• Our Mission
• Historical Background
• Education and Training Programs
• Patient Services
• Self-Help Programs on Site

 PATIENT SERVICES:

1. UCSD Gifford Clinic

The Gifford Clinic, an outpatient mental health service funded by San Diego County Mental Health Services, provides a full range of outpatient psychiatric and psychosocial rehabilitative services including care coordination, individual and group psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, couple and family therapy and psychoeducation for the seriously mentally ill living in the Central Region. Each patient is assigned a care coordinator during the assessment phase. The care coordinator is responsible for developing client treatment plans, coordinating services within the outpatient service and with other community agencies, and assistance in procurement of financial benefits, housing and vocational services. Patients are involved in pschoeducational programs and group interventions as needed. Vocational services are available on site. 

One of the unique features of the Gifford Clinic is the high quality of assessment our patients are provided. New patients are first evaluated by a mental health professional-in-training and then by a psychiatric resident. Following the assessment the patient is presented to a multidisciplinary Evaluation Team co-led by two faculty members. Patients with particularly challenging issues are invited to Team for an additional interview by the faculty team leaders. The patients treatment and recovery plan is a collaborative process among client, family members when available and team members. Another unique feature of the program is the high quality of psychopharmacological services. Our psychiatric physicians are trained in the latest pharmacological interventions and receive regular supervision and consultation from faculty of the Department of Psychiatry who are conducting cutting edge research on schizophrenia, bipolar disorders depressive and anxiety disorders. 

2. UCSD Dual Disorders Program; Integrated Treatment and Recovery

The UCSD Dual Disorders Program (DDP) Integrated Treatment and Recovery provides intensive integrated services for individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. Services are provided by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers marriage and family therapists, nurses and other counseling staff who are cross-trained and able to address both problems and their interaction. These outpatient services include care coordination, recovery counseling, relapse prevention, individual and group therapy, psychoeducation, advocacy and community linkages within the psychosocial rehabilitation model. The integration of pharmacotherapy is an essential component of this approach. Medication evaluations and ongoing medication management is provided through the regular outpatient mental health program of the UCSD Gifford Mental Health Clinic and is available to the client on an on-going basis even after completing the DDP program.

Patients participate in a comprehensive assessment and collaborate in designing an individualized treatment plan. Family and significant others are included as an integral part of the recovery process. The plan follows a two-year stage-wise approach to recovery and rehabilitation based on individual capacities and needs followed by one year of aftercare. The initial phase engages the patient in a constructive working alliance stabilizes a safe and stable home and assures that basic needs are met. This phase also addresses beginning stabilization of psychiatric symptoms while working toward or maintaining sobriety. The middle phase works toward maintaining stabilization of symptoms and sobriety, strengthening bonds to the Team and fellow clients and developing emotional and behavioral regulation skills. The final phase focuses on developing or strengthening vocational goals and community connections while continuing to build on earlier gains.

This program also provides assessment and integrated treatment and recovery services for those referred via the Proposition 36 (Route 36) initiative that have been charged with a drug related offense. Staff also provides assessment and consultation services on site at the San Diego County Probation Department and make treatment recommendations for those with co-occurring mental disorders. 

3. UCSD Psychiatric Associates

UCSD Psychiatric Associates, established in 1983, is a private practice based mental health service for residents of San Diego County. Services include psychological assessment, psychiatric evaluation, crisis intervention, individual and group psychotherapy, couples and family therapy and pharmacotherapy. 

Services are provided by licensed psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and marriage and family therapists who are also clinical faculty members within the Department of Psychiatry and on staff at the Outpatient Service. Staff is credentialed through the UCSD Medical Group and serves on the provider panels of Champus, Tricare, MHN, PBHI, UBH, Medicare and a variety of PPO plans. 

4. St. Vincent de Paul Case Management and Psychiatric Services

The UCSD Psychiatric Case Management program located at St. Vincent de Paul Village provides services to people residing at the Paul Mirable Center. The Center houses homeless men and women for short term stays until they are able to transition to long term housing. Psychiatric and Case Management services are also available to homeless individuals living on the street or in temporary shelters. Services include psychiatric evaluation, care coordination, advocacy, crisis intervention, and pharmacological evaluation and treatment. Symptom reduction and stabilization enable clients to access services and transition to more permanent housing. Additionally, clients in the program have the opportunity to be evaluated during the UCSD Outpatient Psychiatric Services treatment team meetings to assist in determining diagnosis and in developing a treatment plan. 

5. UCSD CalWORKs Educational Program

The CalWORKs Educational Program, funded through the San Diego County Mental Health Services, provides training on the identification and treatment of mental disorders, substance abuse and domestic violence for CalWORKs employment case managers and eligibility technicians. It also provides advanced clinical training updates for behavioral health and alcohol and substance abuse counselors serving CalWORKs' recipients. This educational program is designed to help those working in the CalWORKs program identify barriers to successful employment and make effective treatment referrals. Trainings are provided throughout the County of San Diego. The program also provides web-based training and has a complete set of video training programs. The FACES of CalWORKs a 20 minute video description of the CalWORKs program is available for use by community service programs for staff training and use by potential CalWORKs recipients.