Jennifer Obsuth

May 20, 2020. Preferred Behavioral Health Group extends a very special thank you to Entertainer Billy Lawlor for his commitment to supporting people with mental health issues. His hour long benefit performance at his home on May 19th featured cover songs and original songs, interspersed with deeply personal stories. His openness and candor shone a light on the importance of mental health care. Billy Lawlor is a is a well known and accomplished Jersey Shore pianist, keyboardist, vocalist and entertainer, and is always in high demand. As a recording artist, Billy has recorded 4 CD’s, 2 of which are live recordings at Jersey Shore locations. Learn more about Billy Lawlor here. Billy asked his audience to donate to Preferred Behavioral Health Group and we are still accepting donations for this event. Click here to make a donation. His performance is viewable on YouTube here.

May 12, 2020. Linda Keenan, Chief Development Officer for Preferred Behavioral Health Group, speaks with George Veitengruber of Veitengruber Law on mental health services available locally during this pandemic. This aired live on Facebook & is now on YouTube. Click on the picture to get the link. Watch it here.

Ocean County. April 2020. Many parents have been faced with the challenge of balancing work and family responsibilities during this pandemic. Working from home while managing your childrens’ academic needs can be a daunting experience. At PBHG, many of our staff are facing the same challenges. Today we introduce you to Dave Seegert and his son Miles. Dave directs our School-Based programs in the Brick and Lakewood school systems. Like many parents right now, he spends his days juggling work responsibilities and tutoring Miles. “Yikes,” he says. “Fractions are tough!” Dave’s advice is to “remember to prioritize your daily plan by breaking your work into smaller chunks and to take breaks when needed.” Here are some more insights from Dave: “You don’t have to answer every email in one day or attend every training that is offered. This experience is giving us a different perspective of how we can find ways to enjoy our time. I even found pleasure in pulling weeks from the garden this week, something I would normally dread. Whatever you’re doing, do it mindfully and it won’t feel like work. People, especially kids, thrive on routines.  It’s important to stay on the usual schedule you would if you were leaving the house to go to work or school every day.  Stick with regular sleep patterns (6-8 hours for adults & 8-10 hours for kids/teens), get dressed out of your pajamas, and create a balanced routine that includes work, exercise, creative time, family time, cleaning, and getting outside.  Create a big chart that your kids can easily see giving them an hour to hour plan that will help them (and you) have a focused and predictable routine, as if they were in a real classroom.  Also remember that it’s ok to stay flexible with the routine at times, in order to meet the needs of your family and yourself, but resist the urge to get into bad habits of working all hours of the day into the night and relentlessly sitting in front of a screen.  Now more than ever is the time to create good habits that you can keep when life gets back to normal and we feel too busy to make changes.  A lot of good things can come from this time of quarantine if we all learn to live differently by putting our physical and mental health first, prioritizing our family obligations, setting boundaries with the work-life balance…Which will be the most valuable lesson we can teach our kids as these  same habits will also shape them into being healthier adults.”   Dave Seegert is a New Jersey Licensed Clinical Social Worker and in addition to being the Director of the School Based Youth Services Program, he is the clinical supervisor of the PBHG Visitation Program and maintains a private practice.  Dave originally started with Preferred in 2000 and has worked in his current role since 2006.  In addition to traveling with his family, he also enjoys coaching soccer, hiking, and building things. He can be reached at dseegert@brickschools.org. The School-Based Youth Services Programs promote healthy youth development. Normally, they are conveniently located within the school setting, where students feel comfortable accessing a full array of behavioral health and social services. The services include, but are not limited to: individual, group, and family counseling, case management, substance abuse services, college exposure, job readiness training, and recreation. Locations are: Lakewood High School, Brick Township High School, Brick Memorial High School, and Veteran’s Memorial Middle School. While schools are closed, the counselors are staying in touch by phone, video counseling, and social media until the schools reopen. Brick parents and students can connect right now on Instagram #brickschoolbasedprogram and Twitter @brickschoolbase For more information, contact Dave at dseegert@brickschools.org.

