Journeys - Spring 2011

S P R I N G 2 0 1 1

INSIDE:

FAMILY SUPPORT 14Offering programs forloved ones

GIVING HOPE 17A writer shares her story

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1 J O U R N E Y S M AG A Z I N E

news | ALONG THE WAY

S K Y L A N D T R A I L1 J O U R N E Y S M AG A Z I N E S K Y L A N D T R A I L

YEAR AGO WHEN I WROTE MY LETTER FOR THE SPRING issue of Journeys, the leadership of Skyland Trail was in the early

stages of developing a new five-year strategic plan. It’s exciting to think howfar we have come since then, as the plan has been officially adopted by theBoard of Directors.

The plan is a bold extension of Skyland Trail’s reach. We will begin offer-ing one of our core competencies, psychiatric assessment services, beyond

our own client base to fill an unmet need for indi-viduals and professionals in the community.

Other new initiatives include an expansion ofour mental health-physical health integration toencompass a holistic wellness emphasis; an intensi-fied young adult treatment focus, as they become alarger part of our client base; national outreach toserve clients beyond our traditional footprint in theSoutheast, and to share our outcomes research datafor the benefit of the mental health field.

Meanwhile, we are seeing the impact of an ini-tiative started last year, which is featured in thisissue: the expansion of our Dialectical Behavior

Therapy (DBT) Recovery Community. This reflects a sharp increase inclients we are serving who need this specialized therapy—approximately oneout of every four admissions in 2010. Our team has prepared by receivingintensive training, learning evidence-based treatment methods that showsuperior results. Our clients in this program are less likely to drop out oftherapy and less likely to need hospitalization.

Another interesting article in this issue focuses on the importance offamily involvement in a client’s treatment progress. Family support systemshave long been embedded in the Skyland Trail culture, and we continue toenhance this vital element of the recovery journey.

As always, we appreciate your friendship to Skyland Trail and your interest and support of our work.

ELIZABETH E. FINNERTY, M.B.A., M.H.A.PRESIDENT/CEO

message | FROM THE PRES IDENT

A

L E A D E R S H I P

Board MembersMark C. West, Chairman

Richard C. Parker, ChairmanExecutive Committee

Michael Tompkins, TreasurerMarjorie Wynne, Secretary

Dick BryantThe Very Rev. Sam Candler

Cecil ConleeWilliam H. Fox, Ph.D.

David FlintJ. Rex Fuqua

John C. GordonDana Halberg

Thomas D. HillsJim Howard, Jr.Clay Jackson

Amy Rollins KreislerLiz LazarusJ. Bart MillerJay Mitchell

Jackie MontagCharlotte Pierce-Baker, Ph.D.

Michelle SullivanBob Walker

Brooke Weinmann

Emeritus DirectorsVivian DuBose, ChairDorothy C. FuquaBetty Ann Inman

Beth JonesDavid C. Lowance, M.D.

Edward E. NobleCharles B. West

Allison F. WilliamsBlanton C. Winship

Advisory Board MembersBetts Love, Chair

Betsy AkersRon BachmanDale BellesSusan Boyd

Nancy BryantStan Conway

Ron DayClaudia de MayoGwynie Dennard

Sally DorseyCeree EberlyRick Elliott

Cindy FergusonCarol Gellerstedt

Betsy GlennNancy Glenn

Christopher GloverDanica GriffithRichard Harris

Meg HeyerHilton Howell, Jr.

Billy HugerJocelyn Hunter

Don InmanJudith James, M.D.

Stan JonesAnn Lally

Kelly LoefflerRobin Loudermilk

Melissa LoweCynthia Moreland

Jeff MuirColleen NunnPatricia Reid

Marcia RobinsonJohn RookerJeremy Wing

Robby WynneJohn B. Zellars, Jr.

Leigh Pollard, Associates President

Sarah Goodman, Associates Past President

Elizabeth E. FinnertyPresident/CEO

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N E W S 2

G R AYS O N C R E N S H AW : 6Inline and On Track: How DBT Gave One Teen the Skills to Navigate Life

M A R S H A L I N E H A N , P H . D . 1 1

Interview with the Creator of DBT

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E M E D I C A L D I R E C T O R 1 2

Doughnuts and the Beach: The Importance of DBT

FA M I LY S U P P O RT AT S K Y L A N D T R A I L : 14Resources for Clients and their Loved Ones

S K Y L A N D T R A I LG AV E M E H O P E : 1 7Melody Moezzi Shares Her Story

E V E N T S 18

Benefits of Laughter, Patron Party,Associates Luncheon and DorothyC. Fuqua Center Dedication

G I V I N G T O S K Y L A N D

T R A I L 2 0

Endowments and Planned Giving

Mark C. WestChairman of the Board

Elizabeth E. Finnerty, M.B.A., M.H.A.President/CEO

Skyland Trail, developed and supported by theGeorge West Mental Health Foundation,offers hope to adults with mental illness byteaching them the skills they need to trulychange their lives. Programs are offered onthree campus-like settings led by a team ofprofessionals who are specialists in their fields.

Conni LombardoExecutive Editor

Susan LindseyWriter/Editor

Kerstin WeisDesigner

Skyland Trail JOURNEYS is a publication ofSkyland Trail, a project of the George WestMental Health Foundation. Single copies can be requested at (678) 686-5912.Postmaster : Send address changes to SKYLAND TRAIL, 1961 North Druid HillsRoad NE, Atlanta, GA 30329.

On the Cover: Grayson Crenshaw, Skyland Trailalumnus. Photography by Billy Howard.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 1

6




S K Y L A N D T R A I L1 J O U R N E Y S M AG A Z I N E S K Y L A N D T R A I L

YEAR AGO WHEN I WROTE MY LETTER FOR THE SPRING issue of Journeys, the leadership of Skyland Trail was in the early

stages of developing a new five-year strategic plan. It’s exciting to think howfar we have come since then, as the plan has been officially adopted by theBoard of Directors.

The plan is a bold extension of Skyland Trail’s reach. We will begin offer-ing one of our core competencies, psychiatric assessment services, beyond

our own client base to fill an unmet need for indi-viduals and professionals in the community.

Other new initiatives include an expansion ofour mental health-physical health integration toencompass a holistic wellness emphasis; an intensi-fied young adult treatment focus, as they become alarger part of our client base; national outreach toserve clients beyond our traditional footprint in theSoutheast, and to share our outcomes research datafor the benefit of the mental health field.

Meanwhile, we are seeing the impact of an ini-tiative started last year, which is featured in thisissue: the expansion of our Dialectical Behavior

Therapy (DBT) Recovery Community. This reflects a sharp increase inclients we are serving who need this specialized therapy—approximately oneout of every four admissions in 2010. Our team has prepared by receivingintensive training, learning evidence-based treatment methods that showsuperior results. Our clients in this program are less likely to drop out oftherapy and less likely to need hospitalization.

Another interesting article in this issue focuses on the importance offamily involvement in a client’s treatment progress. Family support systemshave long been embedded in the Skyland Trail culture, and we continue toenhance this vital element of the recovery journey.

As always, we appreciate your friendship to Skyland Trail and your interest and support of our work.

ELIZABETH E. FINNERTY, M.B.A., M.H.A.PRESIDENT/CEO

message | FROM THE PRES IDENT

A

L E A D E R S H I P

Board MembersMark C. West, Chairman

Richard C. Parker, ChairmanExecutive Committee

Michael Tompkins, TreasurerMarjorie Wynne, Secretary

Dick BryantThe Very Rev. Sam Candler

Cecil ConleeWilliam H. Fox, Ph.D.

David FlintJ. Rex Fuqua

John C. GordonDana Halberg

Thomas D. HillsJim Howard, Jr.Clay Jackson

Amy Rollins KreislerLiz LazarusJ. Bart MillerJay Mitchell

Jackie MontagCharlotte Pierce-Baker, Ph.D.

Michelle SullivanBob Walker

Brooke Weinmann

Emeritus DirectorsVivian DuBose, ChairDorothy C. FuquaBetty Ann Inman

Beth JonesDavid C. Lowance, M.D.

Edward E. NobleCharles B. West

Allison F. WilliamsBlanton C. Winship

Advisory Board MembersBetts Love, Chair

Betsy AkersRon BachmanDale BellesSusan Boyd

Nancy BryantStan Conway

Ron DayClaudia de MayoGwynie Dennard

Sally DorseyCeree EberlyRick Elliott

Cindy FergusonCarol Gellerstedt

Betsy GlennNancy Glenn

Christopher GloverDanica GriffithRichard Harris

Meg HeyerHilton Howell, Jr.

Billy HugerJocelyn Hunter

Don InmanJudith James, M.D.

Stan JonesAnn Lally

Kelly LoefflerRobin Loudermilk

Melissa LoweCynthia Moreland

Jeff MuirColleen NunnPatricia Reid

Marcia RobinsonJohn RookerJeremy Wing

Robby WynneJohn B. Zellars, Jr.

Leigh Pollard, Associates President

Sarah Goodman, Associates Past President

Elizabeth E. FinnertyPresident/CEO


N E W S 2

G R AYS O N C R E N S H AW : 6Inline and On Track: How DBT Gave One Teen the Skills to Navigate Life

M A R S H A L I N E H A N , P H . D . 1 1

Interview with the Creator of DBT

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E M E D I C A L D I R E C T O R 1 2

Doughnuts and the Beach: The Importance of DBT

FA M I LY S U P P O RT AT S K Y L A N D T R A I L : 14Resources for Clients and their Loved Ones

S K Y L A N D T R A I LG AV E M E H O P E : 1 7Melody Moezzi Shares Her Story

E V E N T S 18

Benefits of Laughter, Patron Party,Associates Luncheon and DorothyC. Fuqua Center Dedication

G I V I N G T O S K Y L A N D

T R A I L 2 0

Endowments and Planned Giving

Mark C. WestChairman of the Board

Elizabeth E. Finnerty, M.B.A., M.H.A.President/CEO

Skyland Trail, developed and supported by theGeorge West Mental Health Foundation,offers hope to adults with mental illness byteaching them the skills they need to trulychange their lives. Programs are offered onthree campus-like settings led by a team ofprofessionals who are specialists in their fields.

Conni LombardoExecutive Editor

Susan LindseyWriter/Editor

Kerstin WeisDesigner

Skyland Trail JOURNEYS is a publication ofSkyland Trail, a project of the George WestMental Health Foundation. Single copies can be requested at (678) 686-5912.Postmaster : Send address changes to SKYLAND TRAIL, 1961 North Druid HillsRoad NE, Atlanta, GA 30329.

On the Cover: Grayson Crenshaw, Skyland Trailalumnus. Photography by Billy Howard.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 1

6


2 J O U R N E Y S M AG A Z I N E S K Y L A N D T R A I L


ew research from Skyland Trail thatstudies the reporting of functional

outcomes of adults with mental illnesswill be presented in an upcoming issueof the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Since 2008, Skyland Trail's clinicalteam has been participating in theVALERO Study, an innovative researchinitiative aimed at developing assess-ments to quantify and VALidate theEveryday, Real-world Outcomes of peo-ple with serious mental illness. SkylandTrail was one of just a handful of sitesselected nationally for the VALEROStudy, which is sponsored by theNational Institute for Mental Health(NIMH) in conjunction with Universityof Miami’s Department of Psychiatryand Behavioral Sciences.

Philip A. Harvey, Ph.D., Professorof Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciencesand Director of the Division of

Psychology at the University of MiamiMiller School of Medicine, is leadingthe research which aims to find thebest way to determine how to measurethe real-world functionality of a personwith schizophrenia. For the study,adults with a diagnosis of schizophre-nia were asked to provide a self-reportabout their everyday living skills, socialskills and cognitive function. Theiranswers were then compared with theresponses of friends, family and, inSkyland Trail’s case, a client’s counselor.

The research indicated that coun-selors at Skyland Trail had a betterimpression that broadly considers allaspects of a client’s functioning, than aclient’s friend or relative. Counselorsare also able to report real-world func-tioning at a more accurate level. Otherparticipating study sites include theAtlanta VA Medical Center and the

University of California San DiegoOutpatient Psychiatric Services clinic.The next step of the VALERO study isto examine the usefulness of havingdifferent people report on real worldfunctioning of an individual withschizophrenia.

Validating Real-World Functional Outcomes

N

kyland Trail hasonce again

garnered highacclaim from TheJoint Commis -sion, the leader indeveloping the high-est standards for quality and safetyin the delivery of health care, andevaluating organization perform-ance based on these standards.

The Joint Commission’s strongpraise for Skyland Trail programsand staff has been rightfully earned.The staff work hard to ensure thehighest quality of care for our clientsand their families. We are proud tobe awarded the Gold Seal ofApproval by The Joint Commission.

T H E J O I N TC O M M I S S I O NA C C R E D I TAT I O N

S

Lecture Series Announced to Honor Mrs. Dorothy C. Fuqua

urrounded by friends at the Spring Associates Luncheon and FashionShow, Mrs. Dorothy C. Fuqua was surprised with a birthday gift from

her son and daughter-in-law, Rex and Duvall Fuqua, and longtime SkylandTrail supporters Edwina and Tom Johnson. To mark the milestone of Mrs.Fuqua’s 90th birthday, an annual lecture series has been created in her name.

