TEDDY BUERGER CENTER

The Teddy Buerger Center provides outpatient mental health counseling and chemical dependency treatment. Mental health counseling is provided for individuals, families and couples. Issues commonly addressed include depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, grief, abuse, marital issues, trauma and stress.

The Teddy Buerger Center has two chemical dependency treatment programs: the Intensive Outpatient Program and the Supportive Outpatient Program. Admittance to both of these programs is determined during an initial assessment conducted by a licensed therapist.

The Intensive Outpatient program is a 10-week program that includes group sessions three nights a week and an individual session once a week. Group sessions are held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Supportive Outpatient Program is a 16-week program that includes one group session each week and at least two individual sessions per month. Group sessions are held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Family members are encouraged to participate.

TEDDY BUERGER CENTER STAFF, licensed by the state of Texas

• Dr. Rebecca Castro, Medical Director
• Chris Mata, LCSW, Program Director/Counselor
• Leigh Falk, M.A., LPC, Assistant Program Director/Counselor
• Melissa Cruz, LMSW, Counselor
• Tara Kohlenberg, LCSW, Counselor
• Leland Cox, LMSW, Counselor
• Jennifer Jones, Office Manager

OFFICE HOURS:
M-Th  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
F         8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

To schedule an appointment call (830) 401-7367. Evening appointments are available. Most insurance plans are accepted, and a sliding scale fee is available.

heritage program

The Heritage Program offers psychiatric intervention for senior adults to improve the quality of life for participants and their families. Treatment is designed to meet the unique needs of senior adults in a daytime treatment program. The Heritage Program is an intensive outpatient treatment program coordinated by a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals. These professionals work with the patients and their families to assist them in dealing with changes and stress. Seniors who qualify for the program receive:

• Group, family, and individual therapy
• Training on coping skills and positive living skills
• Grief and loss resolution
• Education on medication management, health & wellness
     training, and leisure planning
• Reminiscence and validation therapy
• Nutritional information
• Stress management
• Assertiveness training
• Lunch and snacks

The Heritage Program's staff recognizes that each individual struggles with unique issues. Accordingly, the staff designs a specific program to meet each patient's needs. The Heritage Program staff consists of Registered Nurses, Psychotherapists and Mental Health Technicians supervised by a Board Certified Psychiatrist.

Seniors that display some of the following behaviors may benefit from the program:

• Loss of interest in normal daily activities
• Sleep disturbance, fatigue
• Significant weight change
• Agitation/anxiety about routine activities
• Withdrawal from friends/family or unusual increase in dependence upon others
• Prolonged sadness, low self-esteem, depression or thoughts of suicide
• Unexplained physical problems: headaches, stomach discomfort, back aches

Anyone can make a referral to the program, including physicians, health care professionals, human service agencies, clergy, and family or friends of the individual needing assistance. The Heritage Staff provides a free clinical evaluation to determine the need for the program. A psychiatrist will determine the diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment prior to admission.

HERITAGE PROGRAM STAFF, licensed by the State of Texas

• Dr. Rebecca Castro, Medical Director
• Chris Mata, LCSW, Program Director/Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Jack M. Clark, LCSW, Assistant Program Director/Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Gloria Pacheco, RN, Registered Nurse
• Elaine Craig, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Tara Kohlenberg, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Melissa Cruz, LMSW, Licensed Master Social Worker
• Dona Appling, MHT, Mental Health Technician
• Eva Galvan, MHT, Mental Health Technician

OFFICE HOURS:
M-Th  8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
F         8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

PROGRAM HOURS:
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. daily

To schedule an evaluation call (830) 401-7428. Medicare and most private insurance plans cover the services provided through the Heritage Program. Free transportation services are available by appointment.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Guadalupe Regional Medical Center has been providing an Employee Assistant Program for local businesses for the past twelve years. The Employee Assistance Program is a benefit provided by employers for employees at no cost to the employee. The program provides confidential mental health counseling to full time employees and their dependents.

GRMC/EAP recognizes that, ultimately, the productivity of any company is directly influenced by the overall health and wellbeing of its employees, and many different problems can impact the wellbeing of employees and their families. The program can be tailored to your company's needs. Services provided include six counseling sessions per problem per year. These services address an array of problems that can negatively influence an employee's performance and morale.

Studies show that approximately 10% of the workforce in any employment setting will experience personal or emotional problems that will adversely impact job performance. These problems exist at every level of the organization. Personal problems such as alcoholism, depression, grief, stress, marital conflict, family problems, and drug abuse can have a detrimental impact on many aspects of job performance. Such problems can lead to excessive absenteeism, tardiness, accidents, the disproportionate use of medical and disability benefits, lower employee morale and reduced productivity.