April 2020. Ocean County. Preferred Behavioral Health Group continues to be actively dedicated to providing critical mental health services for children and families. The Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization program provides crisis intervention and stabilization services to youth (birth to age 21). The program is actively providing case management, support and service linkages for youth and famlies throughout Ocean County. The professional staff are providing regular check-ins with children and families, and advocacy when needed. The Mobile Response team links familes and youth with in-home counselors who can provide intensive counseling, teaching, coping and behavioral wellness skills. Numerous therapists are available to provide tele-therapy through video chat or telephone calls. Families can access services by contacting Perform Care and asking for Mobile Response. The toll free number to call is 1-877-652-7624. Click to download and English or Spanish informational flyer.

by Tara Chalakani, PsyD, LPC, RN. The recent crisis of the coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves throughout the world. One thing we can agree upon is that no one has ever experienced anything like this before. COVID-19 is unlike any pandemic, natural disaster, or war, for that matter, that we have ever encountered. However, one thing we all have in common is that this is a shared traumatic event. Many of us have lost our incomes, favorite places we frequented, the ability to socialize, or worse, the life of someone we cherish. The definition of trauma is “…an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being (SAMHSA, 2019).” In late 2018, Preferred Behavioral Health Group (PBHG) began an organization-wide implementation of trauma-informed care (TIC). This required an entire year of training every employee about what trauma is, how it affects people, and how to engage people in a manner of “what’s happened to you?” vs. “what’s wrong with you?” Approaching someone in a trauma-informed manner simply means that you acknowledge the other person has experienced trauma at some point in their life. I like to say it means being “warm and fuzzy” with everyone you interact with versus “cold and prickly.” When we agree that everyone is fighting a battle we know nothing about, it creates a deeper sense of compassion and empathy. Since being quarantined, I notice when I take my daily walk, I am smiling more at my neighbors and passersby, making intentional eye contact, and saying “Hello, how are you?” (from a distance of course). I consider myself a nice and friendly person in general, but why am I going out of my way now? Because I know for certain that we are all trapped in our homes and struggling in some way. COVID-19 is a shared traumatic experience. So, as you go about your day amidst the “new normal,” consider these trauma-informed tips to help you survive: Make sure you check in with one person you hold dear every day. Social distance is not social disconnection. Treat yourself with kindness and take care of yourself. You cannot take care of anyone else unless you practice self-care. Do one thing every day that you really enjoy. Make sure you get fresh air and move (a 10-minute walk can boost your mood for hours) Seek help if you need it. Mental health providers offering telehealth and telephonic supports are a call or click away. For more information or to seek help, call us at 732-367-4700. In peace and health, Dr. Tara Chalakani, PsyD, LPC, RN April 9, 2020

April 7, 2020. We are currently living amidst very challenging times. People struggling with mental illness and substance use issues are faced with even greater challenges. During this pandemic, we have had to change the “how” in our approach, but we are connecting regularly with children, teens, adults, veterans and seniors more than ever before. We need your help. We are asking our community to help support others by donating gift cards which will directly help people struggling to meet their basic needs in Monmouth and Ocean counties: Our front-line staff have identified local retailers that best meet our clients’ needs. Gift cards can be sent electronically to us or by mail. Here are the four with links to the web pages: Direct an electronic gift card on to:  Judy Daniels at: jdaniels@preferredbehavioral.org Send a gift card by mail to: Judy Daniels, Preferred Behavioral Health Group, 700 Airport Road, Lakewood, NJ  08701. You can choose a specific program to support if you would like to in the comments section. For questions, contact Judy Daniels at jdaniels@preferredbehavioral.org. Thank you. Together we can do more.

March 25, 2020. Greetings from Preferred Behavioral Health Group. It’s a challenging time for all of us. And for people struggling with mental illness and substance use issues, the challenge is even greater.While we have had to change the “how” in our approach, what we have not changed is the passion and compassion we bring to those we serve. We are still connected. With over 70 different programs, our approaches vary. Our group homes remain open and our emergency mobile response team will make crisis intervention home visits if necessary. Our casemanagers, school-based staff, drug and alcohol counselors, social workers, peer specialists and therapists are all in regular consistent phone or video contact with our clients. Those with medication needs are being monitored and getting the prescriptions they need. We continue to partner with local law enforcement, state government, mental health and substance use providers, and others to ensure that those that are vulnerable are getting the help and care they need. Stay connected with us through our social media outlets and our website. We thank you for your ongoing support. Together, we will get through this! Mary Pat Angelini and the PBHG Family

We are adapting our services but are still here for you! Following guidelines by the federal and state government to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, the Coronavirus, Preferred Behavioral Health Group is implementing major changes in the way we are operating over the next few weeks. Effective Wednesday, March 18, most of our buildings will be closed to staff, consumers, clients, and visitors. Our group homes and Children’s Mobile Response program will continue to be operational. Plans are in place to support you remotely and to continue to support those in need in our communities.  Please reach out to your therapist, clinician, or case manager for details on your specific situation. The current intention is to resume our normal operations on April 2nd. For any questions or concerns, call us at 732-367-4700. If you are in a crisis and need immediate assistance, please call:  Monmouth County: 732-886-4474 or 911 Ocean County: 866-904-4474 or 911 We will keep you updated on this page and via our social media channels. This is an unsettled time for all of us; please continue to take care of yourself and those you love.