The Dorothy C. Fuqua Lecture Series honors Mrs. Fuqua’s longtime sup-port and dedication to Skyland Trail, as well as her commitment to recovery

for those with mental illness.The Lecture Series will allowSkyland Trail to bring thehighest-level speakers to ourcampus from across disci-plines, whether from the aca-demic world, from writingand reporting, entertain-ment, athletics or politics.

This lecture series willencourage our friends, sup-porters and the community

to join us to raise awareness of mental health issues. Stay tuned to SkylandTrail News for a forthcoming announcement about our first lecture, tentative-ly scheduled for Fall 2011.

S

Tom Johnson, Mrs. Dorothy C. Fuqua, Rex Fuqua

Skyland Trail Main Campus


S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 3www.skylandtrai l .org

Board of Directors Endorses Strategic Plan and New Mission/Vision

kyland Trail’s Board of Directorshas approved the most ambitious

Strategic Plan yet, laying the ground-work for major initiatives starting thisyear. We’ve updated our mission andvision statements to reflect our direc-tion and expanded reach. The planningteam, which consisted of board mem-bers, community leaders and staff,worked diligently over the past year tocreate a framework that will allow ussteady growth and expansion, but stillmaintain the strong community focusthat has made Skyland Trail a recogniz-able force for mental health treatment.

Our new plan will include thesefeatures:

• Wellness Focus: Skyland Trail hasbeen a national leader in the integra-tion of physical health care with mentalhealth treatment. Our next advancewill be to expand service capabilitiesand deliver a holistic wellness capabili-ty to the broader Atlanta mental healthcommunity.

• Enhanced Young Adult Programs:While all adults will continue to beserved, we will utilize our expertise inthe treatment of young adults to havegreater impact with this segment of thepopulation.

• Expanded Assessment Services:

Skyland Trail’s skill in assessing anddiagnosing mental illness is a powerfulasset that can benefit many individualsbeyond our own clients. We intend toprovide broader access to this specialarea of strength.

• National Magnet: We intend tobuild on Skyland Trail’s reputation forsuccessful outcomes to draw clientsnationwide and also to strengthen ourinfluence on best practices in mentalhealth treatment progress througheducation symposia, collaborations,publications and peer forums.

This is Skyland Trail’s fourthstrategic plan in the organization’s 22year history. We have always been bold

Skyland Trail welcomes gifts of stock and appreciated

securities. These contributions provide tax advantages

related to capital gains as well as charitable deduc-

tions. Please contact Senior Development Officer John

Turman at 678-686-5948 or [email protected]

for more information about how your gift of stock can

help Skyland Trail.

S in laying forth our goals, and with eachnew plan, we have successfully achievedour objectives—always with our visionand mission as our defining guide.

Vision: Skyland Trail will lead innova-tive psychiatric treatment in America.

Mission: Skyland Trail inspires peoplewith mental illness to thrive through aholistic program of evidence-based psy-chiatric treatment, integrated medicalcare, research and education.

Values: We value:• A compassionate and energetic com-

munity that promotes recovery • Individualized treatment focused on

results-driven care • Respect for the privacy and dignity

of our clients, their families and ouremployees

• Family and support system involve-ment

• A professionally invigorating work-place

• Collaboration with other stakehold-ers in our community

• Accessibility to our services throughthe reduction of financial barriersand full engagement in the treatmentprocess




ew research from Skyland Trail thatstudies the reporting of functional

outcomes of adults with mental illnesswill be presented in an upcoming issueof the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Since 2008, Skyland Trail's clinicalteam has been participating in theVALERO Study, an innovative researchinitiative aimed at developing assess-ments to quantify and VALidate theEveryday, Real-world Outcomes of peo-ple with serious mental illness. SkylandTrail was one of just a handful of sitesselected nationally for the VALEROStudy, which is sponsored by theNational Institute for Mental Health(NIMH) in conjunction with Universityof Miami’s Department of Psychiatryand Behavioral Sciences.

Philip A. Harvey, Ph.D., Professorof Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciencesand Director of the Division of

Psychology at the University of MiamiMiller School of Medicine, is leadingthe research which aims to find thebest way to determine how to measurethe real-world functionality of a personwith schizophrenia. For the study,adults with a diagnosis of schizophre-nia were asked to provide a self-reportabout their everyday living skills, socialskills and cognitive function. Theiranswers were then compared with theresponses of friends, family and, inSkyland Trail’s case, a client’s counselor.

The research indicated that coun-selors at Skyland Trail had a betterimpression that broadly considers allaspects of a client’s functioning, than aclient’s friend or relative. Counselorsare also able to report real-world func-tioning at a more accurate level. Otherparticipating study sites include theAtlanta VA Medical Center and the

University of California San DiegoOutpatient Psychiatric Services clinic.The next step of the VALERO study isto examine the usefulness of havingdifferent people report on real worldfunctioning of an individual withschizophrenia.

Validating Real-World Functional Outcomes

N

kyland Trail hasonce again

garnered highacclaim from TheJoint Commis -sion, the leader indeveloping the high-est standards for quality and safetyin the delivery of health care, andevaluating organization perform-ance based on these standards.

The Joint Commission’s strongpraise for Skyland Trail programsand staff has been rightfully earned.The staff work hard to ensure thehighest quality of care for our clientsand their families. We are proud tobe awarded the Gold Seal ofApproval by The Joint Commission.

T H E J O I N TC O M M I S S I O NA C C R E D I TAT I O N

S

Lecture Series Announced to Honor Mrs. Dorothy C. Fuqua

urrounded by friends at the Spring Associates Luncheon and FashionShow, Mrs. Dorothy C. Fuqua was surprised with a birthday gift from

her son and daughter-in-law, Rex and Duvall Fuqua, and longtime SkylandTrail supporters Edwina and Tom Johnson. To mark the milestone of Mrs.Fuqua’s 90th birthday, an annual lecture series has been created in her name.

The Dorothy C. Fuqua Lecture Series honors Mrs. Fuqua’s longtime sup-port and dedication to Skyland Trail, as well as her commitment to recovery

for those with mental illness.The Lecture Series will allowSkyland Trail to bring thehighest-level speakers to ourcampus from across disci-plines, whether from the aca-demic world, from writingand reporting, entertain-ment, athletics or politics.

This lecture series willencourage our friends, sup-porters and the community

to join us to raise awareness of mental health issues. Stay tuned to SkylandTrail News for a forthcoming announcement about our first lecture, tentative-ly scheduled for Fall 2011.

S

Tom Johnson, Mrs. Dorothy C. Fuqua, Rex Fuqua

Skyland Trail Main Campus



Board of Directors Endorses Strategic Plan and New Mission/Vision

kyland Trail’s Board of Directorshas approved the most ambitious

Strategic Plan yet, laying the ground-work for major initiatives starting thisyear. We’ve updated our mission andvision statements to reflect our direc-tion and expanded reach. The planningteam, which consisted of board mem-bers, community leaders and staff,worked diligently over the past year tocreate a framework that will allow ussteady growth and expansion, but stillmaintain the strong community focusthat has made Skyland Trail a recogniz-able force for mental health treatment.

Our new plan will include thesefeatures:

• Wellness Focus: Skyland Trail hasbeen a national leader in the integra-tion of physical health care with mentalhealth treatment. Our next advancewill be to expand service capabilitiesand deliver a holistic wellness capabili-ty to the broader Atlanta mental healthcommunity.

• Enhanced Young Adult Programs:While all adults will continue to beserved, we will utilize our expertise inthe treatment of young adults to havegreater impact with this segment of thepopulation.

• Expanded Assessment Services:

Skyland Trail’s skill in assessing anddiagnosing mental illness is a powerfulasset that can benefit many individualsbeyond our own clients. We intend toprovide broader access to this specialarea of strength.

• National Magnet: We intend tobuild on Skyland Trail’s reputation forsuccessful outcomes to draw clientsnationwide and also to strengthen ourinfluence on best practices in mentalhealth treatment progress througheducation symposia, collaborations,publications and peer forums.

This is Skyland Trail’s fourthstrategic plan in the organization’s 22year history. We have always been bold

Skyland Trail welcomes gifts of stock and appreciated

securities. These contributions provide tax advantages

related to capital gains as well as charitable deduc-

tions. Please contact Senior Development Officer John

Turman at 678-686-5948 or [email protected]

for more information about how your gift of stock can

help Skyland Trail.

S in laying forth our goals, and with eachnew plan, we have successfully achievedour objectives—always with our visionand mission as our defining guide.

Vision: Skyland Trail will lead innova-tive psychiatric treatment in America.

Mission: Skyland Trail inspires peoplewith mental illness to thrive through aholistic program of evidence-based psy-chiatric treatment, integrated medicalcare, research and education.

Values: We value:• A compassionate and energetic com-

munity that promotes recovery • Individualized treatment focused on

results-driven care • Respect for the privacy and dignity

of our clients, their families and ouremployees

• Family and support system involve-ment

• A professionally invigorating work-place

• Collaboration with other stakehold-ers in our community

• Accessibility to our services throughthe reduction of financial barriersand full engagement in the treatmentprocess




S K Y L A N D T R A I L

kyland Trail ispleased to

announce new mem-bers of the GeorgeWest Mental HealthFoundation Board ofDirectors. Newmembers elected tothe board for termsbeginning in 2011 are Jay D. Mitchell, Executive Vice President and GeneralCounsel Piedmont Healthcare Inc.; Charlotte Pierce-Baker, Ph.D, an author,activist and Professor of Women's and Gender Studies and English atVanderbilt University; and Bob Walker, Executive Vice President ofMarketing and Cross-Platform Development for The Weather Channel.

Skyland Trail also announced new Advisory Board members for termsthat began in January 2011. New members include Ceree Eberly, CindyFerguson, Carol Gellerstedt, Christopher Glover, Danica Griffith, Ann Lallyand Kelly Loeffler. Leigh Pollard will also serve as an Advisory Board mem-ber in her role as president of the Skyland Trail Associates.

New Board of Directors and Advisory BoardMembers for 2011

S kyland Trail was honored tohost The American Board of

Psychiatry and Neurology annualoral examinations inApril. During thistime, 96 candi-dates for boardcertification cameto the main cam-pus to interviewclients while beingobserved by an examiner. Theexaminers then assessed whether ornot candidates met clinical expecta-tions for certification. More than 30clients from Skyland Trail and othercommunity treatment centers par-ticipated in the event, which gaveclinicians from around the countrya chance to learn more aboutSkyland Trail and see the campus.

Jay Mitchell CharlottePierce-Baker, Ph.D.

Bob Walker

Skyland Trail hostsABPN Exams

S

kyland Trail clients showed offtheir green thumbs as big hon-

orees at the 25th AnnualSoutheastern Flower Show, heldFebruary 25-27th. For the 13th year,clients were assisted by dedicated vol-unteer Virginia Almand, who sup-ports horticultural therapy with hertime, talent and passionfor gardening.

This year, everybulb entered by aSkyland Trail clientin the flower showwon a ribbon—includ-ing three first-place ribbons and four second-place ribbons.The bulbs were grown and nurtured by clients in the Social

Skyland Trail Clients Bloom at Southeastern Flower Show

S Integration group, led by horticultural intern Lisa Dyer.

Clients in theHorticultural TherapyProgram held a “FairyGardening Workshop,”demonstrating with FlowerShow attendees how to build

miniature fairy homesfrom natural

elements likebark, sea -shells and

cotton. Thehomes and gar-

dens were madeinside a tambourine, compli-menting this year’s showtheme “In Tune withBlooms.”

Creative Arts Volunteer

Susan Churchill and HorticulturalTherapist Libba Shortridge shared theirexperiences during their presentation“Fairy Gardening: In Tune withNature.”

Fairy Garden created and photographed by Client Rachel O.



August 25, 2011; 6:30 pm

Teasing, Bullying and BystanderStrategies—What Everyone Needs to Know Presented by: Jeff Dess, MA, PCCG4, CAC, BCSCR,

Prevention Intervention Specialist/Consultant for

the Cobb County School System, Marietta, GA

kyland Trail has taken our dedication to healthy living one step far-ther by becoming tobacco free on all of our campuses. A recent sur-

vey found that people with mental illness smoke 45percent of all cigarettes in the United States,and cigarette smoking is a client’s singlemost deadly health habit. We hope tocounter these alarming statistics with ourtobacco ban—which means that clients,employees, and visitors will not beallowed to use any tobacco products onour campuses.

“Our goal with this ban is to protectand promote the health of our clients, theirfamilies and our staff members,” says AssociateMedical Director Eric Chavez, MD. “We’re working hard each day toeducate, encourage and develop new coping skills with our clients andstaff who currently use tobacco products.”

Since November 2010, Skyland Trail has offered clients a dailySmoking Cessation Group. Our psychiatrists work with clients to findthe nicotine replacement therapies that are right for them.

Skyland Trail Goes Tobacco Free

S

Skyland Trail 2011Educational Events:

Community Education Series

kyland Trail is thrilled to welcome Mary Burns, MD to the psychia-try team. A gifted psychiatrist with a private practice in North

Atlanta, Dr. Burns has long been familiar with the work of SkylandTrail, and has supported our staff and the organization in many ways

over the years. She will help us continue toprovide excellent, respectful and timelycare to our clients.

