Success “Hers to Own” in Nashotah Program

The Nashotah program is led by Erik Ulland, MD, a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Inpatient Services.I don’t want you to save me. I want you to stand by my side while I save myself.
This is the overriding philosophy at the Nashotah program, a new residential program at Rogers Memorial Hospital designed for girls, ages 12 to 17 years old. It specializes in treating patients with depression, anxiety, mood disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as girls who exhibit poor self-regulation skills, including self-harm.
Named after a Native American word meaning “twin,” the Nashotah program is rooted in a new therapeutic approach which integrates two seemingly opposite strategies: acceptance and change. This approach is called Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Each week, the girls participate in 30 hours of training centered on learning acceptance-oriented skills (mindfulness and distress) and change-oriented skills (emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness).
The Nashotah program offers girls a unique opportunity to encourage change and recovery early in their lives. We walk ‘alongside’ each resident to help her learn the skills that work for her. The success is then ‘hers to own,’ and she knows how to keep it going after discharge. – Lisa Herpolsheimer
Lisa Herpolsheimer, LCSW, DBTC, is the Clinical Manager of the new Nashotah program. Located at the Oconomowoc campus, this 12-bed residential program is located in a newly remodeled section of the hospital and features integrated nursing stations to maximize resident/staff collaboration, central gathering space, and an expansive day room that includes two cozy “reading nooks.”
All staff in the Nashotah program have gone through extensive training in DBT by the renowned Linehan Institute. As a result, they have created an environment in which all thoughts are validated, allowing the girls to become open to exploring change and using their newfound skills to manage intense emotions. The end result is an overall increase in quality of life, a higher level of interpersonal relationships, and a reduction in recurrent hospital visits.
2014 Impact Report
Stigma Reduction & Advocacy (Rogers InHealth)
Initiated stigma reduction efforts within WISE (Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination), a state-wide coalition of 80+ organizations/individuals.
- Supported children’s mental health in schools by creating web-based resources (rogersinhealth.org) and training in schools and for the Department of Public Instruction statewide.
- Supplied consultation and training for community partnership projects such as Mental Health in the Workplace, as well as faith organizations and neighborhood networks in Milwaukee.
Patient Grants
- Expanded programs to include: outpatient OCD, half-day treatment in Tampa Bay, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) program in West Allis and new residential treatment centers in Oconomowoc: FOCUS and Nashotah.
- Funded more than 500 days of free treatment across all locations and programs.
Capital Projects
- Launched a campaign to help fund a new Horticultural Therapy program at Rogers.
Spiritual Care
- Increased patient contacts by 10%.
- Added group sessions to Child and Adolescent Eating Disorder (CAED) program, FOCUS program for young adults and Rogers Memorial Hospital -West Allis at Lincoln Center.
- Extended funding for an additional part-time Chaplain on staff.
MyRogers: Community Sponsored Events
- Saw an increase in special fundraising events organized by former patients/families and community members for patients at Rogers (swing-a-thon, golf outing, etc).
- Hosted the first “Give for a Better Day” Holiday Gift Drive as a means to give joy to patients over the holidays.
Angel Fund
- Honored all 92 requests for support – 31% of requests were for gas cards and other transportation for patients and family members to attend therapy, followed by overnight accommodations and clothing.
Thank You For Giving Better Days to Patients at Rogers
Thank you to those who donated, to those who attended and to those who gave their support.
We make every effort to accurately recognize our donors. If we have inadvertently missed your name or made a spelling error, please email Stacey Basile at sbasile@rogershospital.org or call the Foundation Office at 262-646-1646.
Patients Report Residential Treatment Effective at Rogers
Rogers Memorial Hospital studies the effectiveness of our residential treatment programs. All patients are asked to complete a series of questionnaires at admission and discharge, with follow-up calls made periodically after discharge. The findings are used by our treatment teams to examine the effectiveness of our clinical programs and to make improvements. They are also presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed medical literature.
Overall, our outcome data consistently shows that our residential treatment centers offer effective treatment. When contacted between 6–12 months after they leave the program, past patients report that they’ve been able to maintain the gains they made during treatment.
2015 Upcoming Events
Celebrate the Light Gala
Friday, November 7, 2014
The Pritzlaff Building, Milwaukee
The Gala is too close to this newsletter’s print time to give a report. Watch for more information about this event in the next newsletter.
Rogers Golf Classic
Monday, July 13, 2015
The Legend at Brandybrook, Wales
It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Rogers Golf Classic, and we’ve got some ultra cool activities in the works! Next year’s event promises to be the best yet. Watch for more information coming soon!
11th Annual Women’s Gathering
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
The Wisconsin Club, Milwaukee