Planned Hospitalization At Sheppard Pratt

[Cannottakethis]

So I heard from my T last night that Sheppard Pratt called her with some Qs. She answered them as best she could and gave her the phone number for my T at my outpatient center. Something about the program being more about keeping me safe and teaching safety where we (were more under the impression that it would be processing, like I did in River Oaks in New Orleans. So of course I took this very badly and am now thinking I'm not going to get in. I'll go back to River Oaks if I have to but I really want Sheppard Pratt. I'm having such anxiety and negativity about this.
My outpatient T is sending them a ton of stuff. I hope it works.

 

[The Albatross]

Hope it works out for you too Shells.

 

[EveHarrington]

On the other hand, if the program isn't a good fit for you, then it's best to not waste your time there and find something that better suits your needs. I'm confused as to why you really want this program if it isn't what you need right now?

I've been to different programs and they served different purposes. I couldn't see going to a place if it didn't meet my needs at the time.

 

[Cannottakethis]

You are right Eve. I have it in my head that it's, if not the best, one of the best places to go, so of course I want to go there. But maybe it's not the right place. I don't know if it is because nobody from the place will speak to me. Only to my clinicians. Based on the website it sounds like I would benefit from it but I'd love to ask some questions. If it's not, I'd like to know that too so i can start a contingency plan.

 

[EveHarrington]

Nobody will speak to you?

That's kind of crazy!

I've been to programs where they spend lots of time answering all my questions, even giving me an in depth meet session and tour! I mean it was an expensive program and they knew it.

Is there someone there you can call to have your questions answered? A public contact? I hope there would be!

I kind of stinks that there's no universal program that does it all, at least not in my experience. :hug:

 

[Cannottakethis]

It's so strange. When you call admissions, they only want to deal with your clinicians. They send out a packet to be filled out by them. The only part I filled out was insurance info and when I called with a question about that, the first thing I was told was "have your clinician call" till I explained it was my bit of the paperwork. Then she talked to me. The voicemail says, "if this is a prospective patient, please have your clinician call back"

I probably called 10 places and this was the only one like that. It is listed as the #7 psychiatric hospital in the country and the Trauma Disorder program is supposed to be top notch. If I didn't think I needed help so badly I'd just keep going to the subpar outpatient program I'm in and Dbt group, but I'm so symptomatic I really need the specialized treatment. I'm having flashbacks daily, sometimes while driving. I can't live like this much longer.

The place I went to in New Orleans was also very good, but I was hoping to stay in driving distance so it wouldn't be so far for my husband to come visit. It's only a 3 hour drive vs a 3 hour plane ride. But if I don't get in here I'll go back to NO. I got a lot out of it the last time and I know I'll feel safe there.

 

[EveHarrington]

Maybe Pratt is a good fit then?

I mean if you're still at the stage of getting symptoms under control.

I went to one program that helped me with symptom management. And then another that helped me with processing. I couldn't process until I was able to handle my symptoms.

But I'm not sure about this program. Maybe it's like this because you're dealing with admin? I mean one program I went to was small. Admin wasn't a separate department or anything. It can be confusing!

Are there any other contact numbers online?

 

[Cannottakethis]

I'm definitely still trying to get things under control. I thought they were under control but had some triggers that I guess caused some setbacks and additional trauma memories.

I'm attaching the admissions process directly from their website so you can see how they say things. Every other place I've dealt with has a "call now for a confidential consultation" section except for this place. I've not read one bad review about their treatment though, and that says a lot.

 

[EveHarrington]

Will they answer questions through your therapist? I mean ideally you could call during session but my guess is this is a "leave a message and we'll call you back" kind of place.

It sounds incredibly frustrating!

 

[Cannottakethis]

I'm not seeing my regular therapist while going to outpatient program. I only get 1 session per week with this chick so I don't think we'd have time to call. Someone on here gave me the name of the Charge nurse on the unit but I don't want to call her till I've been accepted. Hopefully this week. Trying to stay positive.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I just took 2 hours to research Sheppard Pratt. Beautiful but looks expensive.

I can't find anywhere of them advising why they only speak to clinicians, though they have a very large FAQ area that answers almost any question.

I'd think it has to do with your clinician(s) knowing what specialized care you'd need and they spend less speaking with the clinician(s) then yourself. Also, if a person is in a large need of mental health (I saw where famous mentally ill people have gone there), that they may not served well by talking to the patient and visa versa.

I think of it the same as my mental health records will never be disclosed to me and only sent to another therapist due to the sensitive nature in them. So if they said something that you took wrong and you commited suicide over it, they would legally be liable. So I'm thinking it has to do more with that sort of thing.

Either way, a pain in the ass nonetheless. Check out their FAQ page and I would see if you can get the specific information by the way of your therapist. Write down a specific list of questions that aren't answered on the FAQ page and see if your therapist can get that information for you or knows about it.

 

[Cannottakethis]

@lostforgottensoul
Thank you for taking all that time to go through the website!
If/when I get there, I will definitely ask why they do it this way.
I understand clinicians knowing what I need, but I want to advocate for myself too.
I've looked at the FAQs and will do so again.
My biggest Qs of course are Am I Accepted and When Can I Start?