In addition to her work at SkylandTrail, Dr. Burns also serves as a ClinicalAssistant Professor of Psychiatry at EmoryUniversity. She is a member of theAmerican Psychiatric Association, theGeorgia Psychiatric Association and theAtlanta Women's Medical Alliance. Since2000, Dr. Burns has been the governor-appointed Chairwoman of the Board ofthe Georgia Department of BehavioralHealth and Developmental Disabilities.

She received her BA from the University of the South, her MD fromMercer University School of Medicine, was a Resident in Psychiatry atDuke University School of Medicine and a Fellow in Child Psychiatry atHarvard University School of Medicine.

In her spare time, Dr. Burns volunteers with the Cathedral of St.Philip, Pace Academy and the Northside Youth Organization.

Mary Burns, MD Joins Skyland Trail

S

Lunch & Learn Series

June 10, 2011; 11:30 am

Epidemiology of Addiction and theMolecular Mechanisms ofAddictionCo-Sponsored by the Hanley Center

Presented by: Karen Dodge, PhD, Director of

Research, Hanley Center, West Palm Beach, FL

July 29, 2011; 11:30 am

Employing States of Consciousnessand Brain Frequencies forEmotional Healing, StressReduction and Change: AnExperiential WorkshopPresented by: Beverly Matthews, MS, LPC,

Shiloah Center for Experiential Psychotherapy,

Atlanta, GA

November 4, 2011; 11:30 am

Eating Disorders and Co-OccurringConditionsPresented by: Kevin Wandler, MD, Chief Medical

Officer, Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating

Disorders, Wickenburg, AZ

Please note that registration information and detailed program information can befound at www.skylandtrail.org.

Mary Burns, MD




S K Y L A N D T R A I L

kyland Trail ispleased to

announce new mem-bers of the GeorgeWest Mental HealthFoundation Board ofDirectors. Newmembers elected tothe board for termsbeginning in 2011 are Jay D. Mitchell, Executive Vice President and GeneralCounsel Piedmont Healthcare Inc.; Charlotte Pierce-Baker, Ph.D, an author,activist and Professor of Women's and Gender Studies and English atVanderbilt University; and Bob Walker, Executive Vice President ofMarketing and Cross-Platform Development for The Weather Channel.

Skyland Trail also announced new Advisory Board members for termsthat began in January 2011. New members include Ceree Eberly, CindyFerguson, Carol Gellerstedt, Christopher Glover, Danica Griffith, Ann Lallyand Kelly Loeffler. Leigh Pollard will also serve as an Advisory Board mem-ber in her role as president of the Skyland Trail Associates.

New Board of Directors and Advisory BoardMembers for 2011

S kyland Trail was honored tohost The American Board of

Psychiatry and Neurology annualoral examinations inApril. During thistime, 96 candi-dates for boardcertification cameto the main cam-pus to interviewclients while beingobserved by an examiner. Theexaminers then assessed whether ornot candidates met clinical expecta-tions for certification. More than 30clients from Skyland Trail and othercommunity treatment centers par-ticipated in the event, which gaveclinicians from around the countrya chance to learn more aboutSkyland Trail and see the campus.

Jay Mitchell CharlottePierce-Baker, Ph.D.

Bob Walker

Skyland Trail hostsABPN Exams

S

kyland Trail clients showed offtheir green thumbs as big hon-

orees at the 25th AnnualSoutheastern Flower Show, heldFebruary 25-27th. For the 13th year,clients were assisted by dedicated vol-unteer Virginia Almand, who sup-ports horticultural therapy with hertime, talent and passionfor gardening.

This year, everybulb entered by aSkyland Trail clientin the flower showwon a ribbon—includ-ing three first-place ribbons and four second-place ribbons.The bulbs were grown and nurtured by clients in the Social

Skyland Trail Clients Bloom at Southeastern Flower Show

S Integration group, led by horticultural intern Lisa Dyer.

Clients in theHorticultural TherapyProgram held a “FairyGardening Workshop,”demonstrating with FlowerShow attendees how to build

miniature fairy homesfrom natural

elements likebark, sea -shells and

cotton. Thehomes and gar-

dens were madeinside a tambourine, compli-menting this year’s showtheme “In Tune withBlooms.”

Creative Arts Volunteer

Susan Churchill and HorticulturalTherapist Libba Shortridge shared theirexperiences during their presentation“Fairy Gardening: In Tune withNature.”

Fairy Garden created and photographed by Client Rachel O.



August 25, 2011; 6:30 pm

Teasing, Bullying and BystanderStrategies—What Everyone Needs to Know Presented by: Jeff Dess, MA, PCCG4, CAC, BCSCR,

Prevention Intervention Specialist/Consultant for

the Cobb County School System, Marietta, GA

kyland Trail has taken our dedication to healthy living one step far-ther by becoming tobacco free on all of our campuses. A recent sur-

vey found that people with mental illness smoke 45percent of all cigarettes in the United States,and cigarette smoking is a client’s singlemost deadly health habit. We hope tocounter these alarming statistics with ourtobacco ban—which means that clients,employees, and visitors will not beallowed to use any tobacco products onour campuses.

“Our goal with this ban is to protectand promote the health of our clients, theirfamilies and our staff members,” says AssociateMedical Director Eric Chavez, MD. “We’re working hard each day toeducate, encourage and develop new coping skills with our clients andstaff who currently use tobacco products.”

Since November 2010, Skyland Trail has offered clients a dailySmoking Cessation Group. Our psychiatrists work with clients to findthe nicotine replacement therapies that are right for them.

Skyland Trail Goes Tobacco Free

S

Skyland Trail 2011Educational Events:

Community Education Series

kyland Trail is thrilled to welcome Mary Burns, MD to the psychia-try team. A gifted psychiatrist with a private practice in North

Atlanta, Dr. Burns has long been familiar with the work of SkylandTrail, and has supported our staff and the organization in many ways

over the years. She will help us continue toprovide excellent, respectful and timelycare to our clients.

In addition to her work at SkylandTrail, Dr. Burns also serves as a ClinicalAssistant Professor of Psychiatry at EmoryUniversity. She is a member of theAmerican Psychiatric Association, theGeorgia Psychiatric Association and theAtlanta Women's Medical Alliance. Since2000, Dr. Burns has been the governor-appointed Chairwoman of the Board ofthe Georgia Department of BehavioralHealth and Developmental Disabilities.

She received her BA from the University of the South, her MD fromMercer University School of Medicine, was a Resident in Psychiatry atDuke University School of Medicine and a Fellow in Child Psychiatry atHarvard University School of Medicine.

In her spare time, Dr. Burns volunteers with the Cathedral of St.Philip, Pace Academy and the Northside Youth Organization.

Mary Burns, MD Joins Skyland Trail

S

Lunch & Learn Series

June 10, 2011; 11:30 am

Epidemiology of Addiction and theMolecular Mechanisms ofAddictionCo-Sponsored by the Hanley Center

Presented by: Karen Dodge, PhD, Director of

Research, Hanley Center, West Palm Beach, FL

July 29, 2011; 11:30 am

Employing States of Consciousnessand Brain Frequencies forEmotional Healing, StressReduction and Change: AnExperiential WorkshopPresented by: Beverly Matthews, MS, LPC,

Shiloah Center for Experiential Psychotherapy,

Atlanta, GA

November 4, 2011; 11:30 am

Eating Disorders and Co-OccurringConditionsPresented by: Kevin Wandler, MD, Chief Medical

Officer, Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating

Disorders, Wickenburg, AZ

Please note that registration information and detailed program information can befound at www.skylandtrail.org.

Mary Burns, MD



www.skylandtrai l .org

n most ways, 19-year-oldGrayson Crenshaw is a typicalteenager—he spends his freetime inline skating, going to

the movies or testing his cookingskills at home in his mother’skitchen in Woodstock, Ga.

“The best thing I cook is shrimplinguini,” he says. “That’s my ‘suckerpunch’ to the girls.”

But Grayson’s journey throughhis teen years was anything but typi-cal, as he fought to control thesymptoms of his bipolar disorder—an illness he has had most of his life.

“I was struggling with a lot ofbipolar rages and manic depression,”Grayson says, adding that he wouldact out his frustration physically,becoming violent and aggressive. Grayson was sent toan alterative school because of his behavior problemswhen he was 12. Three years later, at 15, he was

I

S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 7

expelled and then spent the nextyear and a half in and out of psy-chiatric hospitals.

His mother, Annette Crenshaw,says doctors eventually found med-ication that worked for Grayson,but that he was still experiencingrapid cycling between his highs andlows and acting on irrationalimpulses.

Shortly before Christmas 2009,Grayson experienced a majormanic episode and his family real-ized he needed more intensive helpto control his aggression. Graysoncame to Skyland Trail’s residentialtreatment program in January 2010.

“I needed to put myself in aplace where I could get the right

kind of help,” Grayson says. “When I came to Skyland, I fell in love with the people and made truly greatfriends.”

&INLINE ON TRACK

Continued on page 8

How DBT GaveOne Teen the Skillsto Navigate Life

BY SU S A N L I N D S E Y • PH O T O G R A P H Y B Y B I L LY HO W A R D

I needed to put myself in aplace where I could get theright kind of help. When I cameto Skyland, I fell in love withthe people and made truly greatfriends.

—GRAYSON CRENSHAW



www.skylandtrai l .org

n most ways, 19-year-oldGrayson Crenshaw is a typicalteenager—he spends his freetime inline skating, going to

the movies or testing his cookingskills at home in his mother’skitchen in Woodstock, Ga.

“The best thing I cook is shrimplinguini,” he says. “That’s my ‘suckerpunch’ to the girls.”

But Grayson’s journey throughhis teen years was anything but typi-cal, as he fought to control thesymptoms of his bipolar disorder—an illness he has had most of his life.

“I was struggling with a lot ofbipolar rages and manic depression,”Grayson says, adding that he wouldact out his frustration physically,becoming violent and aggressive. Grayson was sent toan alterative school because of his behavior problemswhen he was 12. Three years later, at 15, he was

I

S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 7

expelled and then spent the nextyear and a half in and out of psy-chiatric hospitals.

His mother, Annette Crenshaw,says doctors eventually found med-ication that worked for Grayson,but that he was still experiencingrapid cycling between his highs andlows and acting on irrationalimpulses.

Shortly before Christmas 2009,Grayson experienced a majormanic episode and his family real-ized he needed more intensive helpto control his aggression. Graysoncame to Skyland Trail’s residentialtreatment program in January 2010.

“I needed to put myself in aplace where I could get the right

kind of help,” Grayson says. “When I came to Skyland, I fell in love with the people and made truly greatfriends.”

&INLINE ON TRACK

Continued on page 8

How DBT GaveOne Teen the Skillsto Navigate Life

BY SU S A N L I N D S E Y • PH O T O G R A P H Y B Y B I L LY HO W A R D

I needed to put myself in aplace where I could get theright kind of help. When I cameto Skyland, I fell in love withthe people and made truly greatfriends.

—GRAYSON CRENSHAW



Developed by researcher Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. in the1970s, DBT was designed specifically for individuals withself-harming behaviors, such as cutting or suicidal thoughts.Although many clients with these behaviors meet criteria forborderline personality disorder (BPD), it is not unusual forindividuals diagnosed with BPD to struggle with other prob-lems—depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stressdisorder, anxiety, eating disorders or substance abuse.

Cynthia says the DBT program is very successful atSkyland Trail, in part because counselors, psychiatrists andresidential staff are all following the same evidence-basedtreatment programs.

“It’s important to have everyone on the same page,”Cynthia says. “A lot of people have difficulty translating theskills they learn during the day and in group sessions intodifferent aspects of their lives, so it’s helpful that they havethat extra support. The Skyland Trail residential staffreceives training in DBT coaching as well. This reinforcesthe skills that our clients learn and helps them translate theskills in different environments. This way it’s continual and itbecomes a 24/7 program.”

Annette agrees, saying she immediately noticed the ben-efits of Grayson being in residential care.

“The treatment was very intense and comprehensive.Grayson could never have done it without the residentialprogram. It kept him constantly in focus of his goal of get-ting better,” Annette says. “He was surrounded by excellenttreatment, good food, and continual support. He could focuson himself.”

Although Grayson unsuccessfully tried DBT at anotherfacility, he says he could see changes in himself soon after hebegan his treatment at Skyland Trail.

“I had done DBT before, but it was different withCynthia and her team,” Grayson says, explaining that withthe team’s help, he has learned how to tell others exactly howhe was feeling.

“DBT helped me with my bipolar illness because ittaught me other ways to express myself,” he says. “Before,when I was angry I’d used the same word— I was always‘pissed’ or ‘mad.’ Now, I can express my emotions in differentwords and I’ve really expanded my vocabulary so other peo-ple know what I am feeling and how they can help me. NowI use ‘frustrated,’ ‘aggravated,’ or ‘upset.’”

Cynthia also taught Grayson to recognize what triggershis anger, and to learn to walk away and diffuse a situation—instead of acting aggressively and exacerbating it. Annetteagrees, and says she’s proud her son can now recognize hislimits, instead of acting impulsively in a situation.

