Denver Mental Health: A New Treatment Option

One in five Colorado adults are affected by mental health concerns yet more than half do not seek mental health treatment.^[1] With Colorado having one of the highest suicide rates in the country,^[2] Pathlight Behavioral Health Centers (Pathlight) has opened its doors to address this growing mental health crisis. 
 
Mental health treatment in Denver
 
New to Denver, Pathlight has been providing evidence-based mental health treatment for over 15 years — with 11 treatment centers currently treating patients in 5 states. Pathlight, Denver brings a new treatment option to Colorado for adults living with a wide array of mental health issues:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Co-occurring substance use, and more

Well established in the behavioral treatment space, Pathlight provides unmatched support for patients who need higher levels of care. Offering Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient program (IOP) services for patients 16 years and older, we can also provide furnished apartments for PHP patients who are coming to treatment from out of town. These comfortable housing options offer a low-stress environment where patients can fully focus on themselves and their recovery.
 
In early 2020, Pathlight, Denver will expand our program offerings to include treatment for youth ages 12-17. In 2020, we will also be opening a residential treatment program providing 24-hour care for children and teens.
 
Evidence-based mental health treatment
 
Programming at Pathlight includes the most effective, evidence-based psychotherapy modalities and state of the science pharmacologic care that leads to optimal outcomes, allowing patients to return home with new skills and a renewed sense of resilience. 
 
Our primary therapies include:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Radically Open-Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• A DBT-informed and exposure-based trauma approach 

Tracking patient outcomes, we see high levels of satisfaction for those who complete treatment at Pathlight. 

• 84% of PHP and 89% of IOP Patients say they were satisfied with their treatment
• 86% of PHP and 90% of IOP Patients say they would refer family or friends 

Additionally, our patients report statistically and clinically significant reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, dysfunctional attitudes, OCD, and trauma, with most of the symptom reduction occurring in the first 11 days of treatment. 
 
Conversely, we see statistically and clinically significant increases in feelings of accomplishment, positive emotions, relationship, quality, and meaning.

[Source: Pathlight Behavioral Health Centers Patient Outcome Data 2015-2016, Chicago, IL]
 
Support for families in Denver
 
When a family member is struggling with a serious mental health illness, family involvement is key. At Pathlight, we incorporate families into each patient’s treatment plan — educating families, teaching them new skills, and empowering them to support their loved ones in treatment and in recovery. 
 
Our robust family programming includes:

• Family therapy
• Family support groups (both in-person and online)
• Family education groups and webinars
• Monthly family education days (available during and after treatment)

When patients transition from our care, we offer comprehensive discharge planning including ongoing outreach, well checks, and alumni events/programming.
 
Meet Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, Medical Director of Pathlight
 

Elizabeth Wassenaar, MS, MD, CEDS comes to Pathlight following her role as Medical Director at Eating Recovery Center, Denver. Prior to joining ERC, Dr. Wassenaar served as a staff psychiatrist and medical director at the Lindner Center of Hope with emphasis on Child and Adolescent outpatient medication management and therapy. She is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Obesity Medicine. Dr. Wassenaar has completed advanced training in:

• Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program, Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute
• Family Based Therapy (FBT) Training, University of California San Diego Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Center
• Motivational Interviewing for Obesity in the Primary Care Setting, DuPont/Nemours Children’s Hospital System

“Pathlight has an unmatched capability to treat complex patients with multiple diagnoses, including co-occurring conditions, as well as those with treatment-resistant depression and patients who don’t fit neatly into a diagnostic category. Each patient’s expert care team includes a therapist, who will facilitate individual and family therapy, and a psychiatrist. They will work collaboratively to develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient.”

We currently are in network with the following insurance companies as of 12/02/19.

• Anthem
• Beacon
• Bright Health
• ComPsych
• Humana
• Optum