The process starts with insight from the admissions staff and treatment team – and it builds in flexibility to change tracks along the way.
A potential patient first has an assessment call with the admissions team, a group of clinicians who determines whether someone is a candidate for treatment and recommends a Women’s Program track – or sometimes another program – based on that discussion. A patient then has an evaluation with a psychiatrist, who confirms the destined track. Prior to treatment, a primary therapist and an orientation group provide information on what to expect. The Women’s Program team also meets daily to assess whether tracks are continuing to meet patient needs.
“It’s a fluid process that involves an open discussion between patients and providers,” explains Catie Giarra, LCSW, Clinical Manager for the Women’s Program at the Moorestown site. “Sometimes a switch in tracks is beneficial. Or sometimes we may add a component of another track to a patient’s current track, giving them the best of both worlds.”
Giarra describes the Princeton House Women’s Program tracks as follows:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – This structured track serves those with trauma, addiction, and self-harming behaviors or suicidal ideation. Skills-based education promotes healing in a prioritized way when patients may be experiencing emotional overwhelm.
Trauma – Combining psychoeducation and coping skills, this track helps reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms that interfere with day-to-day life.
Trauma and Addiction – This track helps patients with PTSD and addictive behaviors understand the relationship between trauma and substance use while providing targeted coping skills.
Emotion Regulation – Designed for those who have anxiety and depression, this track focuses on DBT skills while incorporating therapy aimed at increasing self-compassion.
Emotional Eating – This track blends DBT skills with mindful eating strategies to help those with emotion dysregulation and disordered eating. If an eating disorder is severe, patients may be referred for inpatient care at Penn Medicine Princeton Center for Eating Disorders.
“No matter what track a patient is in, they leave Princeton House with an understanding of DBT skills,” says Giarra. “It’s really about identifying what difficulties are getting in the way of having a life worth living, and providing tools to match.”
“No matter how challenging the situation, our team works upstream to get patients through their symptomatology to the other side,” she adds. “It’s amazing to see their passion and commitment.”
