Marin Community Clinics Behavioral Health Program
Q&A with Elizabeth Horevitz, LCSW, PhD, Director
Q Why do you have a Behavioral Health Program?
A As health care professionals, we know that physical and emotional well-being are inter-related. Many of our patients experience significant psychosocial or life stressors that can negatively affect emotional well-being.
The goal of our program is to care for the whole person by providing services for the broad spectrum of social and emotional needs that patients present to our primary care team. Together with the Clinics’ medical providers, we help patients obtain the tools that can help them thrive.
Q What kinds of problems do you see?
A People come needing help with a wide range of concerns: stress, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia, grief/ bereavement, coping with new medical diagnoses, parenting concerns, substance use/abuse, and trauma.
Q What services do you offer?
A Our 12 licensed mental health professionals treat both adults and children, using evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.
We offer individual and group treatment sessions, medication management/consultation, education, relaxation skills, and assertiveness training – all upon referral from the patient’s primary care provider. We also link patients to community resources for housing, food, employment training, and specialty mental health needs.
Q What special services do you provide for children?
A Marin Community Clinics offers childhood developmental screening for issues such as learning disabilities. We also see children who need counseling because of bullying, teen pregnancies, and exposure to violence and other trauma. In 2015, we enhanced our pediatric mental health services so that we can assess and treat more of these children in-house.
Q How do you work with the medical and dental divisions?
A Our Behavioral Health services are key to providing comprehensive, holistic care, so our teams work side-by-side with the Clinics’ medical and dental providers. Ninety percent of our patients’ behavioral health problems are identified when they see their primary care physician. We consult with one another and share information. If there is an urgent concern, we are there on-the-spot.