Holliswood Hospital Programs

Our Programs Include:

Click on each program to view its full description:

The Children’s Program is a 15-bed unit providing intensive inpatient psychiatric care for children ages 4-11. Some common disorders treated by this program include, but are not limited to:

- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Anxiety Disorders
- Autism/ Aspergers Disorder – PDD
- Adjustment Disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Conduct Disorder/ Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Somatoform Disorders
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Services include structured activities for patients utilizing a variety of proven therapeutic approaches tailored to meet the unique needs of younger patients:

- Art, drama, music, pet and play therapies
- Educational interventions
- Individual, group and family sessions
- Problem solving therapy
- Recreational therapy

For those patients who have been exposed to a traumatic event(s), they will be provided with the opportunity to participate in our specialized The Recovery from Traumatic Stress (RTS) Program.  The RTS Program is designed for patients who have experienced difficulties related to exposure to traumatic events. 

Supportive educational opportunities are available for family members:

Tuesdays 8:30-9:15pm - Parenting Skills Workshop
Thursdays 8:30-9:15pm - Multi-family Support Group

The patients participate in a school program for several hours a day. The School program is a New York City Department of Education School on site. Additionally, professionally run activities groups address specific concerns as identified in individualized treatment plans.

For more information about our Children’s Program, please call Tiffany Kiss, L.M.S.W., Program Director at (718) 776-8181 ext. 268.

The Adolescent Program offers intensive clinical services for youngsters between the ages of twelve and seventeen who require rapid stabilization for acute psychiatric disturbance.  The Program provides a secure 24 hour therapeutic mileau which emphasizes diagnostic evaluation as well as group, family, and individual treatment.  The hospital treats adolescents with the following diagnoses:  Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Affective Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and Psychotic Disorders.  We will also treat teens with a co-existing substance abuse and/or conduct disorder.  Additionally, adolescents may be eligible to participate in The Recovery from Traumatic Stress Program taking place at Holliswood.

Medication management is an instrumental part of the treatment and is prescribed only with parental consent.  Group therapy is the primary modality of treatment and there are substance groups available for dually diagnosed adolescents. In addition there is a New York City Department of Education school on site to provide educational services in order to assist adolescents in maintaining their academic standing.

The Adolescent Unit is staffed by board certified psychiatrists, licensed social workers, psychologists, and creative arts therapists.  In addition, 24 hour nursing care is provided with a registered nurse as the lead person during each shift.  All patients receive an individualized treatment plan which includes a discharge goal and a discharge plan.  The Social Worker assigned to the case works collaboratively with the family and community provider(s) to affect an appropriate discharge as quickly as possible.  Planning conferences are routinely conducted with families and social service agencies in order to expedite the planning and discharge process.

For more information about our Adolescent Program, please call our Program Director, Dr. Reed Welson, Ph.D. at (718) 776-8181 ext. 359.

The Adult Inpatient Program at The Holliswood Hospital is designed to provide caring and comprehensive inpatient care to adults ages 18 and older who are struggling with an acute phase of mental illness.

Commonly treated mental health issues include:

- Depression               
- Bipolar Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorders and Phobias
- Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and related conditions

The Adult Inpatient Program takes a strengths-based and holistic approach to assist individuals in crisis move toward psychiatric stability and recovery.

Thorough assessments, evidence-based treatments, and comprehensive aftercare planning are hallmarks of our service.  Each is provided by a highly trained and caring staff dedicated to providing quality and supportive care.  Education about mental health, and the facilitation of family/social support are also key components of our program

Each day, persons in our care will meet with their attending physician and their social worker as they take part in individual therapy sessions and also discuss discharge planning needs.  All individuals have the opportunity to attend educational and therapeutic groups on a wide range of subjects specifically designed to promote insight, healthy coping strategies, and growth.  In addition, expressive arts and movement therapies are available.

Our units, and each room, are designed to give our patients privacy and comfort during their stay.  Adults being treated are able to leave our units and attend an off-unit Recreational Program where they can engage is structured leisure and social activities.

Our Adult Inpatient Program has three specialized treatment programs available as part of our services.  Please follow the links below to learn more:

1.   Dual-Recovery Program for adults struggling with mental health issues and a co-occurring substance abuse problem.

2.  Geriatric Psychiatry Program for individuals ages 55 and over who require a comprehensive inpatient treatment alternative.

3.   The Recovery from Traumatic Stress Program for all individuals who have experienced difficulties related to exposure to traumatic events.  This includes persons with a history of childhood trauma, as well as those who experience a traumatic event as an adult (such as a car accident, natural disaster, or wartime experience).  As part of the Recovery from Traumatic Stress Program, we have developed a specialized Military Treatment Program.

Our Geriatric Psychiatry Program is designed to provide comprehensive inpatient treatment for individuals 65 years of age and over who are struggling with an acute phase of mental illness.  We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of persons with depression, behavioral and cognitive disorders related to dementia, anxiety disorders, and other more severe psychiatric conditions.

Hallmarks of this specialized program include:

1.  A highly trained and supportive staff who are sensitive and able to meet the multiple needs that older adults may have.

2.  A relaxing therapeutic environment that honors each individual’s right to privacy and respect.

3.  An interdisciplinary team that includes a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist, a medical internist, social workers, an occupational therapist, and support staff with specialized training in geriatric psychiatry.