“DBT is a successful therapeutic tool—teaching him the

Grayson entered Skyland Trail’s Dialectical BehaviorTherapy (DBT) track, one of five Recovery Communitieswhich become a client’s primary treatment system. TheDBT team consists of a DBT therapist, a psychiatrist, theresidential program coordinator and the day treatmentcoordinator. The team has received intensive expertinstruction on scientifically valid treatments and how toimplement and evaluate these treatments at Skyland Trail.

DBT is about accepting an individual and then encour-aging them to change, says Cynthia Cosson, LAPC, NCC,who was Grayson’s primary counselor during his time atSkyland Trail.

“DBT combines the standard cognitive behavioral tech-niques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with con-cepts of distress tolerance, acceptance and mindful aware-ness,” she says. “The dialectic approach balances acceptanceand validation of the client with the need for makingchanges, such as developing new coping techniques anddifferent ways to express emotions.”

feature | PATH TO RECOVERY

I’ve seen DBT work for so many people and it is grati-

fying to watch clients get better. It’s truly rewarding

because I see change in people who have been in a lot

of pain for a long time. —CYNTHIA COSSON, LAPC, NCC

Primary Counselor Cynthia Cosson, LAPC, NCC; Associate MedicalDirector Eric Chavez, MD; Residential Services Coordinator NatoyaMcMurray, MSW, LCSW; and Day Services Coordinator Lisa McDaniel,LCSW (not pictured) all completed intensive DBT training throughBehavioral Tech, LLC.



coping skills is definitely what he needed,”Annette says. “Now when he gets in an argu-ment, like a typical family disagreement, hewill say ‘I’m going to my room’ and he’llwalk away—which is great because it meansthat he knows himself better. Before he’d yelland scream and we’d all be upset.”

“DBT helps you cope with anger,”Grayson adds. “I used to bottle mine up tothe point there was no end in sight to themayhem.”

Cynthia says the DBT Recovery Community at SkylandTrail has grown over the past few years, in part because ofthe successful outcomes of the program.

“DBT works, not only from a research-point of view andfrom the outcomes we see, but from my own personal expe-rience,” she says. “I’ve seen it work for so many people and itis gratifying to watch clients get better. It’s truly rewardingbecause I see change in people who have been in a lot of painfor a long time.”

Grayson is happy to say he’s living proof that DBTworks.

“DBT helped me when I thought there was no help insight. I thought the only way out was lashing out at every-one,” he says.

In addition to his coping skills, Grayson is also quick toexpress other positive changes he has seen in himself.

“Now, people want to be around me more,” Graysonsays. “At first I thought it was awkward and scary, but now Ican be myself—I can be silly or I can be serious. People feel

Grayson and his mom, Annette, both credit DBT for helping Grayson learn to manage bipolar disorder and bringing their family closer together.

I see him as a different person, he’s slower to respond to things andhe’s able to use coping skills and talk things out—it’s like he’s speakinga different language. It’s been a pleasant year since Skyland. There’sbeen a positive change in our family. —ANNETTE CRENSHAW



Developed by researcher Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. in the1970s, DBT was designed specifically for individuals withself-harming behaviors, such as cutting or suicidal thoughts.Although many clients with these behaviors meet criteria forborderline personality disorder (BPD), it is not unusual forindividuals diagnosed with BPD to struggle with other prob-lems—depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stressdisorder, anxiety, eating disorders or substance abuse.

Cynthia says the DBT program is very successful atSkyland Trail, in part because counselors, psychiatrists andresidential staff are all following the same evidence-basedtreatment programs.

“It’s important to have everyone on the same page,”Cynthia says. “A lot of people have difficulty translating theskills they learn during the day and in group sessions intodifferent aspects of their lives, so it’s helpful that they havethat extra support. The Skyland Trail residential staffreceives training in DBT coaching as well. This reinforcesthe skills that our clients learn and helps them translate theskills in different environments. This way it’s continual and itbecomes a 24/7 program.”

Annette agrees, saying she immediately noticed the ben-efits of Grayson being in residential care.

“The treatment was very intense and comprehensive.Grayson could never have done it without the residentialprogram. It kept him constantly in focus of his goal of get-ting better,” Annette says. “He was surrounded by excellenttreatment, good food, and continual support. He could focuson himself.”

Although Grayson unsuccessfully tried DBT at anotherfacility, he says he could see changes in himself soon after hebegan his treatment at Skyland Trail.

“I had done DBT before, but it was different withCynthia and her team,” Grayson says, explaining that withthe team’s help, he has learned how to tell others exactly howhe was feeling.

“DBT helped me with my bipolar illness because ittaught me other ways to express myself,” he says. “Before,when I was angry I’d used the same word— I was always‘pissed’ or ‘mad.’ Now, I can express my emotions in differentwords and I’ve really expanded my vocabulary so other peo-ple know what I am feeling and how they can help me. NowI use ‘frustrated,’ ‘aggravated,’ or ‘upset.’”

Cynthia also taught Grayson to recognize what triggershis anger, and to learn to walk away and diffuse a situation—instead of acting aggressively and exacerbating it. Annetteagrees, and says she’s proud her son can now recognize hislimits, instead of acting impulsively in a situation.

“DBT is a successful therapeutic tool—teaching him the

Grayson entered Skyland Trail’s Dialectical BehaviorTherapy (DBT) track, one of five Recovery Communitieswhich become a client’s primary treatment system. TheDBT team consists of a DBT therapist, a psychiatrist, theresidential program coordinator and the day treatmentcoordinator. The team has received intensive expertinstruction on scientifically valid treatments and how toimplement and evaluate these treatments at Skyland Trail.

DBT is about accepting an individual and then encour-aging them to change, says Cynthia Cosson, LAPC, NCC,who was Grayson’s primary counselor during his time atSkyland Trail.

“DBT combines the standard cognitive behavioral tech-niques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with con-cepts of distress tolerance, acceptance and mindful aware-ness,” she says. “The dialectic approach balances acceptanceand validation of the client with the need for makingchanges, such as developing new coping techniques anddifferent ways to express emotions.”


I’ve seen DBT work for so many people and it is grati-

fying to watch clients get better. It’s truly rewarding

because I see change in people who have been in a lot

of pain for a long time. —CYNTHIA COSSON, LAPC, NCC

Primary Counselor Cynthia Cosson, LAPC, NCC; Associate MedicalDirector Eric Chavez, MD; Residential Services Coordinator NatoyaMcMurray, MSW, LCSW; and Day Services Coordinator Lisa McDaniel,LCSW (not pictured) all completed intensive DBT training throughBehavioral Tech, LLC.



coping skills is definitely what he needed,”Annette says. “Now when he gets in an argu-ment, like a typical family disagreement, hewill say ‘I’m going to my room’ and he’llwalk away—which is great because it meansthat he knows himself better. Before he’d yelland scream and we’d all be upset.”

“DBT helps you cope with anger,”Grayson adds. “I used to bottle mine up tothe point there was no end in sight to themayhem.”

Cynthia says the DBT Recovery Community at SkylandTrail has grown over the past few years, in part because ofthe successful outcomes of the program.

“DBT works, not only from a research-point of view andfrom the outcomes we see, but from my own personal expe-rience,” she says. “I’ve seen it work for so many people and itis gratifying to watch clients get better. It’s truly rewardingbecause I see change in people who have been in a lot of painfor a long time.”

Grayson is happy to say he’s living proof that DBTworks.

“DBT helped me when I thought there was no help insight. I thought the only way out was lashing out at every-one,” he says.

In addition to his coping skills, Grayson is also quick toexpress other positive changes he has seen in himself.

“Now, people want to be around me more,” Graysonsays. “At first I thought it was awkward and scary, but now Ican be myself—I can be silly or I can be serious. People feel

Grayson and his mom, Annette, both credit DBT for helping Grayson learn to manage bipolar disorder and bringing their family closer together.

I see him as a different person, he’s slower to respond to things andhe’s able to use coping skills and talk things out—it’s like he’s speakinga different language. It’s been a pleasant year since Skyland. There’sbeen a positive change in our family. —ANNETTE CRENSHAW


1 0 J O U R N E Y S M AG A Z I N E S K Y L A N D T R A I L

like they can come to me and talk now. It’s good to be ableto help my friends.”

Annette is proud of her son, and sees him finally get-ting a grasp on an illness that had hold of him for so long.

“I see him as a different person, he’s slower to respondto things and he’s able to use coping skills and talk thingsout—it’s like he’s speaking a different language,” she says.“It’s been a pleasant year since Skyland. There’s been a posi-tive change in our family.”

Grayson, too, is excited about the new family dynamic. “My mom and dad—I don’t know what I’d do without

them. My older sister is my backbone, and my younger sis-ter is my best friend,” he says. “Now we’re doing well. We’replanning to go skiing and to Braves games…I look forwardto hanging out with my family.”

Grayson still uses his DBT skills on a daily basis—hesays the workbook sits open in his room.

“Me and my mom, if we have a rough week, we’ll goback and look through the book,” he says.

Annette also sees Grayson using other skills he pickedup during his time at Skyland Trail.

“Sometimes they’d make collages. He’ll still do that if hegets stressed out, and I’ll see him with a magazine cuttingthings out,” she says. “What they did at Skyland Trail—itworked. Grayson was able to be in a place where everyoneis in a similar situation and that gave him the ability to seewhere he was coming from and where he was going.”

And for Grayson, where he’s going is much better thanwhere he’s been.

“DBT put a lot more life in me,” he says. “I’d recom-mend it to anyone. It is the best thing anyone can do if theyare serious about recovery.”


Primary Counselor Cynthia Cosson catches up with Grayson on the Skyland Trail campus.

My mom and dad—I don’t know what I’d do without

them. Now we’re doing well. We’re planning to go skiing

and to Braves games...I look forward to hanging out

with my family. —GRAYSON CRENSHAW


S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 1 1www.skylandtrai l .org

ialectical BehaviorTherapy (DBT) is acomprehensive cog-

nitive-behavioral treatmentdeveloped by Marsha Linehan,Ph.D., ABPP over the past 25years. Dr. Linehan is aProfessor of Psychology, anAdjunct Professor of Psychiatryand Behavioral Sciences at theUniversity of Washington andDirector of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics, aconsortium of research projects which develops new treat-ments and evaluates their efficacy for severely disorderedand multi-diagnostic populations. Dr. Linehan spoke with us about her work.

Q: How did you develop the concept of DBT?A: To develop the DBT concept, I went through hundreds

of treatment manuals to study effective treatment. Ifound the skills that have evidence that they work. DBTcombines acceptance and change. It’s common now, but wasn’t when I started. There is a dialectic tensionbetween accepting reality and changing reality, and you really need to have both of those to go forward.

Pure acceptance and support are not terribly thera-peutic for many disorders and a straight focus on changeis not effective; you really have to accept things beforeyou can change them. This is a balance of validation andacceptance of change.

Q: You’ve taken a group of clients with a reputation forbeing somewhat treatment-resistant and created atherapeutic approach that’s non-judgmental.Philosophically, that is very much in-line with ourholistic approach at Skyland Trail. Why do you thinkit’s important to avoid judgment in therapy?

A: It’s hard to like someone you’re judging and hard to treatsomeone you don’t like. When you judge people, it doesnothing to change things—you can only change things byfiguring out the causes of them. Judging doesn’t figureout the cause, but instead it blames people—and blamingrarely gets you anywhere. So getting therapists to stopbeing judgmental is the big-ticket item for us.

Q: At Skyland Trail, we have a team of four clinicianswho are intensively-trained in DBT.* Why is it impor-tant that clients seek out counselors who receive thisintensive training?

A: If you have a treatment that’s been shown to be effective,then to do it you have to be trained—there is no goodreason to believe someone can do this if they aren’t prop-erly trained. If you’re not doing it by the book, then it’sno longer evidence-based treatment.

What has been happening is that therapists are goingto workshops with no supervision, and then say they’retrained. Then people [clients] come to them for DBT,and it doesn’twork and theybelieve it’s theirlast ditch effort.Then they [theclients] say itdoesn’t work andthey are hopelessand in despair.

This is why we want people to get intensive trainingfrom professionals who know the treatment. Otherwise,people are calling it DBT, but not providing it—we know this is happening all over the country and it’s very disappointing.

Q: Your work has helped countless individuals learn the coping skills necessary to help change theirlives. It must be so rewarding to see how effectiveDBT can be.

A: It’s very rewarding; I get letters from people around theworld who have learned these skills. It’s very meaningfulwhen I hear I’ve helped someone. It’s also important tobe able to provide treatment for a group of people whono one thought they could treat, people who are experi-encing unbelievable pain and suffering.

But the fact that we’ve done good doesn’t mean wecan’t do better. Now, we’re continuing our research andtrying to identify what the most important parts of DBTtreatment are.

*Skyland Trail’s staff received intensive DBT training through Behavioral Tech, LLC, founded by Dr. Linehan.

An INTERVIEW with DBT CREATOR MARSHA LINEHAN Ph.D.

D

Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP

110856_Txt:110856_Txt.qxd 5/16/11 12:09 PM Page 12


like they can come to me and talk now. It’s good to be ableto help my friends.”

Annette is proud of her son, and sees him finally get-ting a grasp on an illness that had hold of him for so long.

