Healing Through Connections: A Gracepoint Client’s Story

Caring for your mental health is a lifelong journey.

Anna has been a client of Christian Health’s LiveWell Counseling since 2009 to address her anxiety and depression. Even though she has had an overwhelmingly positive experience with the counseling center’s doctors, therapists, and compassionate environment, she experienced a severe recurrence of her symptoms after she was hospitalized for a virus and had to briefly stop her medications.

However, she believes her recurrence was also a long time coming because of burnout at home – a very common trigger for those with mental health symptoms.

“I was doing too much,” she said. “I was getting up early, working a full-time job, taking care of my animals, and making dinner – then by the time I turned around, it was time to go to bed.”

When Anna was released from a nearby hospital, she was referred to Gracepoint – an intensive outpatient program that uses the stability of routine and the therapeutics of group therapy to help those coping with severe mental health symptoms.

What Is Gracepoint?

Gracepoint Partial-Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program is a voluntary program for adults over age 18 in Bergen County, NJ, that provides structured outpatient mental health services as an alternative to inpatient treatment. Clients attend the program for six hours each day, five days a week.

The program is most beneficial for patients who are not in major crisis but are suffering from mental health symptoms that are negatively affecting their daily life. For each client at Gracepoint, a personalized treatment and recovery plan is developed based on individual needs and goals. The treatment plan includes a structured schedule of daily group therapy sessions and other therapeutic activities to support recovery, as well as medication management and discharge planning.

“You get better because of the group dynamic,” said Bart Mongiello, LCSW, Director of Outpatient Mental Health Services. “Clients are able to help one another at the same time as they help themselves.”

Anna’s Gracepoint Journey

When Anna began her treatment at Gracepoint, she was initially hesitant to share with her group. Like many people in mental health treatment, she felt isolated in her experience.

“When you’re depressed, you feel like people don’t understand,” she said. “They try, but if they’re not going through it, it’s really difficult.”

However, Anna’s hard work and perseverance helped her understand the healing nature of group therapy – gathering with people who are, in fact, going through similar things as you, people who can relate and offer support and an empathetic perspective, can be truly validating and healing.

“At first, I didn’t participate in group sessions, but now I’m always raising my hand to share,” she said. “I’m more open and honest. I set my goals and come every day.”

The clinicians at Gracepoint lead therapy sessions where clients can have serious discourse about a variety of topics related to their mental health, educational sessions on medication management and wellness, and expressive therapy sessions, which use art and music to improve mental health.

“I love the group feeling,” said Anna. “Gracepoint helps because it allows you to open up to people who are going through the same thing you are. The counselors understand and help you take the steps you need to get better.”

“Mental health challenges can feel very lonely, and group therapy is about helping patients understand that they’re not alone,” said Katherine Rella, Clinician at Gracepoint. “It validates their emotions and helps them open up and learn from each other, which enhances their ability to cope.”

One of the most important aspects of the program is the secure, nonjudgmental setting it provides, which helps clients feel safe and encourages them to openly discuss their mental health struggles with one another.

“The first thing I felt here was safety,” said Anna. “That was a big thing – feeling comfortable enough to share so that I was able to realize I’m not alone in how I feel.”

Gracepoint therapists also help clients learn to use effective coping methods to deal with their emotions, consider how they react to them, improve their symptoms, and reduce the negative effects their mental health struggles can have on their life.

“I had a lot of anger,” said Anna. “It wasn’t my husband’s fault, but I was taking things out on him. The program is helping me to better deal with these things and find inner peace. I still worry – it’s something I’ll have to work on for the rest of my life, but I’ve learned how to cope with what is out of my control. I practice staying in the moment and focusing on my spirituality. I feel so much happier.”

Another helpful coping method Anna has learned at Gracepoint is the ability to focus – to shut out her worries and anxiety and enjoy what she loves. She’s preparing to go back to work, going outside and walking every day, and indulging in her favorite hobbies, such as reading, gardening, cooking, and baking.

“Being at Gracepoint has been a blessing,” she said. “The therapists understand, and they’re so knowledgeable about everything – I’m learning things thatI never knew. They help you effectively navigate everyday life and remind you to think of yourself first. I didn’t do that before.”

As Anna reaches the end of her treatment at Gracepoint, she looks back on the experience with glowing appreciation and enthusiastically recommends the program to anyone looking for a supportive environment to heal.

“I believe God had a plan,” she said. “When you’re down in that depression, you don’t feel like there’s a plan at all. But Gracepoint has made me so much better. Coming here was the best thing I could have done, and I’m going to miss everyone here so much after I leave. I thank God for this.”

Is Gracepoint Right for You?

If you believe that you or someone you love could benefit from a partial-hospitalization or intensive outpatient program in Bergen County, we can help. For more information about Gracepoint, please call our Admissions Office at (201) 848-4435 or visit ChristianHealthNJ.info/Gracepoint.