Clinical Services

Mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and schizophrenia, are debilitating but often overlooked conditions in our society. Many individuals who suffer from mental disorders don’t know what is causing their erratic behavior. The majority of people with diagnosable mental disorders do not seek treatment, either because they do not know that help is available or they are unable to seek resources.

Severe mental illness, substance abuse and other addictions, and dual diagnosis are the leading causes of chronic homelessness. While the majority of the emergency and transitional housing agencies on skid row are unable to address mental illness, addiction and the cycle of relapse, the Weingart Center Association has a full-service Clinical Services department that addresses these issues. We reach out to the most economically disadvantaged and chronically homeless individuals and provide them with shelter and comprehensive mental health services.

Our on-site Clinical Services department offers individual and group therapy sessions to our participants, focusing on issues such as trauma, domestic violence and substance abuse. Our mental health experts help individuals establish and maintain emotional and mental stability, and to develop a sustainable, healthy lifestyle free of the debilitating effects of mental illness and addictions.

In addition to the traditional mental health services and group sessions, our Clinical Services staff also provides the following services and programs:

Matrix-Model
The Matrix-Model is a 16-week intensive outpatient drug treatment program, which allows individuals to maintain employment while working on their sobriety. The Matrix Model is an evidence-based substance abuse treatment model that includes relapse prevention, educational groups, a year long social support group, individual counseling, and urine and breath-testing weekly.

Project Fatherhood
Project Fatherhood helps bring fathers together with their children by addressing issues related to absenteeism, substance abuse, violence and trauma in supportive group sessions for fathers, as well as separate groups for their children and the children’s significant others, facilitating a smooth family reunification.

SAMHSA – The Targeted Capacity Expansion Program for Substance Abuse Treatment and HIV/AIDS Services
This program increases access to HIV testing, substance abuse treatment and mental health services for high risk populations living on Skid Row, principally African-American and Latino homeless men and women. This program is operated in partnership with the JWCH Institute.

Internship Program
The Clinical Services department has an established Intern Training program for MSW, MFT and chemical dependency counseling students at UCLA, USC, Cal State Long Beach and Los Angeles, and other colleges in Los Angeles.

Improved Overall Mental Health
The Clinical Services department offers these many services and programs, and takes a comprehensive approach, working closely with case managers and program managers to support our participants in their efforts to improve their mental health, recover from their addictions, and stabilize their lives.