“I see him as a different person, he’s slower to respondto things and he’s able to use coping skills and talk thingsout—it’s like he’s speaking a different language,” she says.“It’s been a pleasant year since Skyland. There’s been a posi-tive change in our family.”

Grayson, too, is excited about the new family dynamic. “My mom and dad—I don’t know what I’d do without

them. My older sister is my backbone, and my younger sis-ter is my best friend,” he says. “Now we’re doing well. We’replanning to go skiing and to Braves games…I look forwardto hanging out with my family.”

Grayson still uses his DBT skills on a daily basis—hesays the workbook sits open in his room.

“Me and my mom, if we have a rough week, we’ll goback and look through the book,” he says.

Annette also sees Grayson using other skills he pickedup during his time at Skyland Trail.

“Sometimes they’d make collages. He’ll still do that if hegets stressed out, and I’ll see him with a magazine cuttingthings out,” she says. “What they did at Skyland Trail—itworked. Grayson was able to be in a place where everyoneis in a similar situation and that gave him the ability to seewhere he was coming from and where he was going.”

And for Grayson, where he’s going is much better thanwhere he’s been.

“DBT put a lot more life in me,” he says. “I’d recom-mend it to anyone. It is the best thing anyone can do if theyare serious about recovery.”


Primary Counselor Cynthia Cosson catches up with Grayson on the Skyland Trail campus.

My mom and dad—I don’t know what I’d do without

them. Now we’re doing well. We’re planning to go skiing

and to Braves games...I look forward to hanging out

with my family. —GRAYSON CRENSHAW



ialectical BehaviorTherapy (DBT) is acomprehensive cog-

nitive-behavioral treatmentdeveloped by Marsha Linehan,Ph.D., ABPP over the past 25years. Dr. Linehan is aProfessor of Psychology, anAdjunct Professor of Psychiatryand Behavioral Sciences at theUniversity of Washington andDirector of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics, aconsortium of research projects which develops new treat-ments and evaluates their efficacy for severely disorderedand multi-diagnostic populations. Dr. Linehan spoke with us about her work.

Q: How did you develop the concept of DBT?A: To develop the DBT concept, I went through hundreds

of treatment manuals to study effective treatment. Ifound the skills that have evidence that they work. DBTcombines acceptance and change. It’s common now, but wasn’t when I started. There is a dialectic tensionbetween accepting reality and changing reality, and you really need to have both of those to go forward.

Pure acceptance and support are not terribly thera-peutic for many disorders and a straight focus on changeis not effective; you really have to accept things beforeyou can change them. This is a balance of validation andacceptance of change.

Q: You’ve taken a group of clients with a reputation forbeing somewhat treatment-resistant and created atherapeutic approach that’s non-judgmental.Philosophically, that is very much in-line with ourholistic approach at Skyland Trail. Why do you thinkit’s important to avoid judgment in therapy?

A: It’s hard to like someone you’re judging and hard to treatsomeone you don’t like. When you judge people, it doesnothing to change things—you can only change things byfiguring out the causes of them. Judging doesn’t figureout the cause, but instead it blames people—and blamingrarely gets you anywhere. So getting therapists to stopbeing judgmental is the big-ticket item for us.

Q: At Skyland Trail, we have a team of four clinicianswho are intensively-trained in DBT.* Why is it impor-tant that clients seek out counselors who receive thisintensive training?

A: If you have a treatment that’s been shown to be effective,then to do it you have to be trained—there is no goodreason to believe someone can do this if they aren’t prop-erly trained. If you’re not doing it by the book, then it’sno longer evidence-based treatment.

What has been happening is that therapists are goingto workshops with no supervision, and then say they’retrained. Then people [clients] come to them for DBT,and it doesn’twork and theybelieve it’s theirlast ditch effort.Then they [theclients] say itdoesn’t work andthey are hopelessand in despair.

This is why we want people to get intensive trainingfrom professionals who know the treatment. Otherwise,people are calling it DBT, but not providing it—we know this is happening all over the country and it’s very disappointing.

Q: Your work has helped countless individuals learn the coping skills necessary to help change theirlives. It must be so rewarding to see how effectiveDBT can be.

A: It’s very rewarding; I get letters from people around theworld who have learned these skills. It’s very meaningfulwhen I hear I’ve helped someone. It’s also important tobe able to provide treatment for a group of people whono one thought they could treat, people who are experi-encing unbelievable pain and suffering.

But the fact that we’ve done good doesn’t mean wecan’t do better. Now, we’re continuing our research andtrying to identify what the most important parts of DBTtreatment are.

*Skyland Trail’s staff received intensive DBT training through Behavioral Tech, LLC, founded by Dr. Linehan.

An INTERVIEW with DBT CREATOR MARSHA LINEHAN Ph.D.

D

Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP


rapid-cycling ways. Medications seemed to help only mini-mally. Hospitalization actually appeared to worsen symp-toms. No psychotherapeutic techniques proved to be effec-tive. Treatment options for people with these illnesses werelimited, and many psychiatrists and psychologists felt unableto help them recover. At Skyland Trail, we began to see thatmore and more individuals with such needs were requesting

admission into our programs andlooking to us for help. We want-ed to offer that assistance anddeveloped a program with thatgoal in mind.

Out of desperation to helpher patients who saw the worldas contradictory opposites, aclinical researcher namedMarsha Linehan, Ph.D. devel-oped a new type of therapy thathas been shown to help people

with rapid-cycling mood disor-ders, personality disorders, and even

co-morbid mood and substance use disorders reconciletheir polarized views of the world, and ultimately feel andfunction better. The therapy is called Dialectical BehaviorTherapy (DBT) and has provided hope to many patientswho previously thought they might not recover.

One of the basic tenets of DBT is that two things thatappear opposite can be true at the same time. One mightfeel so horrible that death seems like an acceptable optionwhile simultaneously deciding to keep living; one might beso angry at one’s spouse that escaping the relationship


editorial | MESSAGE FROM THE MEDIC AL DIRECTOR

pposite ideas or feelings may initially appearto be contradictory. For instance, how can Iwant to look great in my swimsuit for a tripto the beach but also really want to eat that

glazed doughnut? Or how will the anger I have toward mydog who chewed one of my new shoes fit into my desireto snuggle with her tonight? Such seemingly conflictingpoints of view might leadone to see the worldthrough a polarizing per-spective. Unresolved,these contradictory feel-ings may also lead to poordecisions and dysfunctionin life.

Patients with rapid-cycling mood changes orpersonality disordersoften develop polarizedsenses of their worlds inthe same ways I just men-tioned. Not knowing if one will feel elated or depressed atany given point in time—or if intimate relationships willsuddenly end because of one’s symptoms—can easilypolarize affected people to expect bad and scary thingsalways to occur. Many such individuals start to experiencehopelessness, agony, and despair which often leads tomaking self-injurious and impulsive decisions, likeattempting suicide.

Historically, mental health providers had few inter-ventions for the patients who saw their worlds in these

By Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH

Vice President of Professional Services & Medical Director

Doughnuts and the Beach:The Importance of DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

(DBT) has provided hope to many

patients who previously thought

they might not recover.



sounds appealing while simultaneouslywanting to invest in maintaining therelationship. These co-occurring ideasand feelings that seem opposite canindeed simultaneously be true. Suchdialectics can open a new way of seeingthe world and provide relief to patientswho historically saw only one option in difficult situations.

Skyland Trail is committed to remaininginformed and engaged in providing the best,evidence-based care for the clients we serve. Asthe research literature showed that DBT is an emerging,effective treatment for many of our patients, we decided itwas essential for our clinical services to integrate DBT intothe tools we use to help our patients recover from illness. Tothat end, we sent a multi-disciplinary team to two weeks ofintensive DBT training and developed a DBT RecoveryCommunity with high fidelity to Dr. Linehan’s model of thetherapy. We are one of only a few residential treatment facil-ities for adults across the country with a DBT team and thecapabilities of providing this type of therapy for patients.

Preliminary clinical and functionaloutcome data suggest that our DBTRecovery Community provides sig-nificant help for patients with certainneeds. Learning and practicing newtools like mindfulness (meditation),distress tolerance, and alternativecoping strategies during times ofdespair are integral to DBT, and ourDBT team supports our patients andone another in cultivating these tools.

Helping patients expand their worldviews and expectations is not merely a component of DBT, itis also a theme within Skyland Trail. People with any type ofmental illness tend to become focused on their illness andthemselves. We believe that this can become consuming and

toxic. Through DBT, art and horticultural therapies, teamexercises, volunteerism, and many other programs offeredat Skyland Trail, our intent is to expand patients’ views ofthe world and their place in it. Integrating DBT into ourservices fits very nicely with the philosophy that driveseverything we do.

In the spirit of expanding options and seeing thingsdifferently, I ate my doughnut. It tasted great and I felt sati-ated for that moment. Then I committed to going to thegym every day before the beach trip. That felt good, too.

Expansion of my world view led to new options that helpedme in several unanticipated ways. Skyland Trail’s intensiveDBT team helps our patients resolve more-serious con-flicts, and hopefully new, happy points of view.

Helping patients expand their world views

and expectations is not merely a component of

DBT, it is also a theme within Skyland Trail.


rapid-cycling ways. Medications seemed to help only mini-mally. Hospitalization actually appeared to worsen symp-toms. No psychotherapeutic techniques proved to be effec-tive. Treatment options for people with these illnesses werelimited, and many psychiatrists and psychologists felt unableto help them recover. At Skyland Trail, we began to see thatmore and more individuals with such needs were requesting

admission into our programs andlooking to us for help. We want-ed to offer that assistance anddeveloped a program with thatgoal in mind.

Out of desperation to helpher patients who saw the worldas contradictory opposites, aclinical researcher namedMarsha Linehan, Ph.D. devel-oped a new type of therapy thathas been shown to help people

with rapid-cycling mood disor-ders, personality disorders, and even

co-morbid mood and substance use disorders reconciletheir polarized views of the world, and ultimately feel andfunction better. The therapy is called Dialectical BehaviorTherapy (DBT) and has provided hope to many patientswho previously thought they might not recover.

One of the basic tenets of DBT is that two things thatappear opposite can be true at the same time. One mightfeel so horrible that death seems like an acceptable optionwhile simultaneously deciding to keep living; one might beso angry at one’s spouse that escaping the relationship


editorial | MESSAGE FROM THE MEDIC AL DIRECTOR

pposite ideas or feelings may initially appearto be contradictory. For instance, how can Iwant to look great in my swimsuit for a tripto the beach but also really want to eat that

glazed doughnut? Or how will the anger I have toward mydog who chewed one of my new shoes fit into my desireto snuggle with her tonight? Such seemingly conflictingpoints of view might leadone to see the worldthrough a polarizing per-spective. Unresolved,these contradictory feel-ings may also lead to poordecisions and dysfunctionin life.

Patients with rapid-cycling mood changes orpersonality disordersoften develop polarizedsenses of their worlds inthe same ways I just men-tioned. Not knowing if one will feel elated or depressed atany given point in time—or if intimate relationships willsuddenly end because of one’s symptoms—can easilypolarize affected people to expect bad and scary thingsalways to occur. Many such individuals start to experiencehopelessness, agony, and despair which often leads tomaking self-injurious and impulsive decisions, likeattempting suicide.

Historically, mental health providers had few inter-ventions for the patients who saw their worlds in these

By Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH

Vice President of Professional Services & Medical Director

Doughnuts and the Beach:The Importance of DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

(DBT) has provided hope to many

patients who previously thought

they might not recover.



sounds appealing while simultaneouslywanting to invest in maintaining therelationship. These co-occurring ideasand feelings that seem opposite canindeed simultaneously be true. Suchdialectics can open a new way of seeingthe world and provide relief to patientswho historically saw only one option in difficult situations.

Skyland Trail is committed to remaininginformed and engaged in providing the best,evidence-based care for the clients we serve. Asthe research literature showed that DBT is an emerging,effective treatment for many of our patients, we decided itwas essential for our clinical services to integrate DBT intothe tools we use to help our patients recover from illness. Tothat end, we sent a multi-disciplinary team to two weeks ofintensive DBT training and developed a DBT RecoveryCommunity with high fidelity to Dr. Linehan’s model of thetherapy. We are one of only a few residential treatment facil-ities for adults across the country with a DBT team and thecapabilities of providing this type of therapy for patients.

Preliminary clinical and functionaloutcome data suggest that our DBTRecovery Community provides sig-nificant help for patients with certainneeds. Learning and practicing newtools like mindfulness (meditation),distress tolerance, and alternativecoping strategies during times ofdespair are integral to DBT, and ourDBT team supports our patients andone another in cultivating these tools.

Helping patients expand their worldviews and expectations is not merely a component of DBT, itis also a theme within Skyland Trail. People with any type ofmental illness tend to become focused on their illness andthemselves. We believe that this can become consuming and

toxic. Through DBT, art and horticultural therapies, teamexercises, volunteerism, and many other programs offeredat Skyland Trail, our intent is to expand patients’ views ofthe world and their place in it. Integrating DBT into ourservices fits very nicely with the philosophy that driveseverything we do.

In the spirit of expanding options and seeing thingsdifferently, I ate my doughnut. It tasted great and I felt sati-ated for that moment. Then I committed to going to thegym every day before the beach trip. That felt good, too.

