Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse

On October 18th, WSHC kicked off “It Takes A Village: Campaign to End the Opioid Abuse Epidemic”

An effort to prevent and reduce the risk of opioid use disorder through education, prevention, policy change and intervention strategies; and

A comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to the management of chronic pain.

Learn more: It Takes a Village  and Watch Patient Presentation #1,   and  Presentation #2

Behavioral Health

Whittier Street Health Center integrates a wide-range of Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Counseling into our primary care.

The Behavioral Health Department consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, social workers and licensed mental health counselors who offer individual, family, couple, and group counseling, and medication management services for all ages. We treat a wide range of mental health issues, such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and stress related problems. We treat children, adolescents, and adults.

Our Substance Abuse Services clinicians specialize in the treatment of addictions and dual diagnoses individuals. We provide group therapy, Suboxone Groups, and Relapse Prevention.

Whittier Street Health Center Behavioral Health Services and Substance Abuse Services include:

• Intake assessments for children, adolescents, and adults
• Individual therapy for all ages
• Psychiatric assessment/medication management for all ages
• Group therapy for adults
• Intensive Family Team intervention for families in crisis
• Suboxone Groups
• Relapse Prevention Groups
• Trauma Center

For more information, please contact (617) 989-3009 or (617) 989-3224.

Fax Number: (617) 989-3227

Moms Do Care

Whittier Street Health Center (WSHC) has been selected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to implement Moms Do Care, a free program providing services for pregnant and parenting women (PPW) with opioid use disorder (OUD).  Moms Do Care provides an integrated system of medical and behavioral health care that includes recovery, postpartum and early parenting support.  Moms Do Care participants partners with recovery coaches (individuals with lived experience,) care navigators and medical/behavioral health providers trained in working with PPW with OUDs. Our providers working with this population recognize that this type of integrated and comprehensive approach to mental health and/or substance abuse treatment, coupled with peer support, can help overcome numerous barriers and help patients remain engaged in treatment and recovery.

Through Moms Do Care, Whittier provides prenatal and pediatric care, one-on-one and group therapy, and education and support for caring for substance exposed newborns. Peer-to-peer and recovery coach support are offered to each participant. This integrated, multi-disciplinary team addresses the multiple medical and social needs of the program participants, identifies and help patients overcome barriers to treatment, and assists with referrals to services such as housing, mental health, insurance, transportation, resources for food and clothing , and other necessities.

Funding for Moms Do Care is provided by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. 

Arts Therapy

Whittier Street Health Center’s Arts Therapy Department offers individual and group arts therapy to patients and students including Boston Public Schools. We offer art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, and expressive arts therapy, an intermodal approach. Arts therapists are established health care professionals, similar to occupational therapy and physical therapy that use the arts to address a full range of physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and social needs of children. Our Arts Therapists also hold licenses as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). In these therapies, the focus is on nonverbal communication of feelings through the arts, music, and dance. In addition to our clinical programs at Whittier, we also bring these offerings to children and adolescents and adults in schools, domestic violence shelters, and in nursing homes.

The team works closely with school staff and parents to determine which students would benefit most from these services. In addition to addressing behavioral and educational issues, arts therapy is often considered the treatment of choice for many people with communication challenges, neurological disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, Down’s Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and visual and hearing impairments. The relationship between the therapist and the student is primary, and art, music, drama, and dance-movement activities provide a point of contact which is available to all people, regardless of ability or disability. They make use of each student’s natural curiosity and expression while engaging them in developmental tasks. The arts experiences focus on utilizing existing strengths and abilities to help build compensatory skills, and to grow and learn in all areas.

For more information, please contact us at (617) 989-3009 or (617) 989-3224.

Fax Number: (617) 989-3227.