Guadalupe Regional Medical Center's EAP also publishes a helpful and informative quarterly newsletter, EAP Update, available here.

What is the purpose of the GRMC/EAP?
The EAP has been designed to:

• Help employers recognize possible indicators that an employee may need assistance
• Motivate employees to seek help at the earliest possible stage by utilizing their free EAP Services
• Provide a source of support, training and information to assist employees in managing stress and coping with life issues adaptively
• Refer employees to the most appropriate resources available

Who can use the EAP services? The EAP is available any time an employee or dependent (classified as anyone living within the employee's home) chooses to use the program. The EAP also provides counseling to employees who are referred by their supervisors, in order to address work-related issues.

• 24 hour, 7 days a week crisis line staffed by licensed practitioners:
  (830) 379-1010 or (800) 246-1010
• Individual, marital, family and group counseling - six sessions per problem per year
• Crisis intervention services, including immediate on-site group or individual sessions
• Supervisor/manager training
• Psycho-Educational inservices:
• How to Cope with Holiday Blues
• Workplace Violence
• Signs of Alcohol or Drug Problems
• Coping with the Loss of a Loved One
• Coping with Suicide
• Caring for Caregivers (caring for aging family members)
• Appropriate referrals for financial and legal needs

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Grief
• Interpersonal, familial, marital conflicts
• ADHD, conduct problems, behavioral problems
• Chemical dependency/abuse
• Stress management
• Physical/emotional abuse, neglect
• Parenting
• Caring for an elderly parent
• Domestic violence
• Eating disorders
• Financial, legal difficulties
• Anger management
• Critical incident stress debriefing
• Individual crisis intervention

Are EAP services confidential?
EAP sessions are completely confidential. Employers receive utilization data, including the number of employees using the service and their gender, which does not violate patient confidentiality. Supervisor generated referrals require the employee's consent for release of information. The only exceptions include information pertaining to suicidal or homicidal behavior and child or elder abuse and neglect, which our counselors are obligated by law to report.

How do I schedule a session?
To schedule a session, simply call (830) 379-1010 or (800) 246-1010, and a counselor will assist you in scheduling an appointment. There is no insurance paperwork to complete and no fee charged to the employee.

How do I know if I should call my EAP for help with a problem?
If you are thinking of calling, then call. Putting off or neglecting to address a problem, no matter how small, may only make that problem more difficult to resolve.

Do I only get six sessions per year?
No, the EAP benefit allows employees and dependents six sessions per problem per year. For example, if an employee attends six sessions to address a dependent's depression and later encounters unexpected stress in the workplace, that employee can return to the EAP for six session addressing this second and separate issue.

Are all of the counselors qualified? How qualified?
Yes, each counselor on the EAP network is licensed by the State of Texas and possesses a Master's or Doctoral Degree. A qualified mental health counselor is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the EAP Crisis Line: (830) 379-1010 or (800) 246-1010

What happens if my problems can't be resolved in six sessions?
The EAP director and your counselor will determine what is needed. Typically, long term treatment is transferred to the employee's insurance plan.

What if I am uncomfortable with my counselor or would like a different counselor for other reasons?
Simply call (830) 379-1010 or (800) 246-1010 and request a different counselor. Everyone is unique and preferences and comfort levels differ from person to person. The goal of the EAP is to provide you the help you need, so everything necessary will be done to provide you a therapist you're comfortable with.

Helpful Links

Finances

COLLEGE PLANNING
College Fund Savings Calculator
www.slfcu.org/calculators/college/collegecalc.html

Lock in Tuition Rates for Your Child
www.texastomorrowfunds.org

College Planning Resources and 529 Accounts
www.smartmoney.com/college

Parenting

TRAUMA

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.cfm
www.istss.org/terrorism/children_and_trauma.htm

Safety Preparedness
www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_589_,00.html
www.fema.org/library/prepandprev.shtm

Resilience in a Time of War
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/featuredtopics/feature.php?id=43

CHILDCARE

Find Licensed, Regulated and Inspected Childcare Services
www.txchildcaresearch.org

Texas State Childcare Standards and Regulations
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/
Child_Care_Standards_and_Regulations/

Eldercare

Information on Senior Services
www.eldercare.gov/eldercare/public/home.asp

Federal Website for Seniors
www.seniors.gov

National Alzheimer's Association
www.alz.org

Information about Medicare and Medicaid Certified Nursing Homes
www.medicare.gov/nhcompare/home.asp

Anger Management
www.apa.org/pubinfo/anger.html

Mental Conditions
www.nimh.nih.gov

Workplace Stress
www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=hq01442