Expansion of my world view led to new options that helpedme in several unanticipated ways. Skyland Trail’s intensiveDBT team helps our patients resolve more-serious con-flicts, and hopefully new, happy points of view.

Helping patients expand their world views

and expectations is not merely a component of

DBT, it is also a theme within Skyland Trail.


The McCartys had no family history or experience withmental illness, and soon found they were navigating unchart-ed territory as they searched for ways to help David recoverfrom his illness.

“We didn’t know what to expect and we certainly didn’tknow what kind of journey we would be on,” says DonMcCarty.

“I was totally confused,” adds Maryland, who initiallythought her son would be better in a matter of weeks. “I didnot understand what I was tackling.”

When David came to Skyland Trail in March 2007, Donand Maryland found the treatment they needed for him andsoon realized they, too, were part of the Skyland community.

“We’re not just here for the individual with a mental ill-ness, we’re here for their family and loved ones as well,” says

Tara McDaniel, MS, LPC, Skyland Trail’s family advocate.“Family members are often a significant part of a client’s sup-port system, so it’s crucial the family is educated about theillness and its symptoms.”

To provide education about mental illness and recovery,Skyland Trail offers different levels of family therapy andsupport programming to make sure the family unit is treatedin tandem with the client. One of the newest additions to thecontinuum of care is a one-day family orientation, coordinat-ed by Admissions Director LaQuisha White, MS, LPC.

“We know this process is stressful and that coming hereis often the culmination of many smaller battles with mentalillness,” White says. “Our orientation is a chance for the fami-lies of our clients to meet our treatment team and to learnabout what their loved one will go through in recovery.”


Family Support atSkyland Trail

By Sus an L i n ds e y • Photography By Kati e Gu d g el

healthcare | RESOURCES FOR FAMIL IES

t’s been more than four yearssince Don and Maryland

McCarty’s son David received adiagnosis of schizophrenia, perma-nently altering the fabric of theirclose-knit family.

“We go from having a son who’sin college and who is going on amission trip, to having a son whois—just one month later—alwaysafraid and paranoid,” says MarylandMcCarty. “It was a very rapid turn-around and it left us stunned,shocked, confused and frightened.”

I

Don and Maryland McCarty, whose son received treatment atSkyland Trail



sented in an intimate environment, where you have anopportunity to learn and ask questions.”

Maryland says she appreciated being in a place whereher story resonated with others and where she could getpractical advice.

“Everything you thought was going to happen isunraveling, so it’s very helpful to have the correct infor-

By giving families practical information, the Skyland Trailteam hopes to set a strong support structure in place from thevery beginning.

“It is important for family members to have their ownsource of support during this difficult time,” says McDaniel.“We have both education and support for families available so they can appropriately participate in their loved one’srecovery.”

The stress placed on family members and friends by aloved ones’ illness underscores the need for comprehensivetreatment for the entire support system. Skyland Trail’s pri-mary counselors will often incorporate family members intoa client’s sessions, or arrange an appointment with familytherapist Jill Rosenberg, LCSW.

“Supporting someone who has a chronic mental illnesscan be an overwhelming task,” Rosenberg says. “A major goalof family treatment is to understand the challenges the clientis going through and help the family provide the best possiblecare for their loved one.

“Family therapy can be very challenging, but the rewardsfor participation can be tremendous.”

With their son in the residential treatment program atSkyland Trail South, the McCartys began participating in theFamily Support, Training and Education Program (STEP)meetings. The once-a-week group, run by AdjunctiveTherapies Coordinator Shelley Danser, gives family membersa chance to learn more about mental illness from experts inthe field, and also learn coping skills for themselves and theirloved ones.

Maryland says she was also touched by the camaraderieshe found at STEP, finding comfort and strength with otherswho were on a parallel path.

“It was a support group where people could share storiesand you realize you’re around people who understand,”Maryland says. “STEP has outstanding speakers and is pre-

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES AT SKYLAND TRAIL

Family Orientation: A monthly one-dayeducation and process-oriented seminar appropri-ate for all caregivers and designed to provide thefamilies of our new admissions with general infor-mation regarding the process and experience ofrecovery.

The family Support, Training andEducation Program (STEP): gives families andfriends the knowledge and skills for self carethrough educational seminars, as well as appropri-ate support for loved ones with mental illness.The program is divided into three 12-week ses-sions that run throughout the year. Please visitour website for a calendar of upcoming STEPspeakers: http://www.skylandtrail.org/support-groups

Family Therapy and Family Counseling:Sessions are available by appointment through aclient’s primary counselor.

Family Advocate: available as a resource forthose with a loved one at Skyland Trail.

Continued on page 16

Jill Rosenberg, LaQuisha White, Tara McDaniel and Shelley Danser work together to make sure families get the support they need whilea loved one is at Skyland Trail.


The McCartys had no family history or experience withmental illness, and soon found they were navigating unchart-ed territory as they searched for ways to help David recoverfrom his illness.

“We didn’t know what to expect and we certainly didn’tknow what kind of journey we would be on,” says DonMcCarty.

“I was totally confused,” adds Maryland, who initiallythought her son would be better in a matter of weeks. “I didnot understand what I was tackling.”

When David came to Skyland Trail in March 2007, Donand Maryland found the treatment they needed for him andsoon realized they, too, were part of the Skyland community.

“We’re not just here for the individual with a mental ill-ness, we’re here for their family and loved ones as well,” says

Tara McDaniel, MS, LPC, Skyland Trail’s family advocate.“Family members are often a significant part of a client’s sup-port system, so it’s crucial the family is educated about theillness and its symptoms.”

To provide education about mental illness and recovery,Skyland Trail offers different levels of family therapy andsupport programming to make sure the family unit is treatedin tandem with the client. One of the newest additions to thecontinuum of care is a one-day family orientation, coordinat-ed by Admissions Director LaQuisha White, MS, LPC.

“We know this process is stressful and that coming hereis often the culmination of many smaller battles with mentalillness,” White says. “Our orientation is a chance for the fami-lies of our clients to meet our treatment team and to learnabout what their loved one will go through in recovery.”


Family Support atSkyland Trail

By Sus an L i n ds e y • Photography By Kati e Gu d g el

healthcare | RESOURCES FOR FAMIL IES

t’s been more than four yearssince Don and Maryland

McCarty’s son David received adiagnosis of schizophrenia, perma-nently altering the fabric of theirclose-knit family.

“We go from having a son who’sin college and who is going on amission trip, to having a son whois—just one month later—alwaysafraid and paranoid,” says MarylandMcCarty. “It was a very rapid turn-around and it left us stunned,shocked, confused and frightened.”

I

Don and Maryland McCarty, whose son received treatment atSkyland Trail



sented in an intimate environment, where you have anopportunity to learn and ask questions.”

Maryland says she appreciated being in a place whereher story resonated with others and where she could getpractical advice.

“Everything you thought was going to happen isunraveling, so it’s very helpful to have the correct infor-

By giving families practical information, the Skyland Trailteam hopes to set a strong support structure in place from thevery beginning.

“It is important for family members to have their ownsource of support during this difficult time,” says McDaniel.“We have both education and support for families available so they can appropriately participate in their loved one’srecovery.”

The stress placed on family members and friends by aloved ones’ illness underscores the need for comprehensivetreatment for the entire support system. Skyland Trail’s pri-mary counselors will often incorporate family members intoa client’s sessions, or arrange an appointment with familytherapist Jill Rosenberg, LCSW.

“Supporting someone who has a chronic mental illnesscan be an overwhelming task,” Rosenberg says. “A major goalof family treatment is to understand the challenges the clientis going through and help the family provide the best possiblecare for their loved one.

“Family therapy can be very challenging, but the rewardsfor participation can be tremendous.”

With their son in the residential treatment program atSkyland Trail South, the McCartys began participating in theFamily Support, Training and Education Program (STEP)meetings. The once-a-week group, run by AdjunctiveTherapies Coordinator Shelley Danser, gives family membersa chance to learn more about mental illness from experts inthe field, and also learn coping skills for themselves and theirloved ones.

Maryland says she was also touched by the camaraderieshe found at STEP, finding comfort and strength with otherswho were on a parallel path.

“It was a support group where people could share storiesand you realize you’re around people who understand,”Maryland says. “STEP has outstanding speakers and is pre-

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES AT SKYLAND TRAIL

Family Orientation: A monthly one-dayeducation and process-oriented seminar appropri-ate for all caregivers and designed to provide thefamilies of our new admissions with general infor-mation regarding the process and experience ofrecovery.

The family Support, Training andEducation Program (STEP): gives families andfriends the knowledge and skills for self carethrough educational seminars, as well as appropri-ate support for loved ones with mental illness.The program is divided into three 12-week ses-sions that run throughout the year. Please visitour website for a calendar of upcoming STEPspeakers: http://www.skylandtrail.org/support-groups

Family Therapy and Family Counseling:Sessions are available by appointment through aclient’s primary counselor.

Family Advocate: available as a resource forthose with a loved one at Skyland Trail.

Continued on page 16

Jill Rosenberg, LaQuisha White, Tara McDaniel and Shelley Danser work together to make sure families get the support they need whilea loved one is at Skyland Trail.



As a family advocate, TaraMcDaniel, MS, LPC serves as aliaison between a client’s family andstaff at Skyland Trail.

Why doesn’t my loved onewant me to know abouthis/her treatment?

I talk with families about HIPAA(The Health Insurance Portabilityand Accountability Act of 1996)and the importance of respectingthe client’s privacy. I encouragefamilies to attend support groupsand share their experiences andfeelings in this environment. I alsoencourage practicing self-care dur-ing this difficult time. Tips includemaintaining physical fitness through

regular exercise and proper nutri-tion, knowing when to say “no” orset boundaries with others, sched-uling time with friends, and educat-ing yourself on mental illness andother available resources for familymembers.

How long will my loved one bein treatment?

We talk about recovery being aprocess for each client. I discussthe various levels of treatmentavailable at Skyland Trail and how aclient might move through theselevels. I strongly encourage familiesto attend our support group tobecome educated on their lovedone’s illness and learn about the

recovery process. If they are unableto attend STEP, we discuss othereducation and support options forfamilies.

How do I set a specific limit orboundary with my loved one?

I always encourage families topose these questions to our pri-mary counselors. The primarycounselor is a wonderful resourceand can help guide families withthese issues. Of course, boundarysetting is often being discussed inour family support group so I letfamilies know this would be a greatresource too. I also suggest individ-ual therapy and other supportgroups as needed.

mation and knowledge of the disease and how to supportyour loved one.”

Don says the family support was crucial in giving hisfamily the tools necessary to move forward.

“Through education and support you transform, andyou understand what you’re dealing with and you begin torealize different expectations need to be set for not onlyyour loved one but also for yourself,” he says. “That’s com-forting, once you realize a course of action.”

Providing families with that course of action is what thedifferent family support programs at Skyland Trail aim todo— welcoming family involvement from the time ofadmission, to when a client has moved on in their recovery.

“The ultimate goal of family treatment is to encouragerespect for a loved one’s struggle, promote a better under-standing of their illness, provide new tools to empower thefamily to take better care of themselves and offer a clearerunderstanding of what can be done to promote a family’s

STRESS CAN TEAR PEOPLE APART OR IT CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER—I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR BRINGING PEOPLE

TOGETHER. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ALONE. SOME OF THE CLOSEST FAMILIES ARE

THOSE THAT HAVE ENDURED SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES AND HAVE COMMITTED TO WORKING ON

THESE CHALLENGES TOGETHER. IT IS TREMENDOUSLY REWARDING AND INSPIRING TO WORK WITH FAMILIES WHO ARE

ACTIVELY DEALING WITH SUCH CHALLENGES.

overall wellness and recovery,” Rosenberg says. Today, the McCarty’s speak of David’s many accom-

plishments since he has moved on from Skyland Trail. He’snow living in a group home and working at a food co-opin nearby Gwinnett County.

“It was lots of little steps. I can’t imagine doing it with-out the support of a facility like Skyland Trail. David want-ed to be a minister and he is still serving others, but in adifferent way,” says Maryland. “And he sings in the choir atchurch.”

“Yes, there he is,” adds Don, “a person with schizo-phrenia front and center singing in the choir.

“I think Skyland Trail gave him a nice foundation tohelp deal with his illness. David will tell you he’s not thesame person, he’s said that before. He’s acknowledged thatto us and we know that. You have to have new dreams andexpectations going forward and I tell him all the time, ‘I’mproud of you David.’”

COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR FAMILY ADVOCATE

Family Support continued from page 15

—Jill Rosenberg, LCSW, Skyland Trail’s family therapist



editorial | THE GIFT OF SKYLAND TRAIL

n the fall of 2008, I experienced my first acutemanic episode and, quickly thereafter, I was diag-

nosed with bipolar disorder. My mania had pavedthe way toward full-blown psychosis before I was

hospitalized and, by the time I was admitted, my delusionsand hallucinations were so intense that I could no longer distinguish fantasy from reality. I wasseeing and talking to bands of imagi-nary little people; I believed I had a fictitious new job waiting for me inRome, despite never having applied forone; and I was certain that God wassending me messages. In short, I hadlost my mind.

