Center for Behavioral Health and Learning

Center for Behavioral Health and Learning

[MUSIC PLAYING] MOLLIE FORRESTER: Hi, I’m Mollie
Forrester, Director of Patient and Family Experience
in the UW Medicine Department of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Sciences. Having a loved one with a
serious mental health condition can be really hard at times,
so we made this short video to help family
members and caregivers like you understand what to
expect when your loved one is in our care. The Center for Behavioral
Health and Learning is located on the UW Medical
Center Northwest campus, just north of Downtown Seattle
in a wooded and serene setting. The center provides
mental health care for adults who may benefit
from a longer-term involuntary hospitalization, includes
a geriatric psychiatry unit specializing in care
for older adults, and a neuromodulation clinic to
help people with more difficult to treat mental
health conditions. The building
features artwork that reflects the beauty of
the Pacific Northwest and has lots of large windows
and bright open spaces to support health
and well-being. The center includes
private and shared patient rooms, all with large windows to
allow in lots of natural light. Some rooms even have a
wall of blackboard paint that can be used for
artistic expression or to exchange messages
with the treatment team. And if your loved one
needs medical care during their time with us, we
have specialized medical units in the same building so we
can provide all the care they need in one place. Every aspect of the
center was designed to promote healing
and prioritize safety, including centrally located
staff workspaces and open floor plans so staff are available
to help at a moment’s notice. INTERVIEWER: Can you tell me
what got you feeling this way? MOLLIE FORRESTER:
During their stay, your loved one will be cared
for by a team of healthcare professionals, including
psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers,
therapists, and many others. A typical day may include time
in individual therapy, education and recovery groups, or working
on hospital discharge plans. While with us, they will have
access to several enclosed outdoor spaces, including a
therapeutic garden terrace that offers fresh air, views of the
campus, and space for exercise. They may also spend time
in large common rooms where they can relax,
eat meals, and socialize. And when you visit,
there are spaces where you can talk with your
loved one’s treatment team or take a moment for
yourself in our reflection room, a quiet space
for peace and calm. And while our hospital team
is caring for your loved one, we invite you to explore the
family and caregiver training and support program, which
provides mental health education, resources, and
information just for you. We recognize the important role
you play in your loved one’s life and hope our
program is helpful to you and your loved one on
your path to healing.

Mollie Forrester, MSW, the Director of Patient and Family Experience with the UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, talks about what family members can expect when a loved one is receiving care from UW Medicine’s Center for Behavioral Health and Learning.