Everywhere we turn, we hear about it. It’s the number one topic of conversation. It’s on the news 24/7. It’s being talked about at work, in supermarkets and stores – with friends and strangers. It may even be impacting your travel plans, job locations, and financial situation. How to cope? It’s a stressful situation for all of us. And for those dealing with the challenges of anxiety, it can be magnified. One of the most important things you can do is to stay informed, but don’t stay glued to the news. You want to stay up-to-date, but focusing on other positive activities will help manage your stress. Use credible sources for your information so you know you are getting the true facts (see below). It’s also critical to know your own signs of stress and when to get help. Stress reactions can be both physical and emotional. By paying attention to your body, emotions, and behaviors, you can recognize the signs and take steps to feel better. Click here for the information we are sharing with all of our staff, clients and consumers, and below are links we have compiled to reliable sources for news and stress coping strategies that we recommend. Sources for Reliable News: Centers for Disease Control – most current information World Health Organization – protection tips, travel advice, faq’s Guidelines for Stress Management: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratio (SAMHSA) guidelines for coping with stress, including signs of stress and stress relieving techniques. Click Here for English and Click Here for Spanish. SAMHSA guidelines for social distancing, quarantine, and isolation. Click here for English and Click Here for Spanish Guidelines for Helping Families Cope: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Includes readiness, reducing your family’s risk, coping with stress, and scheduling and activities. Click here. Follow us on our social media outlets for our Coronavirus response updates. Facebook: @PreferredBehavioralHealthGroup Twitter: @PBHGNJ Instagram: @preferredbehavioral LinkedIn: Preferred Behavioral Health Group

January 2020—Ocean County. The Team: David, Liz, Anna, Jess, Christina, Deb, and Juliany. Preferred Behavioral Health Group’s new In-Home Recovery Program (IHRP) is now fully staffed, trained, and accepting new families into the program. Families are referred through the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P). In their own words this IHRP team is “ready, versatile, diverse, educated, funny, empathetic, patient, and inquisitive!” Funded through a grant by The Nicholson Foundation, and supported by Rutgers University, Yale Child Study Center and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families , the program is the first of its kind in New Jersey. The mission is to provide the support needed for children to remain in their homes together while parents are receiving treatment for substance use disorders. Based on a successful model from Yale University that has since expanded into 17 areas in Connecticut  and two areas in Pennsylvania , the intensive program in Ocean County will provide individual and family therapy, weekly social club groups, regular drug testing, child development support , introductions and connections to community resources, and more. “We know that removing children from their homes and families can be traumatic and can leave lasting effects throughout life. This program seeks to keep families together by helping the affected parents navigate through their recovery, while increasing their awareness and understanding of their child’s development and promoting positive parent – child interaction for secure attachment.” Liz Savino, IHRP Program Director This pilot program is also a research study and will be assessed and evaluated throughout the term of the grant by a team of researchers through Rutgers University.  The program is set up with 2 teams of 3 staff members. Each team has 2 licensed clinicians and one family support specialist. There is also a part-time psychiatrist who is available to assist with medication management. Each team will work with 12 families for a period of one year. The average length of treatment is 6 months. The counselors will provide substance use treatment and child/parent relationship counseling. The family support specialists will help the families gain access to resources in the community as well as support their substance use treatment and the development of the child/parent relationship. The families in the program will have access 24/7 for crises and emergencies and will have phone access to their team members daily. The team members are all deeply committed to the program. They share a space and collaborate regularly. Each of the 2 teams have a name: “Team Wondrous” and “Team Curious”. The team names came as a result of a brainstorming session about the Yale treatment model.  Because the program is focused on the client, the team members will provide help and support based on the specific needs of the client – using language such as “I wonder how you…” and “I’m curious what you think about…”. After spending months developing the program and getting the necessary training, the team members are anxious to begin making an impact. When asked to use one word to describe this new program, here are few words that they offered:  “Hope,” “Journey,” “Unique,” “Compassionate,” “Opportunity,” “Judgment-free,” “Vigilant,” and “Supportive.” For more information on the In-Home Recovery Program, contact Liz Kvalo-Savino: esavino@preferredbehavioral.org or 732.785.1900, ext. 3160.