I was blessed to have a family full ofphysicians who quickly recognized mymania for what it was and got me to thehospital before I could do permanentdamage to myself or anyone else. Whilea psychiatric hospital was certainly thebest place for me at first, as it helped meget stabilized, it wasn’t the best place forme to actually get well.

I needed more than temporary sta-bilization after my psychotic break. Ineeded the support, education, compas-sion and guidance that lead to truerecovery. I found all of that and more atSkyland Trail.

Upon arriving at Skyland, I was ter-rified. My family had chosen Skyland Trail because of its stellar reputation in treating bipolar disorder in particular,but I was not in on the decision, as I was still too fragile toengage in any higher-level decision making. I could decide to get up, brush my teeth, shower and eat, but that was prettymuch it. So, I trusted my husband and my parents to makethe right decision, and true to form, they did.

The fears that I felt upon entering the doors of SkylandTrail were allayed within minutes. I was immediately awarethat this place was nothing like the psychiatric wards I hadbecome used to. The staff looked me in the eye when theyspoke to me; they didn’t patronize me; they didn’t seem

Skyland Trail Gave Me Hope

afraid of catching what I had, and they genuinely wanted tohelp. To top it off, the grounds were actually conducive tohealing. From the greenhouse to the gym to the library to themusic room, it was clear that this was a very special place. Inthe psych wards and hospitals, there were no flowers or gymsor greenhouses, no musical instruments or libraries, no yoga

classes or nutritionists. But Skyland isn’t just unlike any mental

health facility I’ve ever attended. It’s unlikeany other place I’ve ever been. In the near-ly two months I spent in Skyland Trail’sday treatment program, I learned moreabout myself and my potential than I didin all my years in college, law school andpublic health graduate school combined.

The people at Skyland helped mebelieve in myself again. They taught methat having a mental illness didn’t meanthat I had to scale down my dreams formyself. The staff taught me that I was stillcapable of so much more, and most of all,they taught me how to harness that poten-tial to the utmost by learning about my illness and how to treat it.

Where other mental health profession-als had previously told me to ask less ofmyself because of my illness, the staff atSkyland convinced me to ask more ofmyself than I ever thought possible—bothdespite and because of my illness. And

they did more than persuade me to ask more of myself. Theytaught me how to actually achieve it by accepting the realityof my illness and learning vital skills to better control it, asopposed to letting it control me.

I don’t expect to ever be able to repay the people atSkyland Trail for all of the gifts they have given me (not tomention the fact that they granted me a scholarship throughthe Financial Aid Program), but my hope is that by continu-ing to volunteer—by teaching writing workshops to currentclients, speaking about my experiences and doing anythingelse possible to help—I can at least give a little back to a place that gave me so much.

MELODY MOEZZI IS A WRITER, ATTORNEY, SPEAKER AND ACTIVIST. SHE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE

AWARD-WINNING BOOK, WAR ON ERROR: REAL STORIES OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS.

I



As a family advocate, TaraMcDaniel, MS, LPC serves as aliaison between a client’s family andstaff at Skyland Trail.

Why doesn’t my loved onewant me to know abouthis/her treatment?

I talk with families about HIPAA(The Health Insurance Portabilityand Accountability Act of 1996)and the importance of respectingthe client’s privacy. I encouragefamilies to attend support groupsand share their experiences andfeelings in this environment. I alsoencourage practicing self-care dur-ing this difficult time. Tips includemaintaining physical fitness through

regular exercise and proper nutri-tion, knowing when to say “no” orset boundaries with others, sched-uling time with friends, and educat-ing yourself on mental illness andother available resources for familymembers.

How long will my loved one bein treatment?

We talk about recovery being aprocess for each client. I discussthe various levels of treatmentavailable at Skyland Trail and how aclient might move through theselevels. I strongly encourage familiesto attend our support group tobecome educated on their lovedone’s illness and learn about the

recovery process. If they are unableto attend STEP, we discuss othereducation and support options forfamilies.

How do I set a specific limit orboundary with my loved one?

I always encourage families topose these questions to our pri-mary counselors. The primarycounselor is a wonderful resourceand can help guide families withthese issues. Of course, boundarysetting is often being discussed inour family support group so I letfamilies know this would be a greatresource too. I also suggest individ-ual therapy and other supportgroups as needed.

mation and knowledge of the disease and how to supportyour loved one.”

Don says the family support was crucial in giving hisfamily the tools necessary to move forward.

“Through education and support you transform, andyou understand what you’re dealing with and you begin torealize different expectations need to be set for not onlyyour loved one but also for yourself,” he says. “That’s com-forting, once you realize a course of action.”

Providing families with that course of action is what thedifferent family support programs at Skyland Trail aim todo— welcoming family involvement from the time ofadmission, to when a client has moved on in their recovery.

“The ultimate goal of family treatment is to encouragerespect for a loved one’s struggle, promote a better under-standing of their illness, provide new tools to empower thefamily to take better care of themselves and offer a clearerunderstanding of what can be done to promote a family’s

STRESS CAN TEAR PEOPLE APART OR IT CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER—I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR BRINGING PEOPLE

TOGETHER. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ALONE. SOME OF THE CLOSEST FAMILIES ARE

THOSE THAT HAVE ENDURED SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES AND HAVE COMMITTED TO WORKING ON

THESE CHALLENGES TOGETHER. IT IS TREMENDOUSLY REWARDING AND INSPIRING TO WORK WITH FAMILIES WHO ARE

ACTIVELY DEALING WITH SUCH CHALLENGES.

overall wellness and recovery,” Rosenberg says. Today, the McCarty’s speak of David’s many accom-

plishments since he has moved on from Skyland Trail. He’snow living in a group home and working at a food co-opin nearby Gwinnett County.

“It was lots of little steps. I can’t imagine doing it with-out the support of a facility like Skyland Trail. David want-ed to be a minister and he is still serving others, but in adifferent way,” says Maryland. “And he sings in the choir atchurch.”

“Yes, there he is,” adds Don, “a person with schizo-phrenia front and center singing in the choir.

“I think Skyland Trail gave him a nice foundation tohelp deal with his illness. David will tell you he’s not thesame person, he’s said that before. He’s acknowledged thatto us and we know that. You have to have new dreams andexpectations going forward and I tell him all the time, ‘I’mproud of you David.’”

COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR FAMILY ADVOCATE

Family Support continued from page 15

—Jill Rosenberg, LCSW, Skyland Trail’s family therapist



editorial | THE GIFT OF SKYLAND TRAIL

n the fall of 2008, I experienced my first acutemanic episode and, quickly thereafter, I was diag-

nosed with bipolar disorder. My mania had pavedthe way toward full-blown psychosis before I was

hospitalized and, by the time I was admitted, my delusionsand hallucinations were so intense that I could no longer distinguish fantasy from reality. I wasseeing and talking to bands of imagi-nary little people; I believed I had a fictitious new job waiting for me inRome, despite never having applied forone; and I was certain that God wassending me messages. In short, I hadlost my mind.

I was blessed to have a family full ofphysicians who quickly recognized mymania for what it was and got me to thehospital before I could do permanentdamage to myself or anyone else. Whilea psychiatric hospital was certainly thebest place for me at first, as it helped meget stabilized, it wasn’t the best place forme to actually get well.

I needed more than temporary sta-bilization after my psychotic break. Ineeded the support, education, compas-sion and guidance that lead to truerecovery. I found all of that and more atSkyland Trail.

Upon arriving at Skyland, I was ter-rified. My family had chosen Skyland Trail because of its stellar reputation in treating bipolar disorder in particular,but I was not in on the decision, as I was still too fragile toengage in any higher-level decision making. I could decide to get up, brush my teeth, shower and eat, but that was prettymuch it. So, I trusted my husband and my parents to makethe right decision, and true to form, they did.

The fears that I felt upon entering the doors of SkylandTrail were allayed within minutes. I was immediately awarethat this place was nothing like the psychiatric wards I hadbecome used to. The staff looked me in the eye when theyspoke to me; they didn’t patronize me; they didn’t seem

Skyland Trail Gave Me Hope

afraid of catching what I had, and they genuinely wanted tohelp. To top it off, the grounds were actually conducive tohealing. From the greenhouse to the gym to the library to themusic room, it was clear that this was a very special place. Inthe psych wards and hospitals, there were no flowers or gymsor greenhouses, no musical instruments or libraries, no yoga

classes or nutritionists. But Skyland isn’t just unlike any mental

health facility I’ve ever attended. It’s unlikeany other place I’ve ever been. In the near-ly two months I spent in Skyland Trail’sday treatment program, I learned moreabout myself and my potential than I didin all my years in college, law school andpublic health graduate school combined.

The people at Skyland helped mebelieve in myself again. They taught methat having a mental illness didn’t meanthat I had to scale down my dreams formyself. The staff taught me that I was stillcapable of so much more, and most of all,they taught me how to harness that poten-tial to the utmost by learning about my illness and how to treat it.

Where other mental health profession-als had previously told me to ask less ofmyself because of my illness, the staff atSkyland convinced me to ask more ofmyself than I ever thought possible—bothdespite and because of my illness. And

they did more than persuade me to ask more of myself. Theytaught me how to actually achieve it by accepting the realityof my illness and learning vital skills to better control it, asopposed to letting it control me.

I don’t expect to ever be able to repay the people atSkyland Trail for all of the gifts they have given me (not tomention the fact that they granted me a scholarship throughthe Financial Aid Program), but my hope is that by continu-ing to volunteer—by teaching writing workshops to currentclients, speaking about my experiences and doing anythingelse possible to help—I can at least give a little back to a place that gave me so much.

MELODY MOEZZI IS A WRITER, ATTORNEY, SPEAKER AND ACTIVIST. SHE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE

AWARD-WINNING BOOK, WAR ON ERROR: REAL STORIES OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS.

I



events | GRATITUDE AND GIV ING

BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER RAISES MONEY FOR FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM

kyland Trail’s 13th annualBenefits of Laughter gala raised

$540,000 for the Financial Aid Fund,which provides need-based assistanceto our clients and families. HeldOctober 21, 2010 at the beautiful St.Regis Atlanta, the event featuredentertainment by John Heffron, win-ner of the popular television seriesLast Comic Standing. The HonoraryChairs for Benefits of Laughter 2010were community leaders and long-time friends of Skyland Trail, Amy

S and Cecil Conlee. Benefits ofLaughter was organizedby co-chairs LeslieWierman and AnneHennessy, who were assist-ed by a dedicated team ofcommunity and businessvolunteers. Business leaderJim Kelley chaired the corpo-rate committee, which secureda number of high-profilesponsorships for the event,including AirTran Airways.

BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER PATRON PARTY

Anne Hennessy, Dina Woodruff, Betsy West

Sarah and Scott Goodman, CarolGoodman

Jim Kelley and Anne Morgan, Leslie andDavid Wierman, Anne and Peter Hennessy

kyland Trail thanks Kelly Loefflerand Jeffrey Sprecher for opening

their lovely home to donors, friendsand sponsors at the Patron Party forBenefits of Laughter 2010. Theevening was a chance to celebrate thisyear’s successful event.

S

John and Helen Gordon, Karen and RichardParker

Terry Vawter, Michelle Sullivan, Kim Marks Duvall and Rex Fuqua with Skyland TrailPresident Beth Finnerty

Tommy and Wally Hills

Benefits of Laughter 2010 Honorary Chairs Amyand Cecil Conlee

Mark West, Patron Party hosts Kelly Loeffler andJeffrey Sprecher, Beth Jones, Leslie Wierman

Robby and Tyler Wynne



DEDICATION OF THE DOROTHY C. FUQUA CENTER AT SKYLAND TRAIL

n November 2010, Skyland Tailheld a ribbon cutting and dedica-

tion for the Dorothy C. FuquaCenter at Skyland Trail. The day celebrated named additions to thebuilding: the Hugh M. Inman Wing;the Goodman Training andEducation Center; the Charles EvansComputer Learning Center; theTompkins Family Art Gallery; theDot and Ed Jackson Patio Gardenand The Pathway to Recovery.

I


Betty Ann Inman, CarolGoodman, Rex Fuqua,Linda Munson, DotJackson, Michael Tompkins,June Tompkins, Mark West,Chairman of the Board ofDirectors

FOURTH ANNUAL ASSOCIATES LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW

kyland Trail’s Fourth AnnualAssociates Luncheon & Fashion

Show raised more than $35,000 forSkyland Trail’s direct client services.The afternoon featured guest speaker

and author JulieHersh and fash-ions by Saks FifthAvenue. Co-chairs for theevent wereAssociatesPresident SarahGoodman andVice PresidentLeigh Pollard.Major sponsors

for the 2011 luncheon includedVEINInnovations, Oxford Industries,Ann Paré Dermatology, and LauraPearce Ltd.

