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counseling and psychiatric services for adolescents and young adults
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Jan Hamilton, MS, PMHNP,
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
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Group Programs at Doorways
Now Enrolling!
OCD/Anxiety Disorders IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) for Adolescents
ages 13-17
Adolescent DBT Skills Group
ManMakers
For young men ages 13-17.
For young women ages 13-17.
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Greetings!
We have all been there. We go out to dinner with a group of friends and family and everyone is on their smart phone; if not the whole time, at least for a part of it. You would be hard pressed to find someone who didn't look at their phone at least once.
In today's always-connected society a disturbing trend is surfacing. Though not an official diagnosis in the America Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), excessive smart phone usage is starting to appear as an "addiction" in teens and young adults! (Read more.)
At Doorways we see a lot of young people who experience severe anxiety; and for many of them, excessive smart phone usage actually increases their anxiety!
To help young people overcome their anxiety we have hired several anxiety experts such as the amazing Megan Schwallie (see bio below) and we run Intensive Outpatient Programs specifically for anxiety/OCD.
Contact me for more information about this program or any other ways in which we can help you.
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Meet Megan Schwallie, MSW, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Megan received her Masters in Social Work from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago in 2009 and she works primarily with the OCD/Anxiety Intensive Outpatient Program.
Treating anxiety and OCD is Megan's specialty. She specifically helps young people who are struggling with social anxiety, specific phobias, generalized anxiety, school avoidance, hair pulling, skin picking disorder, tic disorders and Tourette's syndrome.
Megan says, "I have so much respect for people with anxiety disorders. They really have to be brave, because the treatment requires them to be uncomfortable. But when they take that first step, the results can miraculous!"
Megan leads the adolescent OCD/Anxiety IOP's for Doorways and even though this is therapy, she helps make therapy a lot of fun. Megan says "We laugh a lot. That's what would surprise most people. We're trying to face our fears. We try to model having a good sense of humor and laughing even though we are addressing extreme fears."
Megan is originally from Hudson Ohio, but moved to Arizona from Chicago. Her pride and joy is Sully, her Mini Golden Doodle. She calls him her "Little Precious One."
For fun Megan likes to read, hike, and she is currently trying to learn how to play golf. Both her and her husband really love to travel. Something that most people don't know about Megan is that she's run four marathons.
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 Now Hiring: Adolescent & Young Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatrist
We are seeking to hire a Full or Part-Time, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatrist; to work 1-5 days per week M-F, flexible hours.
Read the complete job description here.
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 Doorways Hosting Annual Beanies and Blankets Clothing Drive for Homeless Teens
Did you know that on any given day there are up to 1800 homeless teens living on the streets of Phoenix? It's a shocking and often unknown statistic.
While it might not feel like winter just yet, temperatures are dropping and it gets cold out on the streets at night, especially when you are homeless. In response to the need, Doorways, a faith-based counseling organization in Phoenix that specializes in helping teens and young adults, is holding blanket and beanie drive for homeless youth.
During the months of November and December, Doorways is collecting beanies and blankets in cooperation with the Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development. Items will be collected at the Doorways' office through December 18, 2015, and will then be delivered to teens helped by the Tumbleweed Center. Teenagers deserve every chance to thrive. Such signs of support, while addressing just the tip of the iceberg, send a message of hope and encouragement in what is surely a challenging time for these teens.
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Now Enrolling!
OCD/Anxiety Disorders IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program)
Adolescents ages 13-17
For those adolescents who suffer with the effects of OCD and severe anxiety in their lives, this IOP will be of great benefit towards overcoming their symptoms.
Here's a typical session at our OCD IOP.
The first hour of our OCD groups are group sharing times. Members share and celebrate their successes and challenges with anxiety since the last group and offer each other feedback.
Then the remainder of the group we engage in fun and creative tasks to help adolescents face their fears.
These serve a purpose in challenging the social anxiety and OCD symptoms that keep adolescents from functioning in there world.We might play a game of charades, lip syncing contests or practice doing every day activities that they might avoid. We also go offsite twice monthly and participate in activities that normally would cause us to feel extreme anxiety, but by doing it as a group in a safe setting, we learn how to overcome those feelings. For example, we recently went to a pumpkin patch and participated in a maze to challenge particular fears. We also go to a mall or restaurants and plan social activities such the IOP Prom.
Our IOP programs are run by certified anxiety/OCD experts!
Our IOP groups are contracted with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Behavioral Healthcare.
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Friends You Shouldn't Feel Bad About Dumping
Do you find yourself surrounded by "friends" yet you are still lonely or unhappy? Do you find yourself in trouble or making poor decisions when you hang around some people? "Negative friendships can cause stress, frustration, and even put you in harm's way if their behavior puts you in situations that could jeopardize you and your loved ones," Read more.
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For many people with eating disorders, the challenge of overcoming their disorder is complicated because of other coexisting mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. In fact, a University of Pittsburg Medical Center study conducted in 2004 found that two-thirds of those diagnosed with eating disorders also suffered from some form of anxiety disorder over the course of their lives. Read more.
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Is Your Social Media Account Causing Your Anxiety?
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