4.  Our Unit Chief, a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist, is an expert in diagnosing and treating the various medical and psychiatric difficulties that are associated with aging.  She brings to bear the latest research and treatment recommendations for managing older adults on both psychiatric and medical medications.  She collaborates closely with our medical doctor to ensure that each patient’s full clinical picture is addressed during his or her treatment with us.

5.  All-encompassing treatment and discharge planning that seeks to maximize a safe and comfortable return of clients to their home environments and prior levels of functioning.  This effort is led by social workers that have extensive experience negotiating the various housing, benefits, and care systems that older adults and their families need to deal with.

6.  We recognize that many older adults are also dealing with issues related to substance abuse and/or misuse.  Individuals admitted to our Geriatric Psychiatric Program are also able to take part in our Dual Recovery Program as well.

For more information about our program, please call 718-776-8181 ext. 335 to speak with our Program Director, Dr. Michael DeFalco, Psy.D.

Our Dual Recovery Program at The Holliswood Hospital is an all-inclusive and comprehensive inpatient treatment program for persons over the age of 18 who are struggling with both mental health issues and a substance use problem.

In tandem with substance abuse problems, commonly treated mental health issues include:

- Depression 
- Bipolar Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorders and Phobias
- Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and related conditions

Our clinical staff are specialty-trained, and use evidenced-based treatments to address co-occurring issues.  Family education, creative arts and movement therapies, and the availability of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and other 12-step programs are also important aspects of our program. We are able to detoxify individuals admitted to our service as part of their overall plan of care.  Therapeutic sessions (including individual, group, and family therapy) address relevant topics such as:

- Relapse Prevention
- Self-Empowerment
- Motivation to Change
- Coping with Addiction
- Mindfulness
- Leisure Planning

The Dual Recovery Program embraces a strengths-based and collaborative approach and seeks to empower persons to move themselves toward sobriety and good mental health.  Its goal is to assist individuals move past an acute psychiatric crisis as well as learn how substance abuse issues influence and impact their overall health and well-being.

If you have any questions about our Dual Recovery Program, please call the Program Director, Michael DeFalco, Psy.D. at (718) 776-8181 x 335.

The Adult Partial Hospitalization Program provides an intensive psychiatric treatment environment for individuals 18 years of age and older who are experiencing various psychiatric problems.

The program is more structured than traditional outpatient services and is an alternative for individuals who do not require hospitalization. It combines the attention and supervision of a hospital setting with the accessibility and cost-effectiveness of a community outpatient program, allowing patients to receive treatment while living at home or in a community setting.

Through comprehensive, individualized treatment, the program seeks to stabilize symptoms and support individuals to maximize their health and functioning in the community.

The program runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Local transportation is available upon request.

The Holliswood Hospital is certified by the New York State Office of Mental Health, and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Please call our Program Director, Michael DeFalco, Psy.D. at 718-776-8181, ext. 335 for more information.

The Recovery From Traumatic Stress Program (RTS Program) at The Holliswood Hospital is designed to provide holistic treatment for persons who have experienced trauma, including persons with a history of childhood trauma as well as those who experience a traumatic event as an adult (such as a car accident, natural disaster, or wartime experience).  The RTS Program offers trauma-informed treatment planning and evidence-based treatments for individuals admitted to our Children’s, Adolescent, Adult, and Military Wellness Programs.

As persons who have experienced trauma are identified upon admission, treatments for trauma-related issues are formalized into each person’s comprehensive treatment plan.  Clinicians then provide individualized care that addresses issues related to traumatic stress; such as managing difficult or overwhelming emotions or thoughts, improving one’s ability to relate well to oneself and others, enhancing one’s social networks, and working through one’s recollections or re-experiencing of traumatic events.

Our treatment philosophy stems from the latest neurological and clinical research on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the effects of exposure to traumatic events.  In the RTS Program we view individuals holistically, without artificial distinctions between what belongs to “the mind” and what belongs to “the body”.  Our treatments address the mind, the body, and the spirit in unison as we seek to help individuals overcome and therapeutically grow from their experiences.  We also look to help individuals begin to understand the underlying patterns and origins of the difficulties they are currently facing.

Therapies available within the RTS Program include:

-  Body-oriented movement therapies
-  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
-  Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children and   adolescents
-  Narrative Therapy
-  Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for adults
-  Trauma-focused Yoga
-  Meditation/Mindfulness
-  Access to Spiritual/Pastoral Counseling
-  Use of medications if indicated

Education for both individuals and their families is a hallmark of the RTS Program; and assistance for families (including marital/family therapy and family support groups) is available on-site.  Interventions occur both on and off the units, and are developmentally-appropriate based on the age of the person receiving treatment.

The RTS Program recognizes that many persons after experiencing traumatic events turn to using substances or other risky behaviors as a method of coping with the myriad of difficult emotions, thoughts, and experiences that result.  Persons within our RTS Program are also able to access The Holliswood Hospital’s Dual Recovery Program for specialized treatment of these co-occurring problems.

For more information about our RTS Program, please call our Program Director, Dr. Michael DeFalco, Psy.D. at (718) 776-8181 x335 or our Clinical Coordinator, Ms. Tara Bulin, LMSW at (718) 776-8181 x317.