S

June Tompkins and Inez Oliver

Associates LuncheonSponsor Nancy Fallon andEvent Co-Chair Leigh Pollard

Doug Jackson, Dot Jackson, Clay Jackson Betty Ann Inman, Skyland Trail President Beth Finnerty, Carol Goodman

Mary Ann Quin, TomJohnson, Dorothy C. Fuqua,Rex Fuqua, author andguest speaker Julie Hersh

Sara Cotton, Barbara Sparkes, Anna Paré

Elizabeth Spiegel



events | GRATITUDE AND GIV ING


kyland Trail’s 13th annualBenefits of Laughter gala raised

$540,000 for the Financial Aid Fund,which provides need-based assistanceto our clients and families. HeldOctober 21, 2010 at the beautiful St.Regis Atlanta, the event featuredentertainment by John Heffron, win-ner of the popular television seriesLast Comic Standing. The HonoraryChairs for Benefits of Laughter 2010were community leaders and long-time friends of Skyland Trail, Amy

S and Cecil Conlee. Benefits ofLaughter was organizedby co-chairs LeslieWierman and AnneHennessy, who were assist-ed by a dedicated team ofcommunity and businessvolunteers. Business leaderJim Kelley chaired the corpo-rate committee, which secureda number of high-profilesponsorships for the event,including AirTran Airways.

BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER PATRON PARTY

Anne Hennessy, Dina Woodruff, Betsy West

Sarah and Scott Goodman, CarolGoodman

Jim Kelley and Anne Morgan, Leslie andDavid Wierman, Anne and Peter Hennessy

kyland Trail thanks Kelly Loefflerand Jeffrey Sprecher for opening

their lovely home to donors, friendsand sponsors at the Patron Party forBenefits of Laughter 2010. Theevening was a chance to celebrate thisyear’s successful event.

S

John and Helen Gordon, Karen and RichardParker

Terry Vawter, Michelle Sullivan, Kim Marks Duvall and Rex Fuqua with Skyland TrailPresident Beth Finnerty

Tommy and Wally Hills

Benefits of Laughter 2010 Honorary Chairs Amyand Cecil Conlee

Mark West, Patron Party hosts Kelly Loeffler andJeffrey Sprecher, Beth Jones, Leslie Wierman

Robby and Tyler Wynne



DEDICATION OF THE DOROTHY C. FUQUA CENTER AT SKYLAND TRAIL

n November 2010, Skyland Tailheld a ribbon cutting and dedica-

tion for the Dorothy C. FuquaCenter at Skyland Trail. The day celebrated named additions to thebuilding: the Hugh M. Inman Wing;the Goodman Training andEducation Center; the Charles EvansComputer Learning Center; theTompkins Family Art Gallery; theDot and Ed Jackson Patio Gardenand The Pathway to Recovery.

I


Betty Ann Inman, CarolGoodman, Rex Fuqua,Linda Munson, DotJackson, Michael Tompkins,June Tompkins, Mark West,Chairman of the Board ofDirectors

FOURTH ANNUAL ASSOCIATES LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW

kyland Trail’s Fourth AnnualAssociates Luncheon & Fashion

Show raised more than $35,000 forSkyland Trail’s direct client services.The afternoon featured guest speaker

and author JulieHersh and fash-ions by Saks FifthAvenue. Co-chairs for theevent wereAssociatesPresident SarahGoodman andVice PresidentLeigh Pollard.Major sponsors

for the 2011 luncheon includedVEINInnovations, Oxford Industries,Ann Paré Dermatology, and LauraPearce Ltd.

S

June Tompkins and Inez Oliver

Associates LuncheonSponsor Nancy Fallon andEvent Co-Chair Leigh Pollard

Doug Jackson, Dot Jackson, Clay Jackson Betty Ann Inman, Skyland Trail President Beth Finnerty, Carol Goodman

Mary Ann Quin, TomJohnson, Dorothy C. Fuqua,Rex Fuqua, author andguest speaker Julie Hersh

Sara Cotton, Barbara Sparkes, Anna Paré

Elizabeth Spiegel


kyland Trail is honored to announcethe creation of the Allison Williams

Financial Aid Endowment Fund. Mr.Williams has worked tirelesslyover several decades to sup-port the community. Amongthe missions he has careddeeply about is the life-chang-ing work of Skyland Trail.

As a founding member ofthe Board of Directors of theGeorge West Mental HealthFoundation, Mr. Williams wasinstrumental in the creationof Skyland Trail and was committed toproviding community-based mentalhealth treatment to adults with seriousmental illness. He continues to be com-

update | PLANNED GIV ING

HONORING ALLISON WILLIAMS WITH NAMED

FINANCIAL AID FUND

2 0 J O U R N E Y S M AG A Z I N E

S

PLANNED GIVING: HONORING YOUR LEGACY

ill and Carol Fox have been activesupporters of Skyland Trail since

the 1990s, volunteering their time andenergy over the past two decades.

“I love Skyland Trail. I think it’s awonderful place and I enjoy workingthere and being on the Board ofDirectors,” Bill says. “I feel so good thatmy time goes there. My wife, Carol,shares my enthusiasm and we absolutelylove it and the good Skyland Trail doesfor so many people.”

In recognition of their support forrecovery from mental illness, the Foxeshave established a planned givingbequest from their retirement accountthat benefits Skyland Trail, furtheringtheir commitment to a cause they arepassionate about.

“I had depression in the past and Iknow what it’s like. I’m so glad there’s aplace these adults can turn to and findthe attention they so desperately need,”Bill continued. “I love the leadershipcombination of Mark West and BethFinnerty, and I trust that they will useour gift in a way that will best serve

B

For more information on how you

can contribute to an endowment

fund or create a planned giving

bequest, please call our Senior

Development Officer John Turman

at 678-686-5948 or email at

[email protected]

mitted to helping those who cannotafford quality services, and for years hasstrongly supported the Financial Aid

Program, which providesneed-based assistance to thoserequiring Skyland Trail’sunique services.

The Harland CharitableFoundation, where Mr.Williams has served as atrustee, awarded a generousgift of $100,000 to SkylandTrail to honor his work andcreate the Allison Williams

Financial Aid Endow ment Fund. Thisfund is a testament to his commitmentto ensuring that those who need ourhelp are able to get it in perpetuity.

the organization—I just hope it’s not fora long time.”

Bill Fox has had long tenure on theBoard of Directors and has held variousroles on the Personnel, Program,Executive and Financial AidCommittees. Carol is a member of theSkyland Trail Associates.

Skyland Trail’s Development Teamcan help you plan a gift that will carryon your commitment to helping adultswith mental illness. Through gifts viacharitable trusts, will bequests andretirement plans, as well as insurancepolicies, real estate and other tangibleproperty, you can support Skyland Trailand the work we do in the community.

The following endowments have

been created to ensure support

for Skyland Trail clients and fam-

ilies for generations to come:

• Allison Williams Financial Aid Endowment Fund

• Margaret Thrower FinancialAid Endowment

• Julia Zellars Financial AidEndowment

• Love-Morrell Financial AidEndowment

• Loudermilk Financial AidEndowment

Carol and Bill Fox

SKYLAND TRAIL

NAMED

ENDOWMENTSAllison Williams


Thursday, November 10, 2011LOCATION: St. Regis Atlanta Buckhead

RECEPTION: 6:30 p.m.

DINNER AND PROGRAM: 7:30 p.m.

HONORARY CHAIRS: Helen and John Gordon

All proceeds from the event benefit the Financial Aid Fund.

For more information about sponsorship, or to reserve a

table, please contact Ashley Vance at 678.686.5905

or at [email protected].

EVENT CHAIRS

Denise & Jay Mitchell

COMEDY BY

Barbara & Vince Dooley

CORPORATE COMMITTEE

Jay Mitchell, Chair

Susan Boyd

Janine Brown

Tommy Hills

Claire & Glen Jackson

Richard Parker

Laura & Rutherford Seydel

Bob Walker

PATRON COMMITTEE

Nancy Bryant, Chair

Linnea & Roger Ashley

Gwynie Dennard

Betsy Glenn

Robin Howell

Tish & John Inman

Ann & John Lally

Leslie & Matt Meshad

Karen Parker

Leigh & Tee Pollard

Vince and Barbara Dooley

Honorary Chairs John and Helen Gordon, Event ChairsDenise and Jay Mitchell


kyland Trail is honored to announcethe creation of the Allison Williams

Financial Aid Endowment Fund. Mr.Williams has worked tirelesslyover several decades to sup-port the community. Amongthe missions he has careddeeply about is the life-chang-ing work of Skyland Trail.

As a founding member ofthe Board of Directors of theGeorge West Mental HealthFoundation, Mr. Williams wasinstrumental in the creationof Skyland Trail and was committed toproviding community-based mentalhealth treatment to adults with seriousmental illness. He continues to be com-

update | PLANNED GIV ING

HONORING ALLISON WILLIAMS WITH NAMED

FINANCIAL AID FUND

2 0 J O U R N E Y S M AG A Z I N E

S

PLANNED GIVING: HONORING YOUR LEGACY

ill and Carol Fox have been activesupporters of Skyland Trail since

the 1990s, volunteering their time andenergy over the past two decades.

“I love Skyland Trail. I think it’s awonderful place and I enjoy workingthere and being on the Board ofDirectors,” Bill says. “I feel so good thatmy time goes there. My wife, Carol,shares my enthusiasm and we absolutelylove it and the good Skyland Trail doesfor so many people.”

In recognition of their support forrecovery from mental illness, the Foxeshave established a planned givingbequest from their retirement accountthat benefits Skyland Trail, furtheringtheir commitment to a cause they arepassionate about.

“I had depression in the past and Iknow what it’s like. I’m so glad there’s aplace these adults can turn to and findthe attention they so desperately need,”Bill continued. “I love the leadershipcombination of Mark West and BethFinnerty, and I trust that they will useour gift in a way that will best serve

B

For more information on how you

can contribute to an endowment

fund or create a planned giving

bequest, please call our Senior

Development Officer John Turman

at 678-686-5948 or email at

[email protected]

mitted to helping those who cannotafford quality services, and for years hasstrongly supported the Financial Aid

Program, which providesneed-based assistance to thoserequiring Skyland Trail’sunique services.

The Harland CharitableFoundation, where Mr.Williams has served as atrustee, awarded a generousgift of $100,000 to SkylandTrail to honor his work andcreate the Allison Williams

Financial Aid Endow ment Fund. Thisfund is a testament to his commitmentto ensuring that those who need ourhelp are able to get it in perpetuity.

the organization—I just hope it’s not fora long time.”

Bill Fox has had long tenure on theBoard of Directors and has held variousroles on the Personnel, Program,Executive and Financial AidCommittees. Carol is a member of theSkyland Trail Associates.

Skyland Trail’s Development Teamcan help you plan a gift that will carryon your commitment to helping adultswith mental illness. Through gifts viacharitable trusts, will bequests andretirement plans, as well as insurancepolicies, real estate and other tangibleproperty, you can support Skyland Trailand the work we do in the community.

The following endowments have

been created to ensure support

for Skyland Trail clients and fam-

ilies for generations to come:

• Allison Williams Financial Aid Endowment Fund

• Margaret Thrower FinancialAid Endowment

• Julia Zellars Financial AidEndowment

• Love-Morrell Financial AidEndowment

• Loudermilk Financial AidEndowment

Carol and Bill Fox

SKYLAND TRAIL

NAMED

ENDOWMENTSAllison Williams


Thursday, November 10, 2011LOCATION: St. Regis Atlanta Buckhead

RECEPTION: 6:30 p.m.

DINNER AND PROGRAM: 7:30 p.m.

HONORARY CHAIRS: Helen and John Gordon

All proceeds from the event benefit the Financial Aid Fund.

For more information about sponsorship, or to reserve a

table, please contact Ashley Vance at 678.686.5905

or at [email protected].

EVENT CHAIRS

Denise & Jay Mitchell

COMEDY BY

Barbara & Vince Dooley

CORPORATE COMMITTEE

Jay Mitchell, Chair

Susan Boyd

Janine Brown

Tommy Hills

Claire & Glen Jackson

Richard Parker

Laura & Rutherford Seydel

Bob Walker

PATRON COMMITTEE

Nancy Bryant, Chair

Linnea & Roger Ashley

Gwynie Dennard

Betsy Glenn

Robin Howell

Tish & John Inman

Ann & John Lally

Leslie & Matt Meshad

Karen Parker

Leigh & Tee Pollard

Vince and Barbara Dooley

Honorary Chairs John and Helen Gordon, Event ChairsDenise and Jay Mitchell


PUBLICATION OF THE GEORGE WEST

MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

1961 North Druid Hills RoadAtlanta, Georgia 30329tel 404-315-8333 fax: 404-315-9839www.skylandtrail.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE PAID

ATLANTA, GA

PERMIT NO. 3536

any thanks to John Zellars and the John Zellars, Jr. Foundation which

supported the renovation of the Creative ArtsSuite named for Martha Zellars Alexander. In March 2011, clients and staff highlightedthe benefits of adjunctive therapies as thenewly completed rooms were dedicated.

Dianne and Clark Alexander, Chairman of the Board Mark West, John Zellars,Mark Alexander, Randy Tibbals and Ann Alexander join in the ribbon cutting forthe Creative Arts Suite

Skyland Trail clientsjoin music therapistGlenn Weinstein(far right) to per-form on the drums,showing off skillslearned in MusicTherapy

Skyland Trail Senior Development OfficerJohn Turman joins Creative Art TherapistSusie Sherrill, Clark Alexander andCreative Art Therapist Helen Goldberg to learn more about art therapy

MMartha Zellars Alexander Creative Arts Suite Dedication

110856_Cvr:110856_Cvr.qxd 5/12/11 10:46 AM Page 1

Documents

Journeys - Spring 2011