand and manage the impact of trauma on day-to-day functioning. The average length of treatment is 10-15 days, but is dependent on the needs of the patient.
Partial hospital programming is ideal for those who need intensive treatment but do not require the around-the-clock support of inpatient care. Our day program is designed for those new to trauma recovery as well as those who have previously moved to other stages of recovery, but currently are struggling due to life circumstances or exacerbation of trauma symptoms.
Our outpatient program offers individual and group therapy. Treatment emphasizes mitigating the intensity of trauma-related emotions, modifying extreme, unhelpful trauma-related thinking, and reducing avoidance behaviors.
Our outpatient option is best suited for those with established coping skills and the ability to maintain safety and stability for the duration of trauma treatment. On average, patients participate in the program for 3-6 months.
Please note: Our programming is currently offered online only.
“I am grateful for the time and opportunity I was given in the program. I feel like I am journeying outside of the darkness now. Life has begun to bud and I feel the sun on my face.”– Hill Center patient
McLean’s Approach to Care
Learn more about McLean’s unique approach to trauma care at the intersection of compassion and innovation.
Treatment Approach
Our specialized mental health care for PTSD, dissociation, and trauma-related disorders employs multiple evidence-based approaches.
Treatment is informed by the stage-based model of trauma recovery, addressing the patient’s past, present, and future at the appropriate step in the process. Establishing and maintaining safety and stability and the effective use of self-regulation skills are essential for all stages of trauma recovery.
Partial hospital patients attend group treatment sessions Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm. In this stage of treatment, patients work toward the goal of better understanding how past trauma affects them in the present, with an emphasis on safety, stability, and skills practice.
Our outpatient program offers once weekly individual and/or group therapy sessions. Treatment focuses on reducing the impact the past has on the present.
Patients explore and process past experiences of trauma to reduce the intensity of intrusive memories, eliminate avoidance behaviors, address difficult emotions (such as fear, guilt, shame, and anger), and give context to traumatic experiences as part of their life story.
Both programs are designed to help patients reconnect with activities, relationships, and other meaningful aspects of life that were affected by trauma. We aim to help people reach a stage of recovery focused on pursuing a future informed by one’s values, priorities, and interests.
The programs also integrate clinical research into patient care, adapting to latest trends and conducting studies involving patients who are willing to participate.
Looking for safe and secure, intensive inpatient care? Learn more about McLean’s Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Inpatient Program
Admission
Our trauma treatment options are ideal for individuals of all genders with PTSD, dissociative disorders, and other trauma-related disorders who seek support and skills to build strength and maintain command of their lives.
For further information, please contact our admissions coordinator:
Phone: 877.964.5565
Referral Forms
Each program conducts an initial assessment to determine if our services are appropriate for the patient. Once the referral form is submitted, we will review the information and a member of our staff will reach out to schedule an assessment.
If you need assistance with the forms or the admission process, please contact the program using the information provided above.
Partial Hospital Referral Form
For treatment at the Hill Center partial hospital program, the referring clinician or the individual seeking care should fill out and submit the program referral form:
Outpatient Referral Form
For outpatient care at the Outpatient Trauma Clinic, the person seeking care should fill out and submit the program referral form:
Cost
Our partial hospital and outpatient programs are covered by most insurance providers. McLean Hospital accepts Medicare, Massachusetts Medicaid, and many private insurance and managed care plans.
More information on insurance providers accepted by McLean Hospital may be found on the Mass General Brigham website. You may also find it beneficial to review McLean’s patient billing and financial assistance information.
Treatment Team
Program Leadership
Stephanie A. Rickey, PhD, Program Director, Hill Center
Dr. Rickey is also a member of the McLean Hospital trauma consultation and LEADER consultation teams. An instructor in psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, she also supervises psychology post-doctoral fellows and psychiatry residents and is a group leader at the Hill Center.
Matthew A. Robinson, PhD, Director, Outpatient Trauma Clinic; Director of Clinical Services, Hill Center
Dr. Robinson provides individual, group, and couples treatment for trauma and dissociative disorders. He is an instructor in psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. As a member of the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program, Dr. Robinson collaborates on cutting-edge research aimed at understanding treatment outcomes, phenomenology, and assessment of trauma and dissociative disorders.
Milissa Kaufman, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Hill Center, Outpatient Trauma Clinic
Dr. Kaufman is extensively trained in the formal assessment and treatment of trauma-spectrum disorders. She is also director of the Dissociative Disorder and Trauma Research Program where she is principal investigator or a co-investigator on NIH-funded studies designed to further our understanding of the neurobiology of PTSD and DID. As an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, she directs the trauma psychiatry course for the MGH/McLean Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Program.
Heidi Browne, MD, Associate Medical Director, Hill Center
Dr. Browne is a board-certified general adult psychiatrist who provides both medication management and psychotherapy. She has expertise in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and trauma-spectrum disorders. Dr. Browne is also a staff psychiatrist at the OCD Institute.
Sherry Winternitz, MD, Clinical Director, Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Programs
Dr. Winternitz provides clinical and administrative oversight for the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Inpatient Program and for the Hill Center. She is also co-investigator on a research project led by Milissa Kaufman, MD, PhD, designed to evaluate the neurobiological basis of traumatic dissociation.
Staff and Associates
Our staff includes a multidisciplinary group of board-certified psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, counselors, and group therapists. This experienced team provides high-quality care tailored to each individual’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the programs located?
The program is located on the Belmont campus, in the Hill Center building. For more information on directions, parking, and local accommodations, please visit our Maps & Directions page.
Please note: All programming is currently offered virtually only.
Who benefits most from these trauma-focused programs?
Our programs focus on treating adults diagnosed with trauma-related disorders, such as dissociative identity disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who need resources to manage their disorders.
Is family involved in treatment?
With permission of the patient, we are encourage family participation in treatment. Talk to your treatment team about how family might be involved in your care.
Is smoking permitted?
Smoking is allowed in designated outdoor areas only. No smoking is allowed inside any of our buildings.
Are cell phones allowed?
Cell phone use is strongly discouraged during treatment and in the waiting room to prevent disruption of the program and others.
Is aftercare planning a part of the program?
The treatment team works closely with the individual as well as with family, significant friends, and outside providers to develop a personalized aftercare plan. Recommendations by staff are made based upon clinical needs, progress made during treatment, and long-term treatment goals.
Can former patients access their medical records?
All requests for medical records should be directed to McLean’s Health Information Management Department.
Are support groups offered?
To complement our programs’ services and encourage individuals’ initiatives in their own treatment course, many self-help groups are hosted by McLean.
Does McLean gather patient feedback?
McLean is dedicated to maintaining high-quality and effective patient care. To ensure that those standards remain at the highest level, we utilize a number of feedback instruments and quality indicators.
Among these tools are the Perceptions of Care survey which monitors patient satisfaction and BASIS-24™, a psychiatric outcomes measurement tool created at McLean and widely used in the U.S. and around the world, which delivers feedback on the